Featured Image: Ian Zinner – Courtesy of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Breaking news out of Summit County, Colorado, today as Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, affectionately known as “The Legend,” is set to be acquired by Alterra Mountain Company, the proprietors of the global Ikon Pass. The current owners of The Basin, Dream Unlimited Corp., have announced that they are selling ownership of the resort after 27 years; the longest ownership period in Arapahoe Basin’s storied history. Known for its rugged big mountain terrain, incredible glades and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve lived there your whole life, Arapahoe Basin is a truly unique resort.
Founded in 1946, it’s no lie to say that A-Basin is one of the most fabled and beloved resorts in Colorado. It was brought to life by Colorado Ski Hall of Famer and veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, Larry Jump, who trained at Camp Hale near what is now Leadville to prepare for combat in the mountains of Italy during World War II. Jump saw the potential of Arapahoe Basin as a place for people to come together and enjoy the best of what the mountains had to offer. He took the knowledge of the terrain that he had learned in wartime and put it towards a peaceful purpose: creating a ski oasis for recreationalists to leave the troubles of the world behind. Nestled behind Loveland Pass in one of the most scenic areas of the entire Rocky Mountains, Arapahoe Basin has become just that.
SKIER: Zach Ryan | PHOTO: Lucas Herbert
While The Basin has been a member of the Ikon Pass since 2019, it was never owned by the pass’s parent company, Alterra. The big mountain paradise has been groomed (no pun intended) into what it is today by Dream Unlimited Corp. The Toronto-based group worked hard to establish A-Basin as a mountain that catered to what its skiers wanted. Dream curated a resort that held true to the vision of a skiers’ mountain. Welcoming, affordable and complete with some of the best steep alpine terrain around, it’s no accident that Arapahoe Basin has produced such a passionate and talented breed of skiers.
Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth, who has been instrumental in making the resort beloved by visitors and locals alike, had nothing but good things to say about Dream in his recent blog post that details the perspective sale. “Through steady investment (snowmaking, all new lifts, buildings, parking lots, etc.) and closely paying attention to what guests say and want, Dream fostered the environment and place we all know and love today. I don’t think another company could have created what Dream did,” Henceroth said in a statement. “After 27 years and a tremendous amount of work and success, Dream has decided it is time to sell, and Alterra is ready to buy. I am so thankful for all that my boss, Michael Cooper and Dream have done. It has been a wild and fun 27 years, but it is time for the next step.”
To say that Henceroth is beloved and trusted by the community would be an understatement, so to hear him compliment the previous owners and acknowledge that it’s time for a new chapter is a very promising sign. “[Alterra] knows and understands The Basin and is enamored by its culture and vibe. I think they are the best team to help us through our next phase of growth and maturation. I want all of you to know that my commitment to running the best mountain in the business, focused on our unique guest experience and our passionate and dedicated employees, will be greater than ever,” he concluded. There will be no difference in daily operations for the resort for the 23/24 season, and Henceroth will continue to be at the helm of the ship well into the future according to the official press release.
Change is never easy, and when it comes to the locations that we love and cherish, it can be even more difficult. We associate these chairlifts, runs, mountains and lodges with some of the most near and dear moments of our lives, so it’s understandable to be hesitant when a new owner steps into place. That being said, change is also inevitable. It is better to have a smooth transition in an acceptable timeline than to be met with abrupt and miscalculated modifications. Arapahoe Basin is one of the greatest places on the planet, and it’s highly doubtful that will change anytime soon. There are still many questions to be answered before the sale is finalized, but for now, it appears that the team at The Legend is excited for the future, and that means we are too.
