If you’ve seen the new Winter Park Unlocked map, you’re looking at the future of our home mountain, and it’s a big one.
This visual isn’t just a pretty rendering. It’s a snapshot of how Winter Park Resort, the Town of Winter Park, and regional partners plan to reshape the way we ski, travel, and live here over the next decade or more. The Winter Park Unlocked master plan includes major terrain expansion, an in-town gondola, a ski-back trail, new public spaces, hotels, and more. (blog.winterparkresort.com)
Let’s walk through what you’re actually seeing on this map and what it means if you love spending time (or owning property) in Winter Park.
The Big Picture: Winter Park Unlocked
Winter Park Unlocked is a long-term, multi-phase, multi-billion-dollar vision for the resort and town. The early priorities focus on four big buckets:
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Mountain expansion
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Connectivity & transit (including a town-to-resort gondola)
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Public spaces & parking
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Hotels & residential (blog.winterparkresort.com)
The goal is simple: keep Winter Park’s laid-back, authentic feel while making it easier to get here, easier to move around without a car, and even more fun to ski, ride, hike, and hang out year-round.
The Green Zone: New Terrain in Vasquez Ridge
On the right side of the map, you’ll see a big green shaded area labeled “Proposed Terrain Expansion.” That’s the Vasquez Ridge expansion zone.
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The plan adds around 700 acres of new skiable terrain in this area. (blog.winterparkresort.com)
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With that addition, Winter Park is expected to become the third-largest ski resort in Colorado, behind only Vail and Steamboat in total skiable acreage. (SKI)
For skiers and riders, that means:
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More variety, especially intermediate and advanced terrain
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Better ability for the resort to spread people out on busy days
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A new on-mountain dining spot planned near the top of the Wild Spur Express lift in the Vasquez zone (Unofficial Networks)
In short: this map is showing a Winter Park that skis much “bigger” than it does today.
The Red Lines: “Connect Winter Park” Aerial Transit System
Those red lines stretching from town toward the resort are one of the most exciting parts of Winter Park Unlocked: Connect Winter Park, an aerial transit system (think gondola) that links the town directly to the slopes. (blog.winterparkresort.com)
On the map you can see:
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A town-side terminal down along Highway 40
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A mid-mountain connection at Discovery Park
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A route that ties into the main base area
What this means in real life:
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You could park, stay, or live in town and ride a gondola straight to the resort, instead of fighting for base-area parking.
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For visitors, it’s a seamless, car-free experience.
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For locals and second homeowners, it helps turn much of town into a truly ski-accessible community.
This same connectivity vision also ties into broader passenger rail plans that would improve train service between Denver, Winter Park, Steamboat, and Craig—another piece hinted at by the “Train” label on the left side of the map. (blog.winterparkresort.com)
The Blue Zone: Base Area Development Plan
In the center of the image, the blue shaded section is the Base Area Development Plan.
Early-stage concepts include: (blog.winterparkresort.com)
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A new Mountain Center for guest services right at the base
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Expanded public plazas and green spaces, including riverfront improvements along the Fraser River
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A large parking structure to replace or consolidate surface parking
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New retail, dining, and gathering spaces
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Multiple new hotels and residential buildings, including one that also functions as a base lodge
For guests, that translates to a more walkable, village-style base with better food, more lodging options, and easier arrivals. For homeowners and investors, it means continued demand around the base area and stronger four-season appeal.
The Ski-Back Trail: Skiing (and Biking) Into Town
On the far right side of the map, you’ll notice a red line labeled Ski Back Trail weaving from the resort back toward town.
The ski-back trail is designed to:
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Let you finish your ski day by cruising right into town, not just to the base
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Function as a multi-use trail in summer for hiking and biking
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Strengthen the feeling that Winter Park is truly one connected mountain-town experience, not just a resort with a town “nearby”
Pair that with the gondola, and many properties in and near town become effectively ski-in/ski-out by lift or trail, which is a big deal for both lifestyle and property values.
How This Map Changes Winter Park’s Future
When you zoom out, this one visual captures some huge shifts:
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Size: The Vasquez expansion pushes Winter Park into Colorado’s top three in skiable acreage. (SKI)
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Access: A town-to-resort gondola, improved rail, and better parking make it easier to get here and easier to move around without a car. (blog.winterparkresort.com)
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Experience: Redesigned base areas, new hotels, upgraded dining, and expanded public spaces support a true year-round mountain community, not just a winter-only ski hill.
These projects will roll out over many years and will depend on final approvals, environmental review, and community input. But the direction is clear: Winter Park is doubling down on being a connected, livable, four-season resort town.
What It Means If You’re Thinking About Buying Here
From a local and real-estate perspective, this map is more than a cool rendering—it’s a roadmap for future demand:
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Areas close to the proposed gondola line or ski-back trail could become even more desirable for both personal use and short-term rentals.
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The move toward year-round activation (trails, river parks, public spaces) supports stronger occupancy outside peak ski season.
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As Winter Park climbs into the top tier of Colorado resorts by size and infrastructure, it becomes increasingly competitive with places like Breckenridge, Vail, and Steamboat—often at a more approachable price point.
If you’re curious how Winter Park Unlocked might impact a specific neighborhood, future values, or short-term rental potential, that’s exactly the kind of thing I help clients think through all the time.
Final Thought
This image of the Winter Park expansion and Winter Park Unlocked isn’t just a concept—it’s a preview of the next chapter of our mountain town. More terrain, better connections, and a smarter, more walkable base area all point to one thing:
Winter Park is just getting started.