The town of Monarch, Colorado, boomed along with the mines of the late 1800s, became a ghost town when mineral prices dropped, fell to a highway paving project and became the site of a ski resort of the same name. Skiers and snowboarders prize Monarch Mountain, one of the smaller ski resorts in Colorado, for its abundant snow, challenging tree skiing opportunities, friendly atmosphere and comparatively low prices.
Fundamentals
Monarch Mountain, located about 140 miles southwest of Denver on U.S. Highway 50, celebrated its 70th year of operation during the 2009-2010 ski season. The resort joins with eight other small ski areas to market themselves as the "Gems of Colorado" with discounted passes and lift tickets. Riding the narrow Panorama chairlift to the top of the Continental Divide offers 360-degree views of the Sangre de Christo Mountains and the river valleys of south central Colorado, according to Colorado Ski Country, an industry marketing and trade organization.
Salida, the closest town to Monarch Mountain, provides most of the lodging and dining opportunities for skiers and snowboarders spending the day on the mountain.
Features
Monarch Mountain's snow sports season opens in late November and runs through mid-April with lifts running daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., according to the resort website. Annual snowfall averages 350 inches, often giving Monarch Mountain one of the deepest snow bases among Colorado resorts. Its base elevation of 10,790 feet above sea level and a summit at nearly 12,000 feet make it among the highest resorts in the state.
In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, the resort also offers opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowcat skiing or boarding.
Improvements
Monarch Mountain made $1.2 million in improvements for the 2010-2011 ski season, including a new base terminal for the busy Garfield chairlift and a new ramp at the top of the Pioneer lift, according to the resort website. Improvements to the main lodge include a new Starbuck's coffee shop on the top floor of the resort's main lodge, making it the "highest Starbuck's in the free world," according to the resort website. Monarch Mountain also added more backcountry terrain in the Mirkwood Basin area for advanced skiers and riders.
History
While snow sports enthusiasts have skied the mountains in the Monarch area since the early 20th century, the resort started in 1939 as a Works Project Administration project. Visitors simply parked on the side of U.S. Highway 50 and walked to the rope tow to ski down the single trail. With the growth of recreational skiing in the 1950s, the resort expanded to include another lift, two additional trails, electricity and indoor toilets. Workers built a lodge, another lift and more trails in the 1960s and 1970s. Modernization projects occurred in later years.
Other Resorts
Some of Colorado's major resorts can be reached in a two-hour drive from Monarch Mountain, including Copper Mountain, Breckenridge and Vail to the north. A drive west over Monarch Pass takes snow sports enthusiasts to Crested Butte resort in about two hours.
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