Loveland Ski Area will start the 2015-16 season on Thursday. After warm weather delayed snowmaking a little, the resort will still manage to beat last year's opening date of Nov. 1. On Thursday, Lift 1 will start spinning at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m., providing skier and riders with access to one top-to-bottom run. The Catwalk, Mambo and Home Run trails will be covered from tree-to-tree with an 18-inch base to make up the mile-long opening day run covering nearly 1,000 vertical feet. Unless another resort can beat Loveland to the punch, an opening date of Oct. 29 will be the latest start to Colorado's ski season in 20 years.
Loveland will be open seven days per week from Thursday until early May. Lifts will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Early season lift tickets will be $53 for adults and $25 for kids from 6 to 14 years old.
The other Colorado ski area that typically opens this early in the season is Arapahoe Basin, but while the resort is now making snow, it has no announced opening date so far.
Other Colorado ski area opening dates:
• Copper Mountain: Nov. 6
• Keystone: Nov. 6
• Wolf Creek: Nov. 6
• Breckenridge: Nov. 13
• Winter Park: Nov. 18
• Vail: Nov. 20
• Eldora: Nov. 20
• Beaver Creek: Nov. 25
• Crested Butte: Nov. 25
• Steamboat Ski Area: Nov. 25
• Aspen Mountain: Nov. 26
• Aspen Snowmass: Nov. 26
• Telluride Ski Resort: Nov. 26
• Buttermilk: Dec. 12
• Aspen Highlands: Dec. 12
• Powderhorn: Dec. 17
· Loveland Starts Making Snow for the Season [Curbed Ski]
· The Ultimate Guide to What's New at Ski Areas in 2015-2016 [Curbed Ski]
· Photos: Who's Getting Snow This Week? [Curbed Ski]