Echo Mntn Closing 03/15
Friends and Family of Echo Mntn,
This update likely isn't a surprise for many of you given the quickly evolving COVID-19 situation the last few days.
At the direction of Governor Polis, Echo Mountain is closing tomorrow, March 15th for an indeterminate amount of time- anywhere from what could be a few days to the end of our season.
Given the rapidly changing situation at hand, and the numerous factors that would influence a decision to reopen or not, we will continue to evaluate whether or not that is possible and communicate any updates or changes should we be able to reopen Echo Mountain in the coming weeks or month.
A few of the larger factors in this situation are the containment and spread of COVID-19 in Colorado and across the US, on-mountain conditions, employee availability and guests.
Regarding COVID-19: As we've shared about COVID-19 over the last week or so, employee and guest safety has been at the forefront of all decisions we've made. It has been a no-brainer to follow the recommendations and guidance from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, CDPHE, and the CDC, as well as, work to be proactive about ensuring everyone's protection and safety here at Echo. I'm proud of how guests and employees alike have reacted to this difficult, confusing and even scary situation amidst a lot of confusion and unknowns, and I'm proud of how Echo has responded to avoid any undue risk. That said, the situation has obviously escalated very quickly over the last 2-3 days and will continue to change dramatically over the coming days and weeks. I believe Governor Polis' direction to be well-advised and the right call at this time.
Regarding Mountain Conditions: It's been a warm couple weeks! Spring skiing, snowboarding and tubing has been in full force, and while some snow has melted away, March and April tend to be some of our snowiest months. It's possible some of our biggest snow storms may yet be ahead of us. Depending on how the COVID-19 situation evolves and over what timeframe, we will continue to evaluate our coverage and on mountain safety if reopening is under consideration.
Regarding Employees: I'm incredibly grateful to each and every one of our team members for their hard work, time, dedication, commitment and effort they've put in to making this such a great season thus far. Even if the above two factors aren't a concern, the reality is our employees are the lifeblood of Echo Mountain and we can't do this without them. We completely understand that many will be moving on to great opportunities, as many already have. And yet, if they are interested and available to come back should we be able to re-open, we will certainly try to make that happen.
Regarding Guests: Thank you! You have shown up more than Echo Mountain has ever seen and we couldn't be more grateful. You have supported us in all our efforts to make this such a wonderful place to visit and encourage us to keep going. As Echo's history has shown, we certainly wouldn't be here without you! If this situation evolves in a way that allows us to re-open, whether you're a familiar face or a first timer, we would love to see you back up here skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and enjoying some great food, drinks and views.
We will be sharing updates as available, though we're not sure how quickly and how often things will change. That said, this certainly isn't the last you'll hear from us for the season so know we'll share more updates at some point in the not-so-distant future.
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions, but feel free to reach out if you have one not covered by the below. We also just love to hear from you! If you have any comments or feedback, send it all our way to info@echomntn.com
Best,
Fred Klaas
General Manager
How does this affect my Season Pass?
If we are able to reopen, we will honor all 2019-2020 Season Passes and will remove any restrictions on them for the remainder of the season. As shown at time of purchase, Season Passes are non-refundable and non-transferable, including to next season or any other season. Should any terms or conditions change, we will provide any further details over the coming weeks.
Do I get a refund if I purchased a Lift Ticket or Tubing Reservation online?
Yes, we are working our way through all online purchases and will be issuing refunds. You should receive an email confirmation from us. If you do not see an email from us, it's possible we haven't gotten to your reservation yet or that our message went to your Spam/Junk folder. Please check there first. We'll move as fast as we can, but ask for your patience as we get to everyone.