Winter Park and Denver-based parent company Alterra Mountain Co. revealed some operating plans on Monday for mitigating pandemic concerns this winter, but those plans remain very much in flux.
Nearly three weeks after rival Vail Resorts announced it would institute a reservations policy for mountain access this winter, Alterra announced that most Ikon Pass destinations “do not require reservations at this time,” and apparently that is the operative phrase.
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Winter Park is not requiring reservations “at this time,” said spokeswoman Jen Miller, who was quick to add, “That could change. We just don’t know.”
The other Alterra holding in Colorado, Steamboat Ski Resort, will announce its plans later this week according to spokeswoman Loryn Duke.
Alterra resorts will limit “resort visitation levels to avoid overcrowding,” according to a statement by chief executive Rusty Gregory, released Monday. “We are prioritizing access for season pass holders and will tightly regulate the number of daily lift tickets that will be available by advance purchase only. To this end, walk-up window sales will be eliminated, and the sale of most undated lift ticket products will be discontinued until further notice.”
Winter Park is not currently selling daily lift tickets, Flex Four passes or Four Packs. The only options are Ikon or Winter Park season passes.
“That could change,” Miller said. ”We suspended sales for the daily lift tickets to continue to evaluate so we can manage peak times. We’re still evaluating. You cannot purchase a single-day lift ticket right now, for the time being, and there will be no walk-up ticket window until further notice. For our summer operations, all daily lift tickets were advance purchase, and will likely require that for winter as well.”
Winter Park also plans to enforce six-foot separations in lift lines and will reconfigure lift mazes. Masks will be required on lifts.
“We are still working through what our dining options will look like this winter,” a Winter Park posting said. “We are planning to have locations open and will implement new procedures to reduce contact. Our dining locations will have expanded grab-and-go options as well. Unfortunately, at this time we will not be able to offer Sunspot Mountaintop après or Sunspot mountaintop dinners this season. There will likely be other modifications to our indoor dining locations to limit capacity, and we will share updates as they become available.”