The town of Castle Rock, Colorado, recently signed a letter of intent to enter into a public-private partnership with Weston Solutions, Inc., for the creation of Castle Rock Year-Round Snow Sports Center, a $5.5 million synthetic snow facility.
If constructed, the facility would feature a 107,000-square foot skiing surface, a bunny slope, a tubing run, a downhill mountain bike course, a lodge with restaurant and bar, and a dedicated parking center. The snow-like, synthetic material SnowFlex, tailored to suit Colorado’s climate, would cover the slopes.
Shawn Temple, Development Director of Weston Solutions, said in a statement, “This public-private partnership will serve as a sustainable economic driver for the local community while increasing the town’s tax base and providing a legacy of smart planning that will serve the needs of the community for generations to come.”
There has been some question about the viability of a synthetic snow facility in a state known for its skiing. “If the facility proposed by Weston Solutions is approved by the town, it’ll be interesting to monitor how it does in an area saturated with real snow sports activities,” said Eric Willin, COO of EZFacility, a sports facility management software developer in Woodbury, New York. “Chances are it would thrive. Year-round skiing would introduce new people to the sport and provide daily training, better preparing consumers for actual snow. And consumers wouldn’t have to drive hours outside of Denver for skiing — it would be available 30 to 45 minutes from the city center. That will be a draw.”
The town’s letter of intent allows Weston Solutions to research the feasibility of building the facility. Town council members will review the company’s proposals every six months for up to two years; if a plan for financing the project looks viable, the council will vote on it.
Colorado Town May Enter Public-Private Partnership for Synthetic Snow Facility
« News |