#Colorado
Summit County’s ski areas were abruptly shut down in mid-March by COVID-19. Now, ski area officials are preparing for the upcoming ski season as the pandemic continues to affect daily life.
With ski season just two months away, most ski area officials were reluctant to discuss specific winter plans but noted that they are or will be working with local and state health authorities as well as other ski areas to develop rules and guidelines for ski season.
During the Business Leadership Forum hosted Wednesday, Aug. 12, by the Summit Chamber of Commerce, Summit County Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence said officials from ski areas across the state met Wednesday with state health officials and representatives from the governor’s office.
Keystone Resort and Breckenridge Ski Resort’s parent company, Vail Resorts, announced at the end of July that the resorts were preparing for the upcoming season and urged communities, employees and guests to “stay vigilant” in the fight against COVID-19. The letter, written by Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz, touched on some of the requirements of the 2020-21 ski season, including facial coverings in all indoor and outdoor public gathering spaces. He also wrote that physical distancing efforts will limit or restrict events or other gatherings where 6 feet of space between unrelated groups can’t be maintained.
Keystone spokesperson Loryn Roberson wrote in an email that the resorts are planning for a normal opening schedule as they continue to learn from summer operations. Employees also are undergoing health screenings and training.
