Just over a month ago, I did a blog post on the “State of
the Basin” following our big change in partnerships. After a slow start to the
season, business had picked up nicely since Martin Luther King weekend and we
had even begun worrying about crowds on Saturdays. The first 10 days of the 2020-21
season pass sales had been terrific. It is amazing how rapidly COVID-19 has
completely turned our world upside down. Today is the 23rd day we
have been closed.
The core of what we do at Arapahoe Basin is providing
opportunities for people to have extraordinary mountain experiences. Not being
able to do that is very frustrating and it is very hard on our business and our
staff. Our primary action since the closure has been taking care of our
employees, helping them get through this crisis. Secondary to that we have been
trying to figure out when we can get our business started again offering those
mountain experiences.
This evening Governor Polis extended the "Stay at Home" Executive Order through April 26 and the Ski Area Closure Executive Order through April 30. Our average closing day is in mid-June. Whether we are able to
re-open again this spring is yet to be seen. I can tell you with absolute
certainty that there is still a lot of time and we will not give up on trying
to re-open. If it makes sense to re-open and if our community is ready for us
to re-open, we will re-open. This closure has forced us to change and re-think
many issues. No doubt the pot will be sweetened for 2020-21 season pass
renewals. Please bear with us as we work through the very challenging months
ahead.
Perhaps what I miss most through this closure is seeing our
guests and employees having fun at Arapahoe Basin. I am thankful that over the
past three weeks I have received a number of very kind messages of support from
many of you. The Basin is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people. I look
forward to seeing all of you on the slopes and trails soon. We miss you.
