SUMMER 2016 HEATS UP IN COLORADO WITH EXCITING NEWEVENTS, ACTIVITIES, ATTRACTIONS, LODGING OFFERINGS, CULINARY EXPERIENCES AND MORE

DENVER (February 11, 2016) — Colorado is setting the scene for an unforgettable summer season. The state will welcome exciting new activities including Vail’s Epic Discovery Program, heli fly fishing adventures, and unique cycling experiences, to major celebrations including the National Park Service’s Centennial and the 75^thAnniversary of Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Colorado will also introduce the opening of numerous chef-driven restaurants and food halls, unique accommodations offerings, and the much-anticipated launch of a public transportation system from Denver International Airport to Union Station. Colorado is the place to be for the ultimate summer vacation in 2016.

Following is a sampling of what’s new this summer in Colorado. For more information on Colorado or for a free copy of the 2016 Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com.

New Attractions and Activities:

ART Hotel Launches Guided Public Art Runs. The ART, located in Denver’s museum district, recently launched an 5K urban public art run. Guests receive a detailed map from the concierge featuring a route that highlights downtown Denver's most significant public art pieces. A guide is also available upon request.

Chef–Driven Farmers Market at Denver's Union Station. Beginning June 4, 2016 and running each Saturday through October 24, the Boulder County Farmers Market will partner with Denver Union Station and prominent area chefs to open the city's first chef-driven farmers market in 2016.

Public Transit Center at Denver International Airport. Slated to open in April 2016, a new electric commuter rail line will run from the airport to downtown Denver. The 22.8-mile rail line will run trains as often as every 15 minutes, taking just 30 minutes to get from the airport and new Westin Hotel to Union Station in downtown Denver.

Denver Zoo Opens New Tiger Exhibit. This summer, the Denver Zoo will unveil an exciting new tiger exhibit, The Edge. Located on almost a full acre on the southeastern edge of the park, The Edge will bring guests closer than ever to the Zoo’s Amur tigers. Expansive open space will offer several unique ways to safely connect with these magnificent creatures.

Evolution Bike Park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort Expands. New for summer 2016, Evolution Bike Park will offer an added pump track and practice loop at the base area for beginners. Guests will also have access to Happy Hour, a new intermediate trail that links the bike park with the area’s well-known single track and the town of Crested Butte.

Fort Collin’s Historic Jessup Farm Reimagined as New Artisan Village. The new Jessup Farm artisan village features businesses focused on handcrafted and locally-sourced products. The project includes rebuilt and remodeled chicken coops, a loafing shed, a saddle shop and an old barn and farmhouse.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort Enhances Mountain Bike Offerings. Powderhorn Mountain Resort will debut two new mountain bike trails in summer 2016. The bike trails will be serviced by the newly built high-speed quad. Powderhorn is also working with local area bike shops to build and grow a downhill bike series.

Technical Mountaineering Guide Services at Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park awarded contracts to six new guiding outfitters who will create diverse opportunities beginning in summer 2016. The public will select from a variety of possible mountaineering trips reflecting different prices, styles and program orientation. All of the contracts will authorize the same services, which include rock climbing, ice climbing and avalanche training.

Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience. Making its debut in May 2016, the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience will center on an architecturally stunning, 16,200-square-foot, custom-built museum, and will also include outdoor education and recreational opportunities on the facility’s 39.5-acre parcel of land. Here, families can experience everything from science-focused interactive displays, full-scale dinosaur fossil casts, skinned animatronic dinosaur exhibits and hands-on exhibits with real dinosaur fossils, as well as recreational-focused activities including a multi-story ropes course.

Minturn Anglers Offers Heli Fly Fishing. New for Summer 2016, Minturn Anglers offers a one-of-a-kind fly-fishing experience that allows anglers access to private Colorado waters in the most exclusive and amazing way possible – in a helicopter. Travel to one of the outfitters remote, private ranches while enjoying streamside fine dining. Custom itineraries can be built to fit each individual group’s needs. All-inclusive trips start at $3,995 for up to three anglers.

Vail Mountain Opens Epic Discovery This summer, Vail will launch Epic Discovery, a new comprehensive summer activities experience. Epic Discovery will offer learn-through-play elements that will provide guests with hands-on information and activities about forest health, wildlife and the mountain geography of the White River National Forest. The Game Creek Canopy Tour will immerse guests in the forest habitat with an array of zip lines and aerial bridges; the Forest Flyer™ is an alpine coaster that runs on raised rails with an expanded trail system that will encourage more hiking and trail exploration across Vail Mountain.

Vail Skateboard Park. Construction of Vail’s new skate park at the Lionshead parking structure is scheduled for completion in early June. The new $1.9 million skate park will include a half pipe and mini bowl, rails and other skating features. The park, designed by California Skateparks, will showcase four mosaic murals by artist Valerie Theberge.

New Lodging and Accommodations Offerings:

Boutique Western Cabins in the Heart of Creede. Nationally recognized architecture, a rich and uniquely western history, and the intricate, impeccable beauty of the cabins at Windsock Acres combine to make a stay in Creede truly unforgettable. Recently opened, Windsock Acres’ convenient location provides immediate access to Creede’s historic Main Street including galleries, restaurants and the celebrated Creede Repertory Theatre.

Elk River Guest Ranch. Opening in June 2016, Elk River Guest Ranch is located just north of Steamboat Springs. Bordered by the 2.2-million-acre Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest, and offering 2,000 feet of private river frontage, the Elk River Guest Ranch offers a unique blend of outdoor activities, town proximity and mountain solitude.

The Barber Shop at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail. The first of its kind in Vail Village, this classic American barbershop offers a variety of traditional and cutting-edge men’s grooming services, complete with local craft brews and liquors served up with each treatment. The shop features unique “man cave-esque” décor, barber art and a host of men’s magazines, along with an old-fashioned Collins barber chair and a classic American Marvy barber pole.

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa Announces Palisade Ranch. Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa will open Palisade Ranch, an on-property ranch designed to provide the ultimate western experience on May 1, 2016. Palisade Ranch at Gateway Canyons Resort will offer ranch experiences such as daily trail rides, ranching education, roping lessons and historic guided rides through the land that ranching families of the 1800’s worked to support the region’s mining.

Trailhead Inn Opens in Winter Park. Opened in January 2016, the new Trailhead Inn in downtown Winter Park features 40 contemporary and comfortably appointed rooms, an indoor pool and hot tub, and offers one of best lodging values in the area with nightly room rates starting at $119. Designed and developed by the team behind Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Trailhead Inn is a modern basecamp for exploring Winter Park.

Sage Hospitality to Open “Halcyon – a Hotel in Cherry Creek”. Slated to open in Cherry Creek in spring 2016, this seven-story independent luxury property will feature 155 rooms and approximately 3,500 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space. The 150-room, seven-story hotel will feature a roof-top pool along with restaurant and retail space.

Studio Anjali at The Westin Riverfront Beaver Creek Offers Aerial Yoga. Located at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, Studio Anjali at the Westin Riverfront Beaver Creek launched a new aerial yoga program open to guests in February 2016. Following the AIReal Yoga method, this is the first and only form of aerial yoga accredited by the Yoga Alliance. Studio Anjali is the first studio in Colorado to offer AIReal Yoga.

Forage via Horseback at Smith Fork Ranch. Smith Fork Ranch, located in the North Fork Valley on Colorado’s Western Slope, is offering a new‘Horseback Riding & Foraging’ experience this summer. Led by one of the ranch’s chefs, guests will depart on a guided ride in search of mushrooms and other local delicacies. They’ll return to the ranch to create a meal using the foraged ingredients paired with produce from the ranch’s farmstead.

Viceroy Snowmass to Offer Cycling Program with Pro Rider, Will Frischkorn. New for summer 2016, the Viceroy Snowmass will offer a cycling program led by former pro cyclist, Will Frischkorn (Tour de France competitor for Garmin). The experience is entirely customizable and can include activities such as a 25-mile ride to Sustainable Settings Farm followed by a true farm-to-table dinner prepared by Viceroy’s Executive Chef, Will Nolan. Or a ride to the Maroon Bells and Castle Creek/Ashcroft followed by a massage at the hotel.

The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp Opens The Overlook Meeting Space. The Overlook is a 1,500-square-foot meeting space at The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp, opening for the 2016 season. The Overlook features high ceilings, a covered front porch, and an expansive back deck. Tucked into the side of Cheyenne Mountain, The Overlook offers spectacular views. Accommodating small groups of 10 to 70 people, the new space is ideal for small meetings, family gatherings and weddings.

New Events and Festivals:

Anderson Ranch Arts Center Marks 50^th Anniversary. Anderson Ranch Arts Center, a premier art making destination located in Aspen, is celebrating its 50^th anniversary with a series of more than 150 special workshops available throughout the summer season. Anderson Ranch’s summer program reflects its longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary artistic experiences with programs geared towards artists of all levels.

The National Parks Service Celebrates its Centennial. 2016 marks the 100^th anniversary of the National Parks Service and its history of protecting treasured places, telling American stories and engaging communities through recreation, conservation and historic preservation programs. Home to 12 National Parks and Monuments, a series of special events and programs will take place across Colorado throughout the year as visitors and locals count down to the Centennial in August 2016.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre Celebrates 75^th Anniversary. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a naturally formed, world-famous outdoor music venue just 15 miles west of Denver and is the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre in the world. Throughout 2016, the amphitheater will celebrate its 75^th anniversary with special concerts and events. Red Rocks is recognized for its star-studded concert roster, natural acoustics and ambience, as well as its awe inspiring hiking and biking trails.

Zapata Ranch Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop, March 6-11, 2016. Guests of Zapata Ranch located near Alamosa, Colorado will join renowned conservation photographers Michael Forsberg, Dave Showalter and naturalist John Rawinski for an unforgettable photography workshop to document the spring migration of the Sandhill Cranes. In addition to capturing cranes, time will be spent on the ranch photographing bison, historic ranch structures and the ranching way of life.

The Home Ranch Work Week, May 10-15, 2016. Join The Home Ranch staff for five nights and experience life on the ranch. Help get the herd ready for a busy season, ride horses, fix fence, repair trails, plant seedlings and take a workshop from the property’s Master Gardener and be part of an amazing team. Several workshops, demonstrations and lectures will be offered throughout the week.

Snowmass Enduro World Series Mountain Bike Race, July 30-21, 2016. Snowmass will serve as the only U.S. stop of the Enduro World Series (EWS) bike competition that will take place in Aspen Snowmass, July 30-31, 2016. The new season will feature eight rounds across three continents, including four completely new venues in Chile, Argentina, France and the USA (Aspen Snowmass, Colorado). Aspen Snowmass has been chosen to host round five (out of eight rounds) of the prestigious Enduro World Series.

106 West Triathlon, September 10, 2016. 106 West Triathlon will be one of the highest triathlons in the world and the first time swimming has been allowed in Lake Dillon. It will be a half-ironman and quarter ironman distance taking place on September 10, 2016 at 9,000’. Dillon, Colorado’s coordinates are 49 degrees north at 106 degrees west.

New Food and Beverage Offerings:

10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company Opens New Tasting Room. The 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company recently relocated and expanded its tasting room to the heart of Vail Village. The 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company is Vail’s premier distillery, crafting spirits from locally sourced ingredients in the name of the mountain lifestyle that was inspired by the original 10th Mountain soldiers who trained not far from Vail in the 1940s.

Blue Moon to Open Experimental Brewery and Restaurant. The brewing team behind Colorado’s legendary Blue Moon will put their decades’ worth of experience toward a new brewery and restaurant that focuses on experimenting with flavors, food pairings and more. Slated to open in late 2016 in Denver’s hip RiNo (River North) neighborhood, the brewers will push boundaries when it comes to technique, style and ingredients.

The Bookcase & Barber Barbershop/Speakeasy Opens in Durango. This establishment is a place to refresh your mind and body with high-end barber services with a twist. Beyond a bookshelf in the vintage-style barbershop lies a cozy speakeasy bar that serves up strong, specialty-crafted drinks. The passphrase, "Who is Hemingway", grants you access. Many of their ingredients are made from scratch at the bar, including bitters and grenadine, creating unique and complex flavors.

The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm. Opened in late-2015, and located in a 129-year-old-home at the new Jessup Farm artisan village, The Farmhouse takes an evolutionary approach to food. The plan is to utilize the Village’s small farm and garden operation to create the menu.

FoodLab Opens in Boulder. Opened in December 2015, Food Lab is a new cooking studio located in downtown Boulder. Its mission is to help enhance the community's level of culinary skills, and food and wine knowledge in an entertaining and informative manner, including teaming up with ambitious local chefs to teach classes and create unique menus for culinary based classes. Food Lab also offers unique classes to inspire children to become more involved in the kitchen.

Lauded Denver Restaurateur, Justin Cucci to Open Two New Restaurant Concepts, L5 and Vital Root. Located in LoHi with an anticipated opening in June 2016, L5 will boast spectacular unobstructed city views of east Denver. The large open-air patio that sits adjacent to its popular big sister Linger, is sure to be a highly sought seat come warmer nights. L5 will offer a relatively underrepresented cuisine in Denver with a menu focused on traditional Mediterranean tapas with influences from North Africa and the Middle East. Located in a ’70s-era building, Vital Root will offer a vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu with a juicing program. Bonus: Vital Root will work with Vital Yoga, a yoga studio next door, in hopes to facilitate overall healthier lifestyle options. Vital Root is slated to open in April 2016.

Rec Room Opens in Aspen. Opened in early 2016, acclaimed hospitality groups David Burke Group and LDV Hospitality launched a new partnership with the opening of Rec Room Aspen. The new nightlife experience brings the David Burke Group’s notable whimsy and innovation to the Aspen venue.

The Roadhouse Boulder Depot Debuts. Opened in December 2015 and located in the historic Boulder Train Depot, the new Roadhouse Boulder Depot brings an urban flare to a historic setting. The restaurant offers a quality “roadhouse” style menu with an emphasis on customer service and community.

Root & Flower Wine Bar Debuts in Vail Village. Opened in December 2015, Root & Flower offers a comprehensive wine-by-the-glass menu, a creative and eclectic mix of cocktails, liquors and spirits and an ever-changing food list.

Stanley Marketplace to Open. The popularity of food halls continues in Denver, with the late-summer 2016 opening of Stanley Marketplace. The more than 22-acre, 100,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor space was once Stanley Aviation headquarters, where airplane ejector seats were engineered and manufactured. Now it is an adaptive reuse community hub, home to a park, beer hall, multiple restaurants, boutique shops and more.

Tivoli Brewery and Tap House Reopens in Denver. One of Denver's oldest breweries was resurrected in late-2015. Nearly 50 years after ceasing operations, the Tivoli Brewing Co. is up-and-running in the historic Tivoli building where the Rocky Mountain Brewing Co. and successor Tivoli Brewery churned out beer for more than a century. The revamped Tivoli encompasses a 9,000-square-foot slice of the Auraria Higher Education Center student union and consists of a brewpub with more than 50 tap lines, a brewery and space for a future fermentation and quality assurance facility.

Two Mile Brewery to Open in Leadville. America’s highest brewery, Two Mile Brewery, is slated to open in Leadville in spring 2016. The brewery will provide central Colorado with high-quality, hand-crafted ales and lagers, brewed in small batches and served alongside a variety of fresh, locally-sourced food.

Triple S Brewing Company Offers Growler Delivery. Beginning in December 2015, Triple S Brewery is the first brew pub in the state of Colorado to offer a new service – growler delivery. Any beer on tap at Triple S Brewery, as many as eight different varieties, is available for delivery in the Colorado Springs area in a 64 oz. bottle known as a growler.

ABOUT COLORADO

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 25 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet.

For more information or a copy of the 2016 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800 COLORADO.

Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Foursquare, Flickr,Tumblr and YouTube

Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room for story ideas, news releases, image gallery, and other resources.

###

Contacts: Carly Holbrook / 720.289.9366, carly.holbrook@state.co.us

Kirstin Graber / 303.892.3871, kirstin.graber@state.co.us