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Front Range skiers now have a new alternative to sitting alone in I-70 traffic. Liftopia, the popular online lift-ticket marketplace, recently launched day trips that pair mountain adventures—think snow tubing and a brewery visit at Echo Mountain and skiing in Loveland—with round-trip bus service. All you need to do is show up, kick back, and enjoy the ride.
Liftopia Experiences, as they’re called, were launched in 26 markets across the country, but the packages at Echo and Loveland are the only offerings in the Rocky Mountain West (at least so far). Customers can choose from three convenient pickup locations—Denver’s Union Station, the Arvada Park and Ride, and the T-Rex Park and Ride in Golden.
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All trips include transportation to and from the mountains, lift tickets, and a designated Liftopia host, whose goal is to make the experience as smooth as possible (prices for both packages start at $115). At Loveland, riders can also choose optional ski and snowboard rentals or lessons for an extra fee; and at Echo Mountain, customers can purchase beer when the bus stops at the brewery.
While guided mountain adventures may appeal to folks new to the world of snow sports, this program isn’t solely geared at getting novices to the slopes. One of the primary reasons for launch is the often torturous traffic on the I-70 corridor, where most popular Denver ski destinations are located. The hope is that bussing people to and from their destinations will not only cut down on the number of vehicles on the road, but also create a less stressful travel solution for everyone.
According to Liftopia CEO Evan Reece, Liftopia Experiences is the first in a string of services to come that will make things better for skiers and ski areas throughout the country. The company aims to get folks to the mountains more frequently and to give them more confidence when they arrive, thanks to the extra assistance from hosts who provide direction on simple yet important things like where to pick up skis.
“Trips like these are much more pleasant for both die hard skiers and newbies,” says Reece, citing the convenience of it all. If that proves to be true, Liftopia could bring more experiential packages to Colorado as soon as next season.