2 Colorado ski resorts close lifts for season; 2 remain open

WINTER PARK, Colo., - The end of the ski season is always tough to handle for some, as two resorts close its lifts for the season.

Sunday, Winter Park and Purgatory both closed.

“Sad, very sad. It’s hard to not find something to do after school every Friday and all week,” said Dallas Labeau.

“It’s always a little bitter sweet to have the end of the year, especially when things are going so well, but we’re going to look back on this year and know it’s going to be one of our best,” said Steve Hurlbert, spokesperson for Winter Park Resort.

While the ski season started slow, many resorts pushed back their closing weekend date because of the big April snowfall, which may become the norm said Hurlbert.

“We got a late start, but boy we certainly made up for lost time. We ended up with 330 total inches of snow for the entire year, which is roughly about 10 inches more than our average, so it actually ended up being a great snow year,” said Hurlbert.  “I think this is kind of what we’re looking at in terms of ski seasons now, that actually kind of start later and run a little bit later, because we kind of saw the same pattern last year, but whenever we get the snow, when it comes, people will be stoked to ride it.”

The later closing weekend and snow conditions left few people complaining about additional spring ski days.

“It’s pretty good. It’s a little icy and a little bumpy, but other than that it was really good,” said Maura Lux.

There are two ski resorts that remain open.

Loveland will close May 7 and Arapaho Basin is set to close June 4.