Aspen, Colorado – Aspen Highlands, a ski resort renowned for its challenging terrain and iconic status among discerning skiers and snowboarders, has officially released its comprehensive 2025 Master Development Plan. This forward-thinking document, developed by Aspen One (also known as Aspen SkiCo), outlines a series of significant upgrades and expansions aimed at elevating the experience for winter enthusiasts, introducing robust summer programming, and exploring the long-sought goal of inter-mountain connectivity. The plan, submitted for review by the U.S. Forest Service, represents a multi-year vision to modernize infrastructure, improve guest access, and enhance the ecological health of the mountain.
The Highlands, long celebrated for its steep and deep powder bowls, particularly the legendary Highland Bowl, and its vibrant après-ski culture, particularly at Cloud Nine, is poised for a transformative evolution. While already a premier destination, the Master Development Plan addresses opportunities for modernization and expansion, building upon the resort’s existing appeal and catering to a broader range of visitors throughout the year. The strategic initiatives detailed within the plan are not unprecedented for Aspen SkiCo, which has a demonstrated track record of efficiently implementing significant projects, as evidenced by recent developments at Snowmass.
A New Era of Lift Infrastructure
Central to the 2025 Master Development Plan is a comprehensive overhaul of Aspen Highlands’ lift system, much of which dates back to the 1990s. The last major lift addition was the Deep Temerity high-speed quad in 2005, underscoring the need for modernization to improve efficiency, capacity, and guest comfort.
Maroon Bells Gondola and Thunderbowl Upgrade: The most prominent proposed lift upgrade involves replacing the Exhibition high-speed quad chairlift with a state-of-the-art, two-stage gondola featuring ten-person cabins. The initial stage of the Maroon Bells Gondola would terminate near the current Exhibition top terminal, with the upper stage ascending to a station adjacent to the renowned Cloud Nine restaurant. This ambitious project holds historical significance, echoing the original vision of founder Whip Jones, who envisioned a gondola connecting the base to the upper reaches of the mountain. While the proposed alignment differs from Jones’s initial concept, its realization would represent a significant nod to the resort’s pioneering spirit.
Concurrently, the Thunderbowl area, currently served by a fixed-grip triple chairlift, is slated for replacement with a high-speed, detachable quad chairlift. This upgrade is expected to significantly improve uphill capacity and reduce wait times in a high-traffic zone.
Accessing Underutilized Terrain: To unlock the potential of currently less-accessible areas, a new high-speed quad chairlift, dubbed "Apple Strudel," is planned to provide access to mid-mountain terrain. This lift would terminate near the Merry-Go-Round restaurant, offering a new gateway to promising skiable areas.
Beginner Area Enhancement: For novice skiers and the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club, a dedicated beginner rope tow is proposed on the Smuggler trail, providing a safe and accessible learning environment.
Enhancing the Mountain Experience Beyond Lifts
The Master Development Plan extends beyond lift improvements, encompassing a holistic approach to enhancing the guest experience and the mountain’s operational efficiency.
Lodge and Dining Expansions: Several key on-mountain dining facilities are set to undergo significant expansions. The Merry-Go-Round restaurant is planned to increase its indoor seating capacity by approximately 220 seats, addressing current limitations. Cloud Nine restaurant will also see enhancements, including the addition of a convenient to-go counter, an expanded outdoor deck, and increased indoor dining space, with an estimated 40 additional seats for each section. These upgrades aim to improve service and accommodate the resort’s popular dining venues more effectively.
Forest Health and Tree Skiing: A critical component of the plan addresses forest health across approximately 845 acres of wooded areas. These initiatives are designed to mitigate wildfire risks, improve overall forest vitality, and, consequently, enhance the quality of tree skiing. Specific areas targeted for this work include Grey Area, Child’s Play, Northwoods, Temerity, Steeplechase, Enigma, Sherwood Forest, Cloud Nine, and Moment of Truth. These efforts underscore a commitment to the long-term sustainability of the mountain’s natural environment.
Infrastructure and Operational Improvements: The plan also details several other notable improvements, including the widening of the cat-track leading to the Highland Bowl, an expansion of snowmaking infrastructure to reach Cloud Nine, the addition of two new uphill routes, widening of the Broadway trail, improvements to several catwalks, regrading around the lift mazes for Deep Temerity and Cloud Nine, and the acquisition of tarps to aid in snow preservation. The inclusion of summer activities also signals a strategic move towards year-round revenue generation and visitor engagement.
The Elusive Interconnect: A Long-Term Vision
A perennial topic of discussion within the Aspen Snowmass community is the potential for inter-mountain connectivity between its four distinct ski areas: Aspen Mountain (Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. The current infrastructure necessitates travel between resorts by car or shuttle, posing a challenge for skiers aiming to experience multiple mountains in a single day.
The 2025 Master Development Plan acknowledges this long-standing aspiration, stating that a lift connection has been considered for decades but has historically faced significant logistical and environmental hurdles. However, recent advancements in lift technology have reignited the possibility. The plan outlines a "study stage" for a potential connection that could link Ajax, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands. Given their geographical proximity, any initial phase of such an ambitious project would likely focus on a connection between Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. This aspect of the plan represents a long-term vision, with extensive research and planning required before any implementation could be considered.
Regulatory Review and Future Implementation
The 2025 Master Development Plan is now subject to review by the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the federal lands upon which Aspen Highlands operates. The Forest Service will assess whether the proposed developments align with its land management objectives and environmental stewardship goals. It is important to note that even if the overall Master Development Plan receives approval, each individual project within the plan will undergo a separate, detailed review process by the Forest Service, unless it has already secured prior approval. This multi-stage review process ensures thorough consideration of all aspects of the proposed developments.
The release of this comprehensive master plan signals a significant commitment from Aspen SkiCo to invest in the future of Aspen Highlands. By modernizing its infrastructure, enhancing its operational capabilities, and exploring innovative solutions for guest access and mountain management, the resort is positioning itself for continued success and an even more compelling experience for generations of skiers and visitors to come. The strategic focus on both winter and summer operations, coupled with the forward-looking consideration of inter-mountain connectivity, underscores a dynamic approach to resort development in one of the world’s most iconic ski destinations.
