The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Adventure Park feature will have frozen surface for rest of season
In the spirit of winter, Crested Butte Mountain Resort has decided to put down an ice surface at the 5,500-square-foot skating rink at the base area. Right now, the surface is comprised of a synthetic product called Super Glide, which mimics ice-like conditions and can be used year-round.
CBMR’s Director of Resort Services Nick Herrin said, “We’re taking the rink in a new direction. We wanted to try something creative, inventive and environmentally friendly with this rink. But we listened to the community and our guests and we want to have the best use of that space for everyone. We’re realizing that guests are requesting the real thing, and I think it’s time to start something new.”
Essentially, CBMR is removing the dry surface and laying down a membrane that will contain the ice within the existing structure. They may go back to the Super Glide surface for the summer, but no decision has been made yet. Herrin said they were pulling up the dry-ice surface on Wednesday, January 13 and plan to start laying down real ice layers soon.
The surface will be maintained with a manual Zamboni-like machine and CBMR will extend the sides of the roof structure to keep the ice surface as consistent as possible. CBMR’s goal is to open the ice rink in the next couple weeks.
Currently the rink is open until 6 p.m. “If this is a successful product, we will extend the hours for the rink,” Herrin said. “If there are other activities we can offer on ice, we definitely want to do it. We have to do our research first.” Potential activities for the rink range from intramural broomball to hockey.
The Avalanche Bar and Grill, owned by Todd Barnes, is located right across from the rink. “The real ice will add to the experience,” Barnes said. “I think CBMR is on to something good. You weren’t seeing a lot of use of the rink—maybe this will change that.”
“The whole idea of the Adventure Park is to bring more life to the mountain village,” Herrin added. “We want to find the right activities to get people to stay longer, and want to optimize all that space to the best of our ability.”
