Georgetown, CO – Loveland Ski Area will open for the winter season this Thursday, the first ski area in Colorado to do so, at least as of now.

“The warm fall weather delayed the start of snowmaking this year, but Mother Nature finally came through,” said Rob Goodell, director of business operations. “A winter storm delivered 17.5 inches of natural snow last week and brought the cold temperatures our snowmakers had been waiting for. They have done an incredible job getting the mountain ready for the first skiers and riders of the season.”

Loveland’s Lift 1 will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.on Thursday and will provide skiers and riders with access to one top-to-bottom run covered from tree-to-tree with an 18-inch base. The trails Catwalk, Mambo and Home Run make up this Opening Day run, which is over a mile long and spans nearly 1,000 vertical feet.

“We will continue to make snow on the bottom portion of the mountain, but the coverage up top is outstanding,” continued Goodell. “We have been waiting all summer for this moment and invite everyone to come up and help us kick off the ski season.”

Loveland Ski Area opened on November 1 last season.

Loveland Ski Area will be open seven days a week until Closing Day in early May. Lift operating hours are 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekends and designated holidays. Early season lift tickets are priced at $53 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-14.

Nearby Arapahoe Basin hasn’t yet set an opening date, but COO Alan Henceroth says that snowmaking crews are close to getting the resort ready.

“Starting tonight after dark, we should see some very good temperatures and some natural snow,” Henceroth wrote today. “If the forecast holds true, we will get this place open soon.”

Keystone and Copper Mountain are both scheduled to open in Colorado on November 6.