What's New at Beaver Creek, Colorado

Family-friendly Ski Resort Unveils Lodging, Amenities, Restaurants

Nov 5, 2008

Beaver Creek Resort welcomes guests with a host of new attractions this ski season. Here's a peek at what awaits visitors at the luxury ski area and village.

Beaver Creek is arguably Colorado's most luxurious ski resort (even rivaling Aspen). Its pedestrian-friendly village beckons families with its mammoth outdoor ice rink, and shoppers love browsing its upscale galleries and posh boutiques. Of course, the skiing and snowboarding are sublime -- last year the mountain recorded a record 430 inches of snow! Customer service is excellent, and the hotel, dining and bar options are also first-rate.

Of course, even the best guest experiences can be improved. In time for the influx of Christmastime visitors, Beaver Creek Resort is unveiling all sorts of new attractions to its visitors:

New Beaver Creek Lodging: Osprey at Beaver Creek, A RockResort

The former Inn at Beaver Creek has undergone a $7 million transformation and is now known as the chic and stylish, ski-in/ski-out Osprey at Beaver Creek, scheduled to open December 19, 2008. The refurbished RockResorts property features 45 guest rooms, outdoor pool with poolside bar, hot tub, fitness center, ski valet and storage, plus personal butler and concierge services.

Check out "The Osprey's First Flight" package for $999, available January 3 to April 12, 2009: Three nights accommodation in a superior king room with fireplace, dinner for two at the tapas-style lounge, daily breakfast for two, transfer from Eagle County Airport, gourmet picnic basket, champagne and chocolates on arrival.

New Beaver Creek Lodging: Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa

This full-service condominium hotel that opened in August 2008 is technically in the town of Avon, below Beaver Creek Resort. But the property's Riverfront Express Gondola will whisk skiers directly to Beaver Creek Mountain once the chairlifts start running November 26, 2008. Spacious residence-style accommodations range from suites to three-bedroom apartments.

New Beaver Creek Restaurant: 8100 Mountainside Bar and Grill

Scheduled to open December 12, 2008, is the 8100 Mountainside Bar and Grill inside the sophisticated Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, which occupies prime real estate in Beaver Creek Village, steps from the pedestrian plaza and at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain.

This eatery that focuses on fresh ingredients from local and national purveyors is in the space previously occupied by Bivans and Whiskey Elk restaurant. It includes an open, airy dining space, a 20-seat bar, intimate wine room with chef's table and open kitchen with wood-burning grill. The menu changes according to seasonality and availability of fresh ingredients. And its name? That comes from the fact that Beaver Creek is at 8,100 feet above sea level.

New Ski & Snowboard School: The Ranch

Children have a premier learning center in The Ranch, a state-of-the-art ski and snowboard school just for little winter-sports enthusiasts. It's a 4,000-square-foot building at the top of the Buckaroo Express Gondola (introduced last season), surrounded by easy bunny slopes. Parents can peek in on their kids through the center's picture windows. At lunchtime, fresh and wholesome foods are served to the young skiers and riders, such as all-natural Coleman meat, Horizon dairy products and a yogurt bar.

More Customer-service Oriented Amenities and Activities

Beaver Creek guests will also appreciate new automated snowmaking machines, with energy-efficient towers to reduce the amount of compressed air needed to make snow; a ski-safely, on-mountain scavenger hunt for kids; environmental-education mountain tours with a U.S. Forest Ranger; and free chocolate chip cookies delivered by "Cookie Time" chefs at the end of the ski day.