SAM Magazine—Georgetown, Colo., Oct. 27, 2015—Loveland Ski Area will be the first resort in Colorado to open for the 2015-16 season on Thursday. That is, unless Arapahoe Basin gets open before then.

SAM Magazine—Georgetown, Colo., Oct. 27, 2015—Loveland Ski Area will be the first resort in Colorado to open for the 2015-16 season on Thursday. That is, unless Arapahoe Basin gets open before then.

“A winter storm delivered 17.5 inches of natural snow last week and brought the cold temperatures our snowmakers had been waiting for. They have done an incredible job getting the mountain ready for the first skiers and riders of the season,” said Rob Goodell, Loveland's director of business operations.

The resort will open to the general public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Skiers and snowboarders can access one top-to-bottom novice that stretches more than a mile long and has almost 1,000 vertical feet. Early season lift tickets will cost $53 for adults and $25 for children.

Loveland will also continue snowmaking at the bottom portion of the mountain, as the coverage up top is “great,” said Goodell.

Meanwhile, Arapahoe Basin, located only seven miles down the road (and perhaps four as the crow flies) has yet to announce its opening date. However, Arapahoe's communications manager, Adrienne Saia Isaac said, “The first time we fired up the snow guns was on the morning of October 21, 2015 … and the last storm cycle brought us 12 inches of snow.” The resort has been making snow whenever possible. “The temperatures look awesome for today and tomorrow,” she said.

The area plans to start pushing snow around on Wednesday, which COO Alan Henceroth said in his daily blog is “a good indicator for how well snowmaking is doing.” It's also a hint that the area could open soon.

According to snocountry.com, one other resort plans to open this weekend: Mt. Norquay in Alberta, Canada, on Oct. 31. That would be a Halloween treat.

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