Lift tickets at Aspen normally run between $189 and $309 for a single day, which is why the resort's latest announcement has skiers doing a double take. To mark 80 years since its lifts first turned in 1946, Aspen Snowmass is selling a limited batch of day tickets for $3.75 — the exact price skiers paid on opening day nearly eight decades ago.
There's a catch, but a small one: the $3.75 tickets are valid only for Dec. 14, the anniversary of the resort's original opening date. If that day doesn't work, there's a middle option — $80 tickets for Dec. 12 and 13, a nod to the big birthday. Either way, the tickets work across all four of the resort's mountains: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk. Quantities are limited, so anyone tempted should book early.
The anniversary pricing doesn't stop at the lift gate. On-mountain food and drink will be discounted to $19.46 deals — again referencing the founding year — and all four mountains will host events, giveaways and après celebrations through the festive period.
Lodging deals sweeten the package too. The Limelight Snowmass is offering 46 percent off stays between Dec. 11 and 14 with the code 80YEARS (two-night minimum), while the Limelight Aspen has the same 46 percent discount for Dec. 13-14 with no minimum stay. For something more upscale, The Little Nell — the resort's flagship hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain — is offering up to 30 percent off stays Dec. 11-14, also with code 80YEARS and no minimum night requirement.
Why does this matter? Aspen Snowmass has a reputation as one of the most expensive ski destinations on the planet, and fair enough — but this is a rare window to ski world-class terrain at a fraction of the usual cost, or even effectively for free. Four distinct mountains give the trip range: Snowmass for variety and family-friendly cruising, Aspen Highlands for the legendary Highland Bowl hike, Aspen Mountain right above the town, and Buttermilk for beginners and terrain parks. Add discounted rooms in town and on-mountain dining deals, and a mid-December trip could cost less than a single peak-season lift ticket elsewhere.
Who's it for? Anyone who has always wanted to ski Aspen but been priced out, locals looking for a cheap day on snow, and early-season travellers who can be flexible around the fixed dates. Just remember tickets are limited and tied to specific December dates, so decide quickly.
Aspen Skiing Company CEO Geoff Buchheister summed up the sentiment in the announcement, calling the resort a place where nature meets culture and where the company carves the future while honouring the past. Eighty years in, that past now comes with a 1946 price tag — for one day only.
Story via Ski Magazine.
