HISTORY

1936-37        

Portable rope tow operations installed by J.C. Blickensderfer.

1937-38        

Operations at Loveland Ski Tow Company begin.

Operations are taken over by Al Bennett with a rope tow that was powered by a Model T engine.

1939-40        

Two rope tows “A Tow” and “Rainbow Tow” were added.

1941-42        

Named Loveland Ski Tow Inc.

“D Tow” and cleat track tractor added. The cleat track tractor hauled people to “D Tow” and was the only alternative to hiking up.

1946-47        

“A Tow” replaced with new rope tow.

“B Tow” (rope tow) added.

1948-49      

“C Tow” (rope tow) added. This tow filled the gap between the top of “B Tow” and bottom of “D Tow”.

1951-52        

September 30, 1951 – Loveland’s earliest opening for the season.

1955-56        

Stockholders purchase Loveland Ski Tow Inc. Partners: C.R. Upham, Jr, Al Bennett, Robert Murri, Bill Bolin, Pricilla Barnard.

Peter Seibert named new General Manager.

1956-57        

Lift 1 (double chair) was added.

1957-58        

Lift 2 (double chair) was added.

Ray Parker named new General Manager.

1958-59

“Mambo Cafe” opened near the bottom of current Chair 4.

“Fury Creek” was lost as the construction of Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel began.

1959-60        

Gorden Wren named new General Manager.

1961-62        

Loveland Valley, a separate area for beginners and Ski School, was constructed just east of Loveland Basin to add beginner terrain lost from the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel and Interstate 70.

1965-66        

Otto Werlin named new General Manager.

1967-68        

Loveland became the first major ski area in Colorado to have snowmaking capabilities using diesel compressors from the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel.

1984-85       

First season with snowmaking at Loveland Valley. 

1985-86

Lift 2 was replaced with a high capacity triple lift.

1989-90        

Loveland Valley base area got a facelift with a new building.

1990-91        

Lift 8 (fixed grip quad) opened accessing “Zip Basin”. It was named after Zipfelberger Ski Club who regularly hiked to the area for skiing in the 30’s.

1992-93        

Ken Abrahamson named new General Manager.

1995-96        

Loveland Basin’s main day lodge is remodeled and expanded.

Yearly record snowfall hit the area with 586 inches throughout the season.

1996-97        

Lift 3 is replaced with a fixed grip quad lift.

Rathskeller Bar was renovated.

1998-99        

Lift 9 is installed providing long awaited lift access to The Ridge. Reaching an altitude of 12,700 feet, Lift 9 was the highest chair lift in the world at the time.

2002-03        

Loveland Ski Area broke its 24-hour snowfall record 3 times during the March Blizzard. The final record for 24-hour snowfall was finally set from Tuesday at 1pm to Wednesday 1pm when Loveland received 36 inches of fresh powder.

2007-08

Bob Magrino named Director of Mountain Operations.

Robert Goodell named Director of Business Operations.

2010-11        

Second most snowfall in one season. Loveland received 568 inches of total snowfall.

2011-12        

Lift 4 was replaced with a fixed-grip  triple.

E Tow Cabin was renovated.

2012-13        

Loveland Ski Area celebrates its 75^th Anniversary.

Unload station added to mid-way Lift 2.

The Ptarmigan Roost & Rock House cabins are renovated and expanded. The Ptarmigan Roost Cabin now offers food service and restrooms.

Loveland acquires 20 passenger Ridge Cat and offers free snowcat tours along The Ridge.

2013-14

Basin Lodge expansion adds 200 additional seats.

2014-15

The Ginny Lee Cabin opened off Lift 8 and provides skiers and riders with a warming hut and restrooms on the north side of the mountain.

New magic carpet surface lift is installed at Loveland Valley.

Basin Cafeteria renovation is completed.

2015-16

Lift 2 reconfiguration is completed. Existing lift is shortened to the mid-way point and a new fixed grip triple lift is installed to service the upper terrain. The new lift, Ptarmigan Lift, provides more efficient access to terrain previously served by Lift 2.

Poma surface lift is removed.

2018-19

Loveland replaced Lift 1 with its first high-speed lift, Chet’s Dream. The new high-speed quad from Leitner Poma was named in honor of Loveland’s patriarch, Chester R. (Chet) Upham, Jr. (May 19, 1925 – January 24, 2008). Chet’s Dream cut the ride time from around 9 minutes to just under 3 minutes.

Loveland Ski Area Story Link: https://skiloveland.com/chets-dream/

2022-2023

Lift 6 was replaced with a fixed-grip  triple.

Loveland Ski Area longtime owner and ski industry pioneer Chester(Chet) R. Upham Jr inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

Loveland Ski Area completed a massive expansion of the Valley Lodge and facilities that has tripled the amount of seating capacity in the cafeteria, significantly expanded the Rental Shop, and provided the Ski & Ride School with a new Children’s Center and addtional capacity to accommodate more guests during the check-in process.

Loveland Snowcat Tours launched in February of 2022 offering full-day guided backcountry snowcat trips in Dry Gulch, just east of Lift 8. Intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders can explore 580 acres of open bowl skiing with expert guides from Loveland’s Ski Patrol. Trips run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays January through April as conditions permit.

2023-2024

Loveland Ski Area begins to offer summer events in the newly renovated and expanded lodge at Loveland Valley. With beautiful mountain views and space for up to 300 guests, Loveland Valley offers a charming mountain setting for weddings and special events throughout the summer months.