Adventure Park bolstering base area

Zip line course in the mountain’s future?

At the ski area, the Flying Gopher miniature golf course is filling the void left by the departed synthetic ice rink, and then some. And overall the Adventure Park is seeing higher visitation, as are the lifts, compared to last year. Nick Herrin, Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s director of resort services, attended the July Mt. Crested Butte Downtown Development Authority meeting to present the numbers to date for the Adventure Park.

Revenue-wise, Herrin reported, “We’re $6,000 ahead of last year, and we brought in $8,000 in June alone.” As of July 12, total Adventure Park revenue to date is $22,564.
Herrin said the park sold 778 single-use Adventure Park tickets from June 19 to July 12, including 535 for mini golf. He said more often adults buy the single-use ticket, while kids tend to get the unlimited Adventure Park day ticket that allows them to do each activity as many times as they’d like.
“The climbing wall is being used least, but it’s a dedicated group of users,” said Herrin. “We see the same kids over and over. A much more select group is using the climbing wall. We’re hoping to purchase two more auto belays [for the climbing wall].”
On a recent trip to Big Sky, Montana, Herrin tried out a zip-line course and was blown away by how popular the feature was, and he said it contributes to a long length of stay at the resort. While it’s not in CBMR’s immediate plans, Herrin didn’t rule the feature out for the future.
DDA board member Jamie Watt asked Herrin, “Do you plan any more decorations around the mini golf?”
Herrin said CBMR is fine-tuning the mini-golf course by adding features and rock walls, and he says the grass came in really well, as are the wildflowers.
As for the winter, Herrin said, “We are planning to go back to the ice skating rink in winter.” And he is really pushing for some city league broomball and curling to help bring more winter traffic to the Adventure Park.
“But I got two calls today asking if the mini golf would be open this winter,” Herrin said, laughing.
Winter mini golf? Tundra tournament anyone? You never know…