The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Summer lodging pacing ahead of last year
By Alissa Johnson
On Saturday, June 11, the Red Lady and Silver Queen lifts start turning for summer. And while summer temperatures have only just begun to reach the valley, summer visitors have been booking early at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR).
According to Erica Mueller, director of innovations and relations for CBMR, bookings for summer lodging, June through September, are pacing 13 percent ahead of last year. But that doesn’t mean that 13 percent more people are headed for the resort—many of those visitors are booking their vacations earlier than last year’s visitors.
Mueller attributes the early bookings to a couple of factors: word is getting out that CBMR lodging fills on summer weekends (particularly July) and the deadline to book early and save was June 1.
“We saw a big bump on that. It was the last chance to get a deal on weekends in July,” Mueller said.
It will surprise no one that July will be busy at the resort. The annual Mountain Conference Group, which tends to fall at the end of July and beginning of August, falls entirely during July this year and individual guests are up as well. June is about flat to last year and August is a few percentage points ahead.
Mueller says word is getting out that weekend rooms will be hard to snag during the height of summer, primarily in July.
“We have capacity during the weekdays, so people are either filling in there or booking early. We are not going to be able to sell that last-minute weekend room in July,” she said.
While the peak of summer is a few weeks away, opening day will see plenty of activity on the mountain. Hikers and bikers will find 16 trails open for all riding abilities. More trails will open as they dry out, including the Peak Trail, as the resort is still feeling the effects of cool spring temperatures.
Two new trails will also be ready for riding: Teaser, an intermediate “flow trail” completed late last season; and Happy Hour, a collaboration between the resort and the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association that connects the Upper West Side to the Upper Loop.
Also on Saturday, the Adventure Park opens, including the Coke Zero Gravity Bagjump, the bungee trampolines, the rock climbing wall and mini-golf. Jefe’s and Butte 66 will be open as well. For a full list of open trails and summer hours, visit www.ridecb.com/lifts.
