Beaver Creek Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beaver Creek |
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Birds of Prey race course at Beaver Creek
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 Beaver Creek
Location in Colorado
Beaver Creek
Location in the United States
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| Location | Eagle County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Avon |
| Coordinates | 39°37′53″N 106°31′18″W / 39.63139°N 106.52167°W |
| Vertical | 3,340 feet (1,020 m) |
| Top elevation | 11,440 feet (3,490 m) |
| Base elevation | 8,100 feet (2,500 m) |
| Skiable area | 2,082 acres (8.43 km2) |
| Runs | 167 – 28% beginner – 38% intermediate – 34% advanced/expert |
| Longest run | Centennial – 2.75 miles (4.4 km) |
| Lift system | 24 total (2 gondolas, 1 Chondola, 12 high-speed quad chairs, 1 fixed-grip quad, 1 triple chair, 1 double chair, 6 "magic carpets") |
| Terrain parks |  Yes, 3 |
| Snowfall | 323 inches (820 cm) per yr |
| Website | beavercreek.com |
Beaver Creek Resort is a super cool ski resort in the western United States. It's located near Avon, Colorado, and is famous for its amazing skiing and snowboarding. The resort has three main areas: Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead. It's owned and run by Vail Resorts, a big company that owns many other ski resorts. Beaver Creek often hosts big international ski races called the World Cup events, usually in early December.
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Discovering Beaver Creek's Past
The beautiful valley where Beaver Creek Resort now stands was first settled way back in 1881. Early pioneers moved here because of a law called the Homestead Act. They farmed hay and raised cattle to feed miners in the area. For many years, Beaver Creek was mostly a quiet farming community.
How Beaver Creek Became a Ski Resort
The idea for a ski resort here started in the 1950s with a person named Earl Eaton. Later, in the early 1970s, Pete Seibert tried to get the 1976 Winter Olympics to hold their ski events at a new resort that hadn't even been built yet! But when Denver decided not to host the Olympics, the plans for the resort stopped.
Then, a rich oil businessman named Harry W. Bass Jr. bought Vail Associates. He decided to finally build Beaver Creek. The ski slopes and the first hotel, The Charter at Beaver Creek, opened for skiing in the 1980–81 winter season. It started with six chairlifts.
Big Events and New Lifts
In 1989, Beaver Creek hosted the World Ski Championships. This is a huge event where the best skiers from around the globe compete. They hosted it again in 1999 and in 2015!
Over the years, many new and faster ski lifts were added. In 1986, the Centennial Express was installed, making it quicker to get up the mountain. More advanced areas like Grouse Mountain opened in 1991.
Connecting the Mountains
In 1993, Beaver Creek bought a smaller ski area next door called Arrowhead Mountain. Then, in 1997, they connected Beaver Creek and Arrowhead by building Bachelor Gulch Village and a new fast chairlift. This made it much easier for skiers to move between the different areas.
New lifts kept coming! In 2003, the Birds of Prey Express was built, giving fast access to the famous Birds of Prey downhill race course. In 2014, the Centennial Express was upgraded to a "chondola," which is a cool mix of a chairlift and a gondola cabin. This means you can choose to ride in an open chair or a closed cabin!
In 2021, a brand new area for beginners called McCoy Park opened up, with two new chairlifts to help new skiers learn and explore.
Beaver Creek Golf Course Fun
Beaver Creek isn't just for winter sports! It also has a beautiful golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The Beaver Creek Golf Club opened in 1982 and is known for its challenging courses and amazing mountain views.
Recently, the golf course has been updated to make it even better. They've improved the sand traps and added new drainage systems. The clubhouse restaurant also got a fresh new look!
Working at Beaver Creek
Many people come from all over the world to work at Beaver Creek during the ski season. The resort is owned by Vail Resorts, a company that also owns other famous ski resorts like Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, and Vail Mountain.
Exploring the Holy Cross Wilderness
Beaver Creek Resort is right next to the Holy Cross Wilderness. This is a special protected area within the White River National Forest. You can even hike a trail called Beaver Lake Trail that goes through the resort and into the wilderness area, leading to beautiful Beaver Lake and beyond.
Beaver Creek Resort Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Beaver Creek Resort:
Mountain Heights
- Lowest Point (Arrowhead Village): 7,400 feet (2,260 m) (about 2,255 meters)
- Base (Beaver Creek Village): 8,100 feet (2,470 m) (about 2,469 meters)
- Summit (Highest Point): 11,440 feet (3,490 m) (about 3,487 meters)
- Vertical Rise (from base to summit): 3,340 feet (1,020 m) (about 1,018 meters)
Skiing and Riding Areas
- Mountains: 5 different areas to ski (Beaver Creek, Grouse Mountain, Larkspur, Arrowhead Mountain, Bachelor Gulch)
- Bowls: 2 large open areas (Rose Bowl, Larkspur Bowl)
- Skiable Area: 2,082 acres (8.43 km2) (that's a lot of space!)
- Trails: 167 total trails!
- 28% are for beginners (easy green circle trails)
- 38% are for intermediate skiers (blue square trails)
- 34% are for advanced/expert skiers (black diamond trails)
- Longest Run: Centennial (a very long trail!)
- Terrain Parks: 3 fun parks for jumps and tricks
- Average Snowfall: 323 inches (820 cm) (about 8.2 meters) of snow each year!
Lift System
As of 2024, Beaver Creek has 24 total lifts to get you up the mountain quickly and easily. This includes:
