Adventure for the Whole Family at Keystone Resort

Adventure for the Whole Family at Keystone Resort

Where Kids Ski Free

Every Day. All Season. No Blackouts

More than 25,000 Free Kids Lift Tickets Given Away During the 2012-13 Ski and Ride Season

KEYSTONE, Colo. — Keystone Resort has long been a place where kids rule; from specialty family-friendly après ski offerings to mountaintop snow forts, the resort is a winter wonderland that allows kids and parents alike to truly enjoy their well-earned vacation time together. Taking children’s programming to the next level, the Resort announced the simplest Kids Ski Free program on the planet to huge success, giving away more than 25,000 free children’s lift tickets during the 2012-2013 ski season. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the value-oriented offer, Keystone Resort will continue the family-focused Kids Ski Free programming for the entire 2013-2014 season.

No other ski resort in the country offers a Kids Ski Free program that is as simple and valuable as Keystone’s. With no blackout dates, no lift ticket requirement for adults, availability on all weekends and Holidays and only a two night minimum stay required, Keystone is lowering the bar when it comes to hassle-free offers and raising it for family value. The resort is so confident their offer is best in the industry, it has guaranteed that if a more valuable program exists, it will provide hula-hoops to an entire school, because Keystone believes hoops should be fun for kids; not something adults have to jump through.

“Keystone has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the best family ski experience,” said John Buhler, Vice President and general manager of Keystone Resort. “With the re-introduction of the simplest Kids Ski Free offer on the planet, we’re letting families travel as their schedule allows, granting them convenient and affordable access to our world-class resort and taking Keystone’s commitment to families to the next level.”

One of the most visited family-friendly ski resorts in the country, free skiing is just the start of what Keystone’s mountain offers skiers and riders. This season the Resort is again taking the next step in creating unique family ski experiences with the introduction of the first-ever family ski trail. The Schoolyard will debut on Keystone’s signature green cruiser, Schoolmarm. The trail will be designed to engage skiers and riders of all ages, while promoting on-snow progression with specialty features. 

Whether it’s gliding over Rockin’ Rollers, navigating bumps for the first time with Magic Moguls or learning to maneuver over changing terrain in Tornado Ally, the Schoolyard will be an area for the whole family to take their skiing and riding to the next level. Additional on-snow programming will include ski parades with Keystone’s mascot Ripperoo that will take place throughout the week in the specialty area.

The Resort is also introducing Free Family Font-Row Parking in its main parking lot, just steps from Keystone’s gondola. Other family-oriented amenities will include convenient wagons and gear chauffeurs available throughout the resort to help guests easily transport skis and snowboards to and from the lifts.

Throughout the season, visitors can enjoy special family programming including a weekly Kids Après gathering, a Sunday morning Ripperoo Brunch, a mountaintop Snowfort and the fourth consecutive year of the resort’s popular Kidtopia programming.

Located just an hour from Denver, Keystone is home to over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain accessed via 20 chairlifts as well as the largest night ski operation in Colorado allowing guests to ski well into the evening with their same day lift ticket. The mountain layout consists of three magnificent peaks great for progression and learning how to ski or ride. Between the Discovery and Ranger Learning Areas, four children’s adventure trails, Schoolmarm (the meandering green run 3.5 miles in length), many intermediate blue runs and long black groomed runs such as Star Fire, the Resort is perfect for honing skills in an un-intimidating atmosphere.

For Keystone’s younger guest, Camp Keystone offers a revolutionary take on the traditional Ski School program that includes a guarantee of the same instructor for any child booking three or more days of lessons. Camp Keystone, housed at the Mountain House base area, offers a designated lift and teaching area, special theme days and instructional techniques that incorporate games to keep children engaged on-snow longer. Learning can also be a family affair with Keystone’s Mom, Dad and Me Lesson, a private lesson for the family that includes instruction for Mom and Dad to aid in the continued progression of their children’s skills.

After a day on the slopes, Keystone Resort provides an array of experiential and fine dining options great for adults and families alike. Family favorite, Der Fondue Chessel, located atop Keystone’s North Peak is accessed via two gondola rides, and provides old-fashioned Swiss and Bavarian charm, a four-course fondue dinner and Bavarian music complete with a nightly rendition of the chicken dance. Sleigh ride dinners are another family favorite; pulled by 2,000-pound draft horses to an authentic rustic cabin homestead where the knowledgeable wranglers entertain with stories while guests sit back and enjoy cowboy tunes and a hearty meal full of comfort-food favorites.

For those desiring finer fare while on vacation, Keystone’s AAA Four-Diamond rated restaurants including The Ranch, the Ski Tip and the Alpenglow Stube cook up some of the most tantalizing dishes in Colorado. All three restaurants provide quaint mountain atmospheres full of historical character and menus enriched with locally-sourced products that create artistic culinary experiences that leave the palate both surprised and fulfilled.

With an incredible line-up of family-focused activities, events and programming, Keystone offers a best-in-class family ski experience, made more accessible and affordable with the Kids Ski Free offer. Without limiting restrictions, kids will truly ski free every day of the 2012-2013 season at Keystone Resort, beginning with Opening Day on Nov. 1, 2013. Reservations may be made by visiting keystoneresort.com or calling 800-328-1323.