Next weekend, Winter Park Resort kicks off the season with a new event that will open the door on one hundred days of summer. The Venture Out Festival is going to bring a fun, playful new event to the opening weekend celebration at the resort. Steve Hurlbert, Director of Public Relations and Communications for Winter Park Resort said, “We have invested close to a million dollars in our summer operations and have a bunch of new and exciting events in the works.”

The brand new event scheduled for opening weekend will feature a professional “Dock Dogs” competition. You guessed it, dogs running off a dock and hucking into the pond. Hurlbert said, “Dog lovers should enjoy the excitement created by the spectators and the dogs.” In addition to dock dogs pulling their best tricks, the event will feature slackline performances, an inflatable obstacle course, fly fishing demos and the BMX stunt team. The new Village stage will offer up some great music all summer. Opening weekend, Wood Belly will take the stage, winners of the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Festival competition.

Tried and true favorites, Uncorked Wine Festival and the Wild West Whiskey festival are back with a couple of fun changes in the format. The Village Movie Nights are planned for Friday nights, weather permitting, and the Mountain Top Happy Hour at Sunspot will feature food, drinks and live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday all summer from 4pm-7pm.  

Hurlbert said, “The new Gondola offers a unique experience and we want to utilize in as many ways possible.”

The resort continues to invest in the mountain bike experience and in addition, this year will offer a robust guided hiking experience. “Our hiking guests have been wanting more access to trails from the top of the mountain and we are offering guided hiking programs that lead to fantasy meadow or all the way out to the cirque for avid hikers looking for a bit more.”  Hurlbert said you don’t have to be an expert, there is something for every ability. The resort has been developing designated hiking trails along with the mountain bike trail system.

With four lifts running 7 days a week servicing hikers and bikers, Winter Park Resort is one of the best choices for a lift serviced, mountain experience.

Winter Park Resort received over 350 inches of snow last winter and the wet, cold spring has kept much of it in place. “It was a great winter and our crews have been working hard to get the mountain ready for the summer season.” The resort will have the majority of the base area activities ready for next weekend and some of the trails on the mountain. Hurlbert said, “We are taking it day by day and will open as much as possible for the opening.”  

Photos by Carl Frey ~ Winter Park Resort