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| Loveland Ski Area |
| Old Trail Maps: |
| Chair #9 at 12,700' |
| Resort History: |
| Loveland's north side |
| Loveland's trail signs were almost buried after the blizzard of 2003! |
| The Basin Lodge and Parking Area |
| Current Resort Stats: * |
| Loveland Valley offers a great place for beginners to learn. |
Pros and Cons to Skiing Here:
|
| Copyright © coloradoskihistory.com All Rights Reserved. *Resort Stats Current for 2009-10 Sources: Loveland Ski Area Picture Credits: Brad C. Postcard and early 1960's maps thanks to Tom M. |
Loveland Ski Area first opened its slopes to skiers back in 1936 when
J.C. Blickensderfer installed at tow at what is now called Loveland Basin.
The following season Al Bennett continued the operations by using a
Model T engine for power.
In 1941, the area was officially named The Loveland Ski Tow Inc. By
1948, four ski tows were in use and they were logically named A, B,
C,and D.
The next decade would bring big changes to the area. In 1955, the
business was sold to group of stockholders who employed Pete Seibert
(10th Mountain Division Member) as the general manager. Seibert would
later build the Vail Ski Area in the early 1960's.
Heron Engineering was contracted to install Loveland's first ski lift in
1955. It was named Chair 1, and has the same line as the current lift.
The following season, Chair 2 was built. The lift began near the slope
maintenance building west of the current Basin Lodge.
By the late 1950's to 1960's construction began of the Dwight D.
Eisenhower Tunnel, which runs directly below the base of Chair 4. During
this time period, Chairs 3 and 4 were built also by Heron Engineering.
This opened the Loveland Valley Ski Area in 1961 as well as some
south-facing slopes to the north of Chair 2 in 1965.
During the 1980's, Loveland upgraded the old Chair 2 with a
high-capacity Yan triple chair. This provided better, more reliable access
to beginner and intermediate terrain. In 1989, a new Valley lodge was
constructed, allowing for better guest services at the beginner and racing
hills.
Loveland continued its expansions during the 1990's. In 1990, Yan was
contracted to install Loveland's first fixed-grip quad. The lift serves
intermediate and expert bowl terrain to the right of Chair 4. Due to
increased skier numbers, in 1995, Loveland decided to enlarge the Basin
lodge to its current size. This drastically increased the number of people
the building could accommodate. The following year, chair 3 was
replaced by a Poma quad chair, doubling the lift capacity at the Valley.
During the summer of 1998, Loveland received approval from the Forest
Service to install a quad chair to the summit of "The Ridge." Original
proposals called for a surface lift, but due to the large amounts of snow
the area gets annually, a tram lift was the best option. Poma of America
engineered and constructed this quad chair.
Looking to the Future:
Loveland is currently studying expanding the Valley by adding an
additional quad chair to the left of Chair 3. This would provide more trail
options here. Another possible expansion area is to the right of chair 8,
but access to this area is remote and would require another base area.
J.C. Blickensderfer installed at tow at what is now called Loveland Basin.
The following season Al Bennett continued the operations by using a
Model T engine for power.
In 1941, the area was officially named The Loveland Ski Tow Inc. By
1948, four ski tows were in use and they were logically named A, B,
C,and D.
The next decade would bring big changes to the area. In 1955, the
business was sold to group of stockholders who employed Pete Seibert
(10th Mountain Division Member) as the general manager. Seibert would
later build the Vail Ski Area in the early 1960's.
Heron Engineering was contracted to install Loveland's first ski lift in
1955. It was named Chair 1, and has the same line as the current lift.
The following season, Chair 2 was built. The lift began near the slope
maintenance building west of the current Basin Lodge.
By the late 1950's to 1960's construction began of the Dwight D.
Eisenhower Tunnel, which runs directly below the base of Chair 4. During
this time period, Chairs 3 and 4 were built also by Heron Engineering.
This opened the Loveland Valley Ski Area in 1961 as well as some
south-facing slopes to the north of Chair 2 in 1965.
During the 1980's, Loveland upgraded the old Chair 2 with a
high-capacity Yan triple chair. This provided better, more reliable access
to beginner and intermediate terrain. In 1989, a new Valley lodge was
constructed, allowing for better guest services at the beginner and racing
hills.
Loveland continued its expansions during the 1990's. In 1990, Yan was
contracted to install Loveland's first fixed-grip quad. The lift serves
intermediate and expert bowl terrain to the right of Chair 4. Due to
increased skier numbers, in 1995, Loveland decided to enlarge the Basin
lodge to its current size. This drastically increased the number of people
the building could accommodate. The following year, chair 3 was
replaced by a Poma quad chair, doubling the lift capacity at the Valley.
During the summer of 1998, Loveland received approval from the Forest
Service to install a quad chair to the summit of "The Ridge." Original
proposals called for a surface lift, but due to the large amounts of snow
the area gets annually, a tram lift was the best option. Poma of America
engineered and constructed this quad chair.
Looking to the Future:
Loveland is currently studying expanding the Valley by adding an
additional quad chair to the left of Chair 3. This would provide more trail
options here. Another possible expansion area is to the right of chair 8,
but access to this area is remote and would require another base area.
| Insider Tips to Skiing Here: |
| The Trail: Cat's Meow |
| The trails: Over the Rainbow and Avalanche Bowl |
| The Drive Terminal for #9 |
| Fire Bowl |
| Loveland is always one of the first ski areas in the nation to start snowmaking. |
| Overlooking Chair #1 |
| Historic Loveland Pictures: |
The old Chair #1 Lift
Late 1960's
| Early 1960's |
1950's Postcard
