Ski season is just around the corner, and Purgatory Resort will get it started with some new renovations on Nov. 18.
After experiencing a big snow year during the 2022-23 winter season, the resort will return with some new renovations.
The resort has made significant investments to enhance infrastructure and the resort experience for the 2023-24 ski season, including Phase II upgrades at Dante’s Lodge and Powderhouse.
Over the past year, Dante’s has been upgraded with new lighting to move to LED lights with La Plata Electric Association support, flooring, wall artwork, wayfinding signage, paint and a new roof. The lodge also made bathroom updates, including new lighting, faucets, Dyson hand dryers and stall dividers.
Additionally, Dante’s is now almost entirely paper free, said Purgatory spokeswoman Theresa Graven. It is the first lodge at any of Mountain Capital Partner’s resorts to do so.
“We have invested over $1.25 million for the Dante’s and parking projects alone, plus substantially more over the past two seasons on a total spend basis,” said Austin Foster with the Capital Projects team.
The parking projects Foster is referring to are the addition of spaces at the Gelande and Columbine lots. An additional 100 spaces have been added to Gelande, while 50 have been added to the Columbine lots.
This comes on the heels of a rising number of resort visitors because of the large amount of snow the resort received last year.
However, the parking additions had been planned before last season. The resort received 78 inches of snow in January alone.
The resort received 376 inches (more than 31 feet) of snow last season, according to data collected by Purgatory.
Last year, the resort issued reminders that visitors parked illegally make it dangerous and difficult to free up space. Resort officials hope the additional parking will alleviate some of that congestion.
To also help with customer transportation, two new shuttle buses have been purchased this year to add to the resort’s existing fleet.
Improvements have also been made to the Poet’s Glade zone. This included significant brush and glading efforts completed this summer.
Purgatory will also bring back its demand-based pricing this year, which means the price varies based on which days are busiest. Lift tickets for opening day on Nov. 18 are $29.
“Our primary goal has always been to make skiing and snowboarding more accessible to everyone,” said Dave Rathbun, General Manager at Purgatory Resort in a news release. “By offering dynamic pricing, we’re not only delivering a great value but also a more enjoyable skiing and riding experience.”
Last year, the resort invested in a new Prinoth Leitwolf X snow-grooming machine and had a base depth of around 20 inches of snow on opening day.
To further help these efforts, the resort also added a second winch cat to the grooming fleet.
Only time will tell how much snow the resort will have to begin the year. Consistent high-country showers over the last two weeks have presented a light dusting on the back side of the West Needle Mountain range. However, the seven-day forecasts appear to indicate that it will be mostly dry next week.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
