Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge Resort History

1961 was the year when the U.S. Forest Service issued a recommendation to open the mountain below timberline on peak 8 for the Summit County Development Corporation who had the vested interest in building four ski lifts, a gondola and real estate consisting of lodges, condos, shops and dining facilities. The land was leased from the U.S. Forest Service for that purpose and the Breckenridge Ski resort became operational in December 1961 right before christmas. Lift tickets were priced at $4 for adults and $2.50 for kids. Poplar since the day it was founded, the Breckenridge ski resort attracted 17,000 skiers for the holiday season and ever since the resort was updated with more chairs and ski trails to become the massive ski resort area of today.

The Breckenridge Ski area was purchased by Harry Baum in 1967 and the number of skiers reached an incredible 140,000 skiers. In 1970, Aspen Skiing Company purchased Breckenridge ski area and continued on expanding and operating the resort until the year 1978 when the company was sold to 20th Century Fox who continued the expansion of the resort by adding more lifts which included the 6 chair which is still operational today and provides access to the very top of peak 8.

The number of skiers reached 1 million in 1988 making it an attractive investment for the Victoria LTD of tokyo, Japan and by 1993 it was sold again to the Ralston Purina cooperation who finally sold it to Vail Resorts, the current owner, in 1996.

Mountain Safety

Skiing and Snowboarding are fun sports yet deadly when individuals choose to act irresponsibly while skiing. If you are a casual skier you should re-explore your abilities by choosing less technical slopes and always remember to control your speed and to look where you are going. Kids, older adults share the slopes with you and they move slower. It is your responsibility to watch and avoid skiers in your path.

Always remember to drink water while skiing, dehydration can be easily reached while exerting energy in a high altitude environment.

Using sunblock while skiing is essential to prevent facial and nose burns. Breckenridge usually enjoy 300 days of sunshine annually and remember that when you are skiing Breckenridge, your are physically closer to the sun than ever.

Observe all posted warnings and avoid skiing on closed slopes and roped hillsides.

Don’t attempt to ski or snowboard without taking at least few hours of schooling where you can learn how to keep yourself and others out of harm’s way.

We hope that you enjoyed our Breckenridge Ski Safety guide and we hope to see you visit with us soon.

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