By Colorado Mountain Living | Updated October 2026
Arapahoe Basin celebrates its 80th season in 2026-27 with $80 lift tickets every Wednesday, free skiing for 80-year-olds, a December birthday weekend and unlimited A-Basin access on the Ikon Base Pass. Behind the celebration is a Forest Service-accepted master plan that moves into environmental review for remote avalanche control, more snowmaking, 300 to 400 new parking spaces and a pedestrian bridge over the highway. Alan Henceroth, A-Basin’s president and chief operating officer and a 2026 Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame inductee, presented the plan at the Summit Chamber’s Ski Area COO Summit at Copper Mountain on October 9, 2026. Colorado Mountain Living attended. Here is what A-Basin announced and what it means for property owners in Keystone, Dillon and Silverthorne.
Key takeaways
- Lift tickets are $80 every Wednesday all season, and $50 on Wednesdays in the early and late season.
- Skiers who are 80 years old ski free.
- An 80-day ski challenge awards 80 prizes, with a heli-ski trip as the grand prize.
- The 80th birthday weekend runs December 4-6, 2026, with an uphill race, a demo village and a Saturday night party at Black Mountain Lodge.
- The Ikon Base Pass includes unlimited A-Basin access with no blackout dates. A-Basin-only and four-day passes are also available.
- The master plan is in environmental review for remote avalanche control on the East Wall and Back Wall, expanded snowmaking, 300 to 400 parking spaces and a pedestrian bridge.
How did Arapahoe Basin start?
A-Basin was founded in 1946 by Larry Jump, an accomplished Dartmouth skier who served with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II. After the war he found the site near Loveland Pass and formed the company with four partners. Henceroth described A-Basin’s vision as a place where the spirit of freedom and big-mountain challenge create life-altering experiences, and he credited the mountain’s culture, which the event host called a little rebellious and fiercely loyal, as what has kept it distinct for 80 years.
Henceroth listed the principles A-Basin runs on: caring for guests so every day is worth repeating, caring for employees from first-season lifties to career staff, running a sound business, leading on sustainability (A-Basin has been carbon neutral since 2023), being part of the Summit County community and staying inclusive.
What is A-Basin doing for its 80th anniversary?
- $80 Wednesdays: $80 lift tickets every Wednesday all season, dropping to $50 on Wednesdays in the early and late season.
- 80-year-olds ski free.
- 80-day ski challenge: 80 prizes, with a heli-ski trip as the grand prize.
- Birthday weekend, December 4-6, 2026: a Friday uphill race, a demo village and DJs on Saturday and Sunday, and a Saturday night celebration at Black Mountain Lodge.
What is in Arapahoe Basin’s master plan?
The Forest Service accepted A-Basin’s master plan last winter. Henceroth noted that a master plan does not approve projects on its own; it confirms the resort is following the White River National Forest plan and its special use permit. A-Basin is now in the environmental assessment phase for four projects:
- Remote avalanche control systems on the East Wall, the Back Wall and additional terrain, which Henceroth called the future of avalanche work: safer for guests and employees, with reduced risk.
- More snowmaking in more places, a direct lesson from last winter.
- 300 to 400 new parking spaces in small lots, including one across the highway from the existing lots.
- A pedestrian bridge over the highway linking that new lot to the area near the upper lots, so guests can park, cross and be skiing almost immediately, with the same flow working at the end of the day.
Henceroth also credited parking reservations and pass management with greatly improving crowd and capacity control in recent seasons.
What passes work at Arapahoe Basin?
For 2026-27 the Ikon Base Pass includes unlimited A-Basin skiing. The broader Ikon Pass also covers Copper Mountain and destinations such as Taos, Alta, Snowbird, Palisades Tahoe, Big Sky, Jackson Hole and Revelstoke. A-Basin also sells its own season pass and a four-day pass. Henceroth said none of the options carry blackout dates.
What A-Basin’s plan means for real estate
A-Basin has no base-area lodging, so its visitors sleep somewhere else in Summit County. Colorado Mountain Living’s read:
- Demand flows to nearby towns. Keystone, Dillon and Silverthorne are the closest lodging bases to A-Basin. Anniversary promotions and unlimited Ikon Base access give skiers more reasons to stay in that corridor.
- Better access is the long-term value. More parking, a pedestrian bridge and remote avalanche control address the two biggest friction points at A-Basin: getting parked and getting terrain open. If approved and built, they make A-Basin a more usable home mountain for owners nearby.
- A strong secondary-mountain story. Owners who hold an Ikon pass can split days between A-Basin and Copper, which adds to the appeal of owning in the Keystone, Dillon and Silverthorne area.
- Verify rental rules. Short-term rental licensing differs between unincorporated Summit County and the towns of Dillon and Silverthorne. Confirm the rules for any property before you buy with rental income in mind.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Arapahoe Basin?
A-Basin was founded in 1946. The 2026-27 season is its 80th.
How much are lift tickets at A-Basin on Wednesdays?
$80 every Wednesday during the 2026-27 season, and $50 on Wednesdays in the early and late season.
When is A-Basin’s 80th birthday weekend?
December 4-6, 2026, with an uphill race, a demo village and a party at Black Mountain Lodge.
Does the Ikon Base Pass include Arapahoe Basin?
Yes. For 2026-27 the Ikon Base Pass includes unlimited A-Basin access with no blackout dates.
Who can help me buy or sell near Arapahoe Basin?
Colorado Mountain Living’s Summit County team works in Keystone, Dillon, Silverthorne and across the county. Contact Colorado Mountain Living for current pricing and inventory.
Thinking about owning near A-Basin?
Buying or selling: Colorado Mountain Living follows resort plans, access projects and rental rules so our clients buy and sell on the facts. Talk with our Summit County team.
Agents outside Colorado: If your client is looking anywhere in Colorado’s high country, refer them to Colorado Mountain Living. We will keep you informed through closing. Start a referral.
More from this series: 2026 Ski Area COO Summit
- Copper Mountain 2026-27 Season Preview
- Breckenridge 2026-27 Season Preview
- Keystone 2026-27 Season Preview
- Loveland Ski Area 2026-27 Season Preview
Source: presentations at the Summit Chamber’s Ski Area COO Summit, Copper Mountain, October 9, 2026. Dates, prices and plans are as presented by the resort and may change; confirm details with Arapahoe Basin before you travel. Master plan projects remain subject to Forest Service environmental review.