Breckenridge gets OK for expansion plan

11th June 2011, by Chris Gill

Breckenridge - Peaks 8&7 [(c) Breckenridge resort]

A project to expand the Breckenridge ski area took a step closer to reality this week, with the news that the US Forest Service has at last backed the plan.

Breckenridge, which is owned by Vail Resorts, hopes to expand onto Peak 6, developing around 500 acres of new lift-served terrain on the mountain. The proposed development would include a six-pack chairlift, new slopes, services centre and small dining facility; these would be directly accessible from a link with Peak 7.

The project has long been contested by environmentalists, and until now the Forest Services have also been reluctant. The region is home to a lot of wildlife, whose habitat would be disturbed by the development.

But a spokesman for the forest commission said that they approved the idea as a means of accommodating increasing visitor numbers – which rose considerably during this year’s bumper snowfalls.

Breckenridge is already one of the largest ski areas in Colorado.

• colorado
• breckenridge

Back to news