Keystone sells October 24 lift tickets as Colorado resorts race to open
Keystone Resort in Colorado is selling lift tickets for October 24, but it has not set an opening day. Last season Keystone was the first resort in North America to open, on October 25. Other ski areas nearby plan to open as soon as the weather lets them.
Keystone Resort is selling lift tickets for Saturday, October 24, but has not announced an opening day, the Aspen Times, The Denver Gazette and SnowBrains reported.
"Keystone Resort does not have an official opening date. We remain committed to opening as soon as possible," a Keystone spokesperson said in a statement, the Aspen Times reported. The Aspen Times reported that tickets bought for October could be exchanged for an opening-day ticket if the date changes.
An adult day ticket for October 24 costs $124 online, The Denver Gazette and SnowBrains reported.
Last season, Keystone opened on October 25 and was the first ski resort in North America to open, the Aspen Times and SnowBrains reported. Arapahoe Basin opened the next day, the Aspen Times, The Denver Gazette and SnowBrains reported. That winter brought very low snowpack across much of the West, the Aspen Times reported.
The first lift tickets on sale at Arapahoe Basin are for November 1, The Denver Gazette and SnowBrains reported. A-Basin can't give an official opening date yet, but its goal is to open as soon as possible, a spokesperson said, the Aspen Times reported. Loveland Ski Area also hopes to open early, the Aspen Times and The Denver Gazette reported.
The first big snowstorm of the season reached Colorado's high peaks in mid-October, the Aspen Times reported. Ski areas need cold, dry air to make snow, and a spokesperson for Keystone said heavy storms can make snowmaking harder, the Aspen Times reported.
SnowBrains noted that a ticket date is not an opening announcement. It said Keystone opened on November 2 in 2024 and November 1 in 2023.
What we know: Keystone is selling lift tickets for October 24, and Keystone and Arapahoe Basin both say they will open as soon as possible.
What we don't: Which Colorado resort will open first, and on what day.
Where outlets agree The Aspen Times, The Denver Gazette and SnowBrains report that Keystone is selling lift tickets for October 24 without an announced opening day, after it opened first in North America last season on October 25.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.