Powderhorn Ski Mountain Is Open: Here's What's New for 2015

Located 45 minutes east of Grand Junction, Powderhorn is Colorado's westernmost ski area, and so far this season, conditions there have reportedly been great. You can read about every Colorado ski resort in the Edge, our winter sports guide, as we roll it out online. Each description lays out what's...

By Colin Bane

December 18, 2015

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Located 45 minutes east of Grand Junction, Powderhorn is Colorado's westernmost ski area, and so far this season, conditions there have reportedly been great.

You can read about every Colorado ski resort in the Edge, our winter sports guide, as we roll it out online. Each description lays out what's new, what the signature experience is, what to splurge on, how to go cheap and, of course, what to drink.

POWDERHORN
powderhorn.com
970-268-5700

What’s new: “We replaced our Take 4 chairlift with a new high-speed detachable quad chairlift, the Flattop Flyer, that will cut the old time to the top in half, to 6.2 minutes,” says Powderhorn spokeswoman Dusti Reimer. “That was the biggest piece of a $5 million capital-improvement project that also doubled our snowmaking capability, upgraded some of our snowcats and grooming equipment, and allowed us to fix up our lodge and do some road improvements.”

Signature experience: “We have some great lodging here at Powderhorn, but for a true taste of the area, I recommend staying at the Wine Country Inn, in Palisade,” Reimer says. “That way you’ll get the best of both worlds: great skiing or snowboarding up here, then trying all the great wines.”

Splurge: Again, Reimer recommends the Wine Country Inn. “This is Colorado’s wine country, and you’ll also be right by the Palisade Peach Distillery and the Palisade Brewery. There are also a lot breweries in Grand Junction.” The Wine Country Inn offers ski/stay packages starting at $230 that include two adult lift tickets and an afternoon wine-tasting reception.

Ski bum tips: “Fill up at any Shell gas station and you’ll get a buy-one-get-one coupon for lift tickets. Our lift tickets are only $69 anyway, so that’s a pretty good deal for you and a friend,” Reimer says. “We also do a promotion in February with our local blood-donor center. If you donate blood, you’ll get a buy-one-get-one lift-ticket deal.”

Drink locally: In addition to the wineries, breweries and distillery, Reimer says, “here at the mountain, our Sunset Bar & Grill features a lot of the local brews on tap.”

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