News | May 1 msoyars@skyhinews.com glided across the water during the pond skim on April 27 The Winter Park Resort pond skim on April 27.Meg Soyars Van Hauen/Sky-Hi News A participant dressed as a construction worker at the pond skim Show CaptionsHide Captions A large and boisterous crowd turned out to watch the pond skim on April 27 A participant leaps over the snow after successfully crossing the pond The Sky-Hi News strives to deliver powerful stories that spark emotion and focus on the place we live contributions from readers like you helped to fund some of our most important reporting including coverage of the East Troublesome Fire consider making a contribution to our newsroom in support of the work we do Share your photos on Instagram using #exploregrand or #skyhinews This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time Colorado snowstake on the morning of May 1 Winter Park snowstake webcam on the morning of May 1 The train drops skiers in Winter Park in the morning then is sidelined before picking skiers up at the end of the day to head back to Denver.Updated: 4:07 p.m Passengers flocked to the reinvigorated Winter Park ski train this season after the state lowered fares and boosted service State transportation officials used money from a new fee on rental cars to slash one-way ticket prices for the Winter Park Express to as low as $19 also made the trip between Denver’s Union Station and the Fraser Valley more often than before.  “This was really a great quick win,” Piper Darlington director of the Colorado Transportation Investment Office told the state Transportation Commission on Thursday.  It was “someplace where we could invest those new congestion impact fees to get people excited about expanded train service,” she said Passengers responded to those improvements More than 41,000 bookings were made this season versus about 16,000 bookings last season this has been a real success so far,” she said.  The train’s season will wrap up later this month. The car rental industry is suing Colorado over the new fee that is supporting expanded rail service But Darlington said the state hopes to expand its partnership with Winter Park Resort and Amtrak A spokesman said Amtrak is “happy to see the state’s confidence in the route proven by these ridership numbers.” “We look forward to operating more Amtrak service in Colorado,” said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari You want to know what is really going on these days We can help you keep up.  The Lookout is a free daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado Sign up here and we will see you in the morning Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now. © 2025 Colorado Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — A Winter Park couple is asking what the city can do to slow down drivers on a neighborhood street Michael and Kasi Adair moved into a home at the corner of Palmer Avenue and Temple Drive 1-1/2 years ago “We didn't think this road would get a lot of traffic because it's not Aloma it's not a big street,” Michael Adair said with drivers going between Park Avenue and Lakemont Avenue “Every morning I think I'm taking my life into my hands and my daughter's hands as we pull left because we have to pull left and there's so much traffic,” he said The couple said there’s so much traffic that’s going fast on Palmer Avenue that it’s difficult for drivers trying to turn from Temple Drive They want something like a stop sign or speed bumps to slow down drivers A city spokeswoman said Winter Park’s transportation division assessed the Palmer Avenue corridor in 2021 and determined a stop sign and speed bumps weren’t needed The city of Winter Park looked at data and found from 2023 to the end of 2024 there have been just four crashes at Palmer and Temple rapid flashing beacon to assist pedestrians to cross “There are no stop signs all the way down this road so there's a lot of traffic that just gets going a little too fast,” Michael Adair said The city is looking at safety enhancements a little down the road on Palmer If you’ve got a traffic trouble spot, or road related suggestion, fill out this form on the Traffic Inbox screen. WINTER PARK – The city of Winter Park is set to vote Wednesday on whether to move forward with a new agreement to keep police officers on public school campuses ending a monthslong standoff with Orange County Public Schools Windermere and Winter Park — that had pushed back on the district’s proposed funding levels [WATCH VIDEO BELOW FOR PARENTS’ THOUGHTS ON SRO PLAN] OCPS will reimburse cities $73,000 per officer for the 2025-26 school year and $75,000 for 2026-27 City leaders had argued the payments were not enough to cover the full cost of staffing officers “I look at funding for this as essential,” Winter Park resident Alan Chambers said “It doesn’t matter if you cut it from somewhere else—we’ve got to take care of our kids.” The district said its offer represented a 20% increase from its previous contract but officials maintained they didn’t have the budget to pay more OCPS warned it might have to turn to armed school guardians — civilian personnel trained in basic security protocols but more limited in what they’re allowed to do in emergency situations “It’s really important for our kids to be safe,” Chambers added “That is the biggest priority of everyone.” The debate grew especially heated in December when several police departments accused OCPS of using a recent school shooting in Wisconsin to influence public sentiment A district-wide email sent shortly after that tragedy stated SROs were the “safest option” but emphasized that OCPS had no additional funds to offer Parent Katie Rogers said the decision should ultimately center on what educators need to keep their schools secure “I think it depends on what the teachers are feeling like—what they need in their schools to keep their students safe.” The agreement includes a clause allowing for increased reimbursement if the state expands its Safe Schools Allocation funding no such increases are included in current legislative budget drafts the Winter Park vote would secure police coverage for next school year and potentially shape campus safety measures across the district for years to come OCPS leaders have said the SRO program remains a top priority “We are grateful to the municipalities for their dedication to our shared goal of fostering a secure educational environment,” Superintendent Dr Maria Vazquez said in a statement last week Winter Park commissioners are expected to vote on the deal later Wednesday Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group New branch is the result of an $18.9 million investment by Orange County Government Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell Munyon today announced the upcoming ribbon cutting for the new Courthouse branch in Winter Park This new location marks a significant milestone as it will provide a larger state-of-the-art facility to serve the community better The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include a brief program featuring remarks from distinguished leaders followed by the official ribbon-cutting and light refreshments Located just off University Boulevard near Goldenrod Road the new Orange County Courthouse at Winter Park is three times the size of the current courthouse branch and is the result of a $18.9 million dollar investment by Orange County Government The expanded space will house two courtrooms and a larger waiting area to ensure a more comfortable experience for all visitors “This courthouse represents the continued investment in our community’s future,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings “The $18.9 million investment in this state-of-the-art facility will ensure that residents in Winter Park and surrounding areas have improved access to courts “We are thrilled to introduce the new Courthouse in Winter Park to the community,” said Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell “This new facility reflects our ongoing commitment to provide better access to justice and exceptional service to our residents.” “This is an important step for the Orange County judicial system,” said Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Lisa Munyon “We will be able to take advantage of the high-tech courtroom design which will allow court hearings to be held in-person and remotely This will help cases to be heard and resolved quickly and efficiently.” The new courthouse will offer Clerk Office branch location services including marriage licenses and ceremonies and a Self-Help Center with an attorney consultation room for legal consultations The grand opening of this new courthouse in Winter Park will take place in the coming weeks. Go to www.myorangeclerk.com for the latest details I’ve spent the last 15 winter seasons in Winter Park OpenSnow predicted 1″ for the previous two days. What we got was 16″ and 10″. Winter Park was the second snowiest resort in North America for two consecutive days We’ve had three feet of snow in the last three days I had a slow start this morning. OpenSnow predicted just an inch and the lift lines the previous day were surprisingly long I had to climb over the berm left by the plows and we were finding untracked stashes across the territory and Medicine Man offered knee-to-waist deep Cham***ne Powder The powder was so deep yet light and fluffy that we blew right through it Today was the first time I wished my outer shell had a powder skirt as the snow blew up beneath my layers to chill my bare chest We headed up the Panoramic chairlift to Parsenn Bowl at 12,060 feet untracked powder over the boot provided plentiful face shots we did Phantom Bridge before cutting through to do the trees between Brakeman and Coupler Today was one of those days you’ll remember for a long time I’m happy skiing two weeks into a dry and warm spell when dirt patches are beginning to show through I love spring skiing when the snow melts and the drag almost dislocates your knees I look forward all summer to early season when there’s only one run of man-made snow open but at least I’m sliding downhill on skis But days like today; I live for these days OpenSnow is predicting 2″ for tomorrow If the previous two days are anything to go by then screw work and camping in the mountains of the Lake District News | Apr 26 smcalindin@skyhinews.com Two local athletes placed in the finals of the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in March Asher Michel placed 20th in men’s moguls and 25th in dual moguls at the competition in Engadin The 19-year-old from Tabernash grew up skiing for Winter Park and now trains in Park City Svea Irving placed fifth in women’s ski halfpipe The 23-year-old has consistently placed in the top 10 in every international competition since 2022 She is currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation — Orange County Public Schools officials say they’re hoping to avoid having guardians instead of school resource officers at several schools around the county.  That’s all due to ongoing negotiations with five municipalities, which include Apopka But with the 2025-2026 school year just around the corner It would also mean that schools like Lakemont Elementary School could possibly be without an SRO during the next school year The scene after school Friday at Lakemont was business as usual — kids were safely getting picked up with Winter Park Police Officers helping to pave the way But with the city of Winter Park’s contract negotiations about SROs currently up in the air some parents are concerned about their kids’ safety during the school day “It would be a significant blow to student safety and when you drop off your kids you want to know that they’re safe," said Steve Merkal OCPS officials say they’ve been engaged in productive conversations with the five municipalities but have not been able to come to an agreement The district is currently paying $72,000 a year per officer but that contract ends at the end of 2024-2025 school year they may have to consider hiring armed security with the Guardians Program for those schools “I know that our conversation a few months ago surrounding guardians in our schools was one that the board was adamant that we could not look at or that we would not pursue but I am requesting that the board revisit that stance," OCPS Superintendent Dr Maria Vazquez said during an April 1 school board meeting But when it comes to the idea of hiring guardians even with his son changing schools next year but it’s not just about my son," Merkal said "It’s about all of the other kids that go to Lakemont and other schools." OCPS officials say they have proposed paying $75,000 a year per officer for the next school year but said the five municipalities are asking for an increase that would put the district $2 million dollars over budget Spectrum News 13 reached out to the city of Winter Park about their negotiations we do not want to compromise our negotiations by commenting at this time." And with dollar amounts seeming to be the issue Merkal said he feels that these cities are picking money over student safety "There’s money to be found and they should still provide our kids with the proper safety." Vazquez said funding is more bleak than she has ever seen as an educator she hopes the board will take a look at how other districts are using the guardian program and revisit the conversation News | Apr 17 The Winter Park Town Council heard a proposal to amend the enforcement of noise violation code and accepted three grants aimed at sustainability and climate action at a meeting on Tuesday The proposed amendment seeks to clarify noise regulations for short-term housing units in Winter Park by refining the definition of “unreasonable noise” to be noise audible at a distance of 50 feet distinguishable from any other source of sound in the vicinity It also revokes the chance for a warning on the first violation instead imposing a $500 fine on the first offense and $1,000 on the second offense Council will make its final decision and hear public comment on the amendment at the next meeting on April 29 The council also approved three federal grants totaling $425,000 to fund sustainability and climate action projects in Winter Park. The first grant from the Department of Local Affairs will support the town’s sustainability planning efforts including risk assessment and emissions reductions modeling The second grant from the same agency provides partial funding for a solar array and battery storage at the Winter Park Public Works facility The project would save the town about $113,000 in electricity and 111 metric tons of carbon emissions annually according to Winter Park Sustainable Community Coordinator Mia Dorris the council approved a grant from the Colorado Energy Office to conduct a feasibility study for a thermal energy network in downtown Winter Park Thermal energy networks provide heating and cooling through a shared web of water pipes that transfer heat This project will require digging a test bore — a large deep hole to study soil — near Cooper Creek Square For more information about the town code amendment or the climate action projects, access the full meeting agenda and minutes visit WPGov.com News | Mar 31 Gravy, an avalanche rescue dog with the Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team Gravy is one of four rescue dogs that has made it the finals bracket in a competition organized by the Ikon Pass In the “Bark Bracket,” people can vote on their favorite four-legged patroller that works at an Ikon resort The competition began on March 24 with 16 dogs. Votes were cast on the Ikon Pass’s Instagram page whittling down the competition to four dogs Gravy has joined Sno from Grandvalira Andorra Resort Reba from Schweitzer Mountain and Jetty from Mt Bachelor Resort as voters’ favorite dogs The pooches are part of the “Final Fur,” and as a result have already won a 3-month subscription to Maev for Raw Food and votes can be cast by viewing Ikon Pass’s Instagram story on that day and the winners will be announced the same day The grand prize winner — the 2025 Pinnacle of Pooch — will earn a “$1,000 donation to their human teammate’s chosen animal rescue or shelter courtesy of Ikon Pass and Maev.” The Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team has four canine rescuers He joined the team in 2020 with handler Colin Karge meaning he could rescue people within the bounds of Winter Park Resort He also now has his validation through Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment they can assist the sheriff’s office on rescue missions outside of Winter Park Resort News | Jan 2 egutierrez@skyhinews.com It started off as a normal day at Winter Park Resort until the gondola malfunctioned at about 12:15 p.m requiring the evacuation of 182 passengers told Sky-Hi News about their experiences that day Driver works as a photographer and is often contracted to do sports photography for the resort he remembered getting onto the gondola with his camera equipment at around noon to get to the spot where he usually works Driver ended up sharing a cabin with a family. When the gondola stopped, he remembered being above Brian’s Run He didn’t think anything of it until 5-10 minutes had passed with no movement Karge and other ski patrollers were being alerted by on-mountain dispatch that there had been a malfunction with the gondola and that a rope evacuation would likely be needed who has worked as a ski patroller at Winter Park for eight years said not a single gondola cabin going uphill was empty that busy day Each of the 75 gondola cars can hold up to 10 people at full capacity teams of ski patrollers were being sent out to begin the evacuations patrollers visited each car to let occupants know there had been a malfunction with the lift and to make sure everyone was OK Driver said patrollers continued to stop by their cabin every 45-60 minutes to check in and provide an update on the status of the evacuation came by just to check to make sure everyone was doing all right that everyone had water — things like that — to make sure that no one was in any imminent danger of any sort,” Driver said Karge said patrollers who took on leadership positions that day played an important role “They’re documenting everything,” Karge said “They’re keeping tabs on how many people are on if any of those people have any special needs They’re also documenting when those people and our patrollers are on the ground safely after everything’s done They’re also coordinating getting people off of the mountain if they’re not capable of skiing where we’ve lowered them down.” The gondola operates directly above black and blue-black runs requiring intermediate to advanced skiing or riding abilities Driver described the hourslong evacuation as relatively comfortable He said being inside the closed cabin while the sun was shining kept passengers warm and protected from the wind Karge said the calm weather that day helped the evacuation run smoothly he said it could’ve made things a lot more complicated Ski patrollers at Winter Park train on evacuation procedures on a regular basis a refresher course is taught to all patrollers and includes four to five days of training with various lifts we trained three days on the gondola and two days on other chairlifts,” Karge said “And then we run monthly trainings in our hut to go over the equipment for all patrollers once a month.” When the gondola was being installed ahead of a 2018 opening Karge explained that he and other patrollers traveled to Aspen Snowmass and Keystone Resort to learn evacuation tips from those teams the Winter Park patrollers have fine-tuned their own system for evacuating the gondola The procedure involves patrollers climbing gondola towers traversing the gondola cable to each cabin transferring the gear to the passengers inside When it came time for his car to be evacuated Driver said a ski patroller stood atop a nearby lift tower and shouted instructions to those in the cabin The patroller asked the passengers to move themselves and their equipment away from the door Because Driver was riding the gondola to go take photographs “It was a fun experience,” Driver said “I have a cool story to tell all my friends.” From getting stuck to getting down the mountain, Driver estimated it was a three- to four-hour ordeal for him. The entire rescue operation took place over the course of more than five hours Karge explained that evacuating the gondola takes longer than a traditional chairlift because the lift is enclosed and ski equipment is loose patrollers can climb a tower and throw a rope to lower passengers then going on to the next one is just a time-consuming process,” Karge said who said the rescue process took longer than he would have liked said constant updates from patrollers really helped “I think it gave people the leeway to feel almost complaisant,” Driver said Driver never stopped taking photos to document the experience “I just figured I wouldn’t ever be in this position again,” Driver said Driver said he was impressed with how the resort handled the situation including “the speed of getting everything back together.” The gondola reopened just 49 hours later after a new metal support was transported from Grand Junction and installed, and the Colorado Tramway Safety Board gave the thumbs up “I am a business owner and having the gondola shut down a couple days before Christmas — through Christmas maybe into the new year — was something that weighed heavily on my mind when it first happened,” Driver said “Rumors fly real fast,” he added “We heard anything (from) at least two weeks “I was really proud of the way that everybody … came together and worked as a team and remained calm and did what they were trained to do,” Karge said Winter Park Resort ski patrol works to evacuate the gondola after a malfunction Dec A passenger is lowered as Winter Park Resort ski patrol works to evacuate the gondola after a malfunction Dec An additional destination and five days of roundtrips weekly starting in January are among new features of the popular service the Amtrak Winter Park Express will kick off its season with holiday runs starting in December This seasonal service expands to five days weekly after the New Year With 69 roundtrips this season – 29 more than last season – the Winter Park Express will more conveniently serve ski and non-ski passengers traveling from Denver to the Fraser Valley The Winter Park Express season will start on the last two weekends of this year The trains will serve both the Winter Park Resort and neighboring Fraser Tickets start at $19 ($9.50 for kids) and are available now Passenger rail along the Front Range and through the U.S Highway 40 Mountain Corridor is a state priority and the Winter Park Express shows public desire for more mass transit options through the mountains and beyond The rail route taken by the Winter Park Express is the first leg of a state-proposed Mountain Corridor passenger rail line that would eventually run from Denver to Craig “The Winter Park Express is a great opportunity for Coloradans and visitors to explore our mountains without the hassle of driving or traffic. Now with expanded service and lower costs, Coloradans can save time and money on our way to enjoying our great outdoors. I look forward to taking the train into the mountains this season,” said Governor Jared Polis “At CDOT, we know that big ski days often mean tough drives in the mountains, and the Winter Park Express offers a great option to take a relaxing, affordable trip. We are excited to join in this innovative partnership to expand service and lower costs for an iconic Colorado travel experience,” said Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shoshana Lew “The Winter Park Express ski train has long been a beloved tradition for Colorado and our guests from around the globe It has demonstrated the desire from both residents and visitors for transportation options other than passenger vehicles The Winter Park Express gives people another way to get to the slopes that’s more scenic and relaxing than getting in a car and driving,” said Sky Foulkes “We look forward to a bigger season than ever, with more than twice as many trips and an additional destination,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President Dennis Newman “With the State of Colorado expanding its partnership with the resort and Amtrak the future of passenger rail on this corridor is bright.” Customers can bring their skis and snowboards as a carry-on for no additional charge they’ll enjoy a trip in Coach class featuring wide The train also features a bi-level Sightseer Lounge – the social hub of the train – offering panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains from upstairs and café service downstairs with snacks and drinks for purchase Amtrak Advisory | Servicer Temporarily Disrupted in and out of New York Penn Station Book your train and bus tickets today by choosing from over 30 U.S train routes and 500 destinations in North America Service Adjustment Update: As of 5:56 PM ET Acela 2163 is canceled between New York (NYP) and Washington (WAS) Customers will be accommodated on the next available service We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused Major Projects Media members should contact the Media Relations Office for their region (see the map and listings here) A representative is available by phone 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide information regarding railroad operating matters Phone calls are preferred if the request is urgent If you have a FOIA request, please click here News | Dec 21 On Saturday, Dec. 21, Winter Park Resort’s gondola lift malfunctioned which lead to riders needing to be evacuated by ski patrol Visitors at the resort were quick to share photos of a crack on a tower component near the resort base on social media platforms including Reddit Winter Park Resort Public Relations and Communication Manager confirmed that this crack is the source of the gondola malfunction “That is the source of the malfunction We’re not sure why the part failed and are investigating that,” Miller said lift manufacturer Leitner Poma and the resort’s lift teams are working to understand the cause and repair the lift as quickly as possible Miller also shared that the gondola shut down as soon as the anomaly was detected The gondola opened up in December 2018 and has 75 cars that can hold up to 10 passengers On Saturday, Dec. 21, the gondola lift at Winter Park Resort experienced a malfunction, which prompted evacuation measures. As of 2:50 p.m., the evacuation procedures are still underway, according to resort officials. Winter Park Resort Public Relations and Communication Manager Jen Miller said the gondola “did what it was designed to do” and “shut down as soon as the malfunction was detected.” There is no further information at this time as to what caused the malfunction, and no injuries have been reported. Miller said investigations into what caused the malfunction are in the early stages. Instagram user @mynameislennon posted this video of people being evacuated off the gondola at Winter Park Resort. A green bag filled with skis and snowboards can be seen being lowered by a rope. Ski patrollers can be seen standing on top of a cable car and climbing the towers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnowGlobe (@mynameislennon) New medical dispensary in Central Florida marks the Company's 66th retail location in the state STAMFORD, Conn., April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company") a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products today announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in Winter Park will begin welcoming medical patients on April 17 Curaleaf brings its nationwide store count to 151 locations Curaleaf Winter Park is the Company's fifth store in the greater Orlando area A diverse selection of cannabis products and brands will be featured and newly launched pre-rolls from Curaleaf's newest brand Curaleaf Winter Park will operate from 9:00 a.m with Curaleaf's expert team members available to serve registered medical patients "Our continued expansion in the Sunshine State reflects our strong commitment to the medical community and the ongoing growth of the Florida market," said Boris Jordan we are optimistic about our role in continuing to shape the bright future of Florida's cannabis industry Florida remains as our largest retail presence across the country and we've received incredibly positive feedback in each new local region that we expand to." Curaleaf Winter Park will host a grand opening celebration just in time for the cannabis holiday on April 20th The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony For more information on Curaleaf's locations, patient resources, delivery program, and products in Florida, please visit https://curaleaf.com/dispensary/florida and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed approved or disapproved the content of this news release Investor Contact: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Camilo Lyon, Chief Investment Officer [email protected] Media Contact: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Jordon Rahmil, VP Public Relations [email protected] (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company") a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products,.. Cannabis Retail Supplementary Medicine Health Care & Hospitals Do not sell or share my personal information: News | Apr 18 community members met with Winter Park town council members and the mayor for the State of the Town event More laidback than a typical council meeting it featured a short video on the town’s recent projects followed by presentations and a Q&A session as the community learned about a variety of topics Council member Rebecca Kaufman spoke about the town’s three workforce housing projects – Hideaway Junction homes Hideaway Place Apartments and Fireside Creek Apartments Assistant town manager Alisha Janes has spearheaded these projects as the town works to assess housing needs and keep pace with high demand more inclusive Winter Park,” Kaufman said “Our goal is simple as a council – build high quality housing that people are proud to call home We believe if you’re willing to work for this community this community should work for you.” The town is updating its affordable housing impact fee code “to ensure that new development contributes meaningfully to workforce housing goals,” she said A community member asked if senior housing is being developed; currently it is not but a needs assessment will determine if this housing is needed in the future The LIFT bus system connects Winter Park to surrounding communities The town received grants for two additional electric buses Staff will also expand its micro transit system for smaller buses on the local lines Kaufman invited community members to attend the town’s transportation advisory committee which meets monthly. Meeting dates are posted on the town website the Colorado Department of Transportation has repaved an area near the entrance of Winter Park Resort CDOT will extend this paving project into town this summer season With CDOT’s Colorado Mountain Rail project moving forward the town hopes to potentially have multiple trains arrive daily in Winter Park and Fraser One unique mode of transportation that the community also looks forward to is the Winter Park Gondola, as part of Winter Park Resort’s Winter Park Unlocked initiative The gondola will connect the center of town directly to the resort The council is currently in negotiations with the resort and its parent company The construction of the gondola is expected to take at least five years, although the timeline is still being finalized. Though the project has been discussed for years in the community it’s beginning to look like it could become a reality A community member asked if the town plans to create more parking spaces Aside from parking built within developments and at the resort the town doesn’t plan to pursue more parking staff will concentrate on improving public transit and pushing for the resort’s gondola people can ideally live in and visit the town without reliance on personal vehicles Staff are planning to expand and improve this trail Restoration and improvements are also planned for the Fraser River near Hideaway Park The town is also right next door to Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests Mayor Nick Kutrumbos stated that town staff are partners with state and federal agencies In the wake of federal staffing cuts to the forest service Kutrumbos said the town stands ready to pitch in with trail maintenance cleanup or other potential needs in the forests A new parks and head gardener employee has joined the team A new playground is also planned for Hideaway Park near the event stage The staff also discussed its ambitious goals to protect the environment The town plans to have net zero emissions by 2050 Several initiatives are aimed at reaching this objective including geothermal heating to melt snow off sidewalks This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions which result from current snow removal systems Ferrari added that staff plan to build out a solar microgrid at town shops A recently launched Climate Action Program is working to make the town more environmentally sustainable. Attendees at the State of the Town could fill out a climate action survey to receive a free shirt. This survey is still available online at WPGov.com/Take-Our-Climate-Action-Survey The town’s Climate Action Program also organizes events like clean up days and farmer’s markets which will return this summer Mike Periolat is the town council’s longest serving member the council is in the best place I’ve ever seen it,” he said “The diversity of the people who work on the board and the fact they’re on the street every day It’s a quality group of people that care about the town.” Periolat added that departments such as the Fraser Winter Park Police have improved over the years which helps the council better serve the citizens meaning that the mayor is appointed by the town rather than voted in which Periolat believes is a benefit for the citizens the mayor has to be in synch with the rest of the council,” he said … “Then we all move stuff forward.” He encouraged citizens to run for a seat on the council in upcoming elections if they are passionate about improving their community “It takes our small village to run this big village here,” he said Kutrumbos added that the council actively collaborates with other municipalities and organizations, like the Colorado Association of Ski Towns and Mountain Towns 2030 Members in the audience thanked the council for their work Kutrumbos responded that when he started as mayor community-oriented events such as this State of the Town didn’t happen He is glad to see this is now part of the council’s priorities “This event truly embodied the values and priorities that make Winter Park such a special place: transparency and a commitment to growth and improvement,” the town of Winter Park stated on Facebook “Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the night To learn more about the town of Winter Park or any of the topics discussed in the State of the Town, visit WPGov.com If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below) so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue — Get ready to dive in to big changes at Cady Way Park in Winter Park Fundraising efforts are underway for the Cady Way Pool project which will not only revitalize the city’s original 1957 facility and pool you are going to be able to see the potential for bigger meets and community events We’re going to be bringing a lot of new people here to the park as well as making it a better experience for those who have been coming here in the past,” said Jason Seely Director of City of Winter Park Parks & Recreation It’s all happening through a partnership between the city, Orlando Health and the Blue Dolfins swim team One mother and daughter duo with ties to the pool are excited about what opportunities this project could bring for both athletes and the overall community Anne Gustin and her daughter Mary Grace love to talk all things swimming they compare their wins — past and present “It’s like probably like our deepest connection,” said Anne Gustin swam her whole life as a kid swimming at the Cady Way pool and later become a college athlete The hard part is it was always a long course Her 10-year-old daughter Mary Grace is taking the same plunge like she did so well when she was my age,” she said is now a member of the Blue Dolfins swim team at the Cady Way Pool who is now leading the charge on the upgrades has coached several generations of swimmers You help them with their dream,” said Auer It’s why their foundation is pursing the Cady Way Pool Project The goal is to create an opportunity for all in the community another things come in — camps and things — so it really gets tight in here the community can swim all day from 6 to 9 So that’s a really big plus for the community,” he said They also plan to renovate the pool’s building add in the city’s first beach volleyball courts and create a green space that will honor the park’s history “Now it’ll be a great place for families to go and cook out “They don’t even have to do anything about swimming or volleyball The Blue Dolfins are hoping to make the $3.8 million project a reality as soon as possible Auer expects the whole project to take two years and while he says they have enough to cover the pool “To just create a huge area and sports mecca over here is just really really awesome for the City of Winter Park,” said Auer Auer hopes to have the new pool done this year with swimmers like Mary Grace doing laps as soon as November giving her the chance to chase new personal bests and her dreams in the same place her mom did “My goal is to go to the Olympics and to become a professional swimmer and to go to college for swimming,” said Mary Grace Auer also said money raised by the foundation will go toward free swim lessons for kids who need them to help combat child drowning rates in Florida News | Feb 12 On Feb. 7, the Fraser Winter Park Police Department responded to a report of a disturbance at a local bar. According to a news release from the police department, the incident ended with the arrest of three suspects, including one who reportedly discharged a firearm. “We are extremely grateful that no officers or innocent civilians were injured,” the department stated in a news release. The police received the disturbance report from a bar located in Cooper Creek Square at approximately 12:16 a.m. According to the release, officers attempted to contact the three suspects – two men and a woman – who had left the bar. Officers began searching the Winter Park parking garage and immediate area for the three suspects. As they searched, a gun was allegedly discharged about 20 yards from their location.   After hearing the gunshot, officers saw a woman fleeing the area. Then “two intoxicated and confrontative males approached the officers from the bottom level of the parking garage,” the release states. Officers placed the two men in custody and began searching for the female suspect who had fled the scene. “While she was not immediately located, a shell casing was found in the area where the female had been, and a semiautomatic handgun with the serial number ground off was located behind a trash can on the second floor of the parking garage,” the release states. At about 3 a.m., Winter Park Transit Dispatch informed Grand County Dispatch that a Lift bus driver had just diverted from his route to drop off a woman who had her face covered. According to the release, the bus driver dropped the woman off at a location on County Road 72, just outside the town of Fraser. “Officers responded to that location and contacted a female who matched the description of the one who had discharged the firearm,” the release states. Police identified the woman as Carnea Rogers, 28, of Fraser. She has been booked into the Grand County jail with a number of charges, including reckless endangerment, possession of a defaced firearm and a warrant for felony theft out of Douglas County. “At this time, it is unclear if Rogers was shooting at responding officers or just recklessly discharging a firearm,” the release states. The other two suspects arrested are Carlos Gonzales, 22, of Fraser and Bradley Wellman, 29, of Colorado Springs. According to the release, Gonzales is charged with false reporting, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Wellman faces charges including false reporting and a warrant out of El Paso County for dangerous drugs. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Granby Police Department and Grand County EMS all assisted the Fraser Winter Park Police in the incident. The Lift bus system also assisted in alerting the police. The Sky-Hi News strives to deliver powerful stories that spark emotion and focus on the place we live. Over the past year, contributions from readers like you helped to fund some of our most important reporting, including coverage of the East Troublesome Fire. If you value local journalism, consider making a contribution to our newsroom in support of the work we do. Share your photos on Instagram using #exploregrand or #skyhinews. A skier carries their equipment to board the Winter Park Express ski train in 2019.The Winter Park ski train will run more often and cost less to ride this season The ski train, revived by Amtrak in 2017 as the Winter Park Express It’s also been expensive to ride — up to $139 for a round trip between Union Station in Denver and the resort state officials announced price cuts of more than 40 percent and service improvements to the line.  “Who wants to drive Berthoud Pass on a day like today or many days in winter?” Gov Jared Polis said at a chilly press conference at Union Station “Not to mention the hours of delays for driving and the perils of driving on winter roads The Winter Park Express expansion will be paid for by fees on rental cars the legislature created earlier this year. State transportation officials worked quickly to put those dollars into use said Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shoshana Lew.  “This is a very rapid turnaround,” she told reporters he’s happy to celebrate the short-term improvements to the Winter Park line.  ‘We took a look at existing tracks and existing service routes and explored how we could make small adjustments to increase frequency “The opportunity to bring these ideas directly to the Winter Park Express was unbeatable.” News | Mar 24 State transportation officials used money from a new fee on rental cars to slash one-way ticket prices for the Winter Park Express to as low as $19 Trains were made longer and made the trip between Denver’s Union Station and the Fraser Valley more often than before “This was really a great quick win,” Piper Darlington director of the Colorado Transportation Investment Office told the state Transportation Commission on March 20 It was “someplace where we could invest those new congestion impact fees to get people excited about expanded train service,” she said this has been a real success so far,” she said.  The train’s season will wrap up later this month. The car rental industry is suing Colorado over the new fee that is supporting expanded rail service Spokesman Marc Magliari said Amtrak is “happy to see the state’s confidence in the route proven by these ridership numbers.” News | Dec 22 Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add information from the Associated Press Winter Park Resort is working on repairing a gondola that malfunctioned on Saturday, Dec. 21 causing roughly 174 guests to be evacuated by ski patrol over the course of a five-hour rescue operation according to reports from the Associated Press Spokesperson Jen Miller told Sky Hi News there is no estimated time for the repairs to be complete Miller said the gondola won’t reopen until all tests are complete following the repairs and the repair is currently underway,” Miller said in an email Resort-goers swiftly took to social media yesterday afternoon amid the event posting photos of a crack on a tower component near the resort base Miller confirmed the crack did play a role in the malfunction Miller said the resort’s investigation into what exactly caused the malfunction is ongoing.  “(Representatives) from both the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board and Leitner-Poma are currently onsite conducting the investigation and helping with the repair,” she said She said all but two of the resort’s 23 lifts are running at this time the Eagle Wind lift hasn’t yet opened for the season “Guests can continue to access the rest of the mountain via the 21 other open lifts,” Miller said Sky-Hi News has also sent an inquiry to the Colorado Tramway Safety Board for an update on the ongoing investigation Those who want to visit the mountains in Colorado without the hassle of driving may want to try the Amtrak Winter Park Express Affectionately nicknamed the "Ski Train," it is a fantastic option for going from Denver to Winter Park ski resort for a day in the snow Its service typically begins in late December and runs through the end of March My train was scheduled to leave Denver Union Station around 7 a.m to drive to the parking garage adjacent to Union Station where I'd booked an overnight parking spot I arrived at the tracks around 6:20 for my 6:30 boarding time My return trip would depart Winter Park at 4:35 p.m (right after the ski lifts close) and arrive in Denver around 7 p.m The train allows riders to take their skis or snowboards as a single carry-on item Since passengers can bring two carry-on items and one personal item on board All seats on this train are coach — there are no business or first-class options Seats were arranged in pairs (or clusters of four) They can recline slightly and most have pull-down tray tables Many of my fellow passengers seemed excited and buzzing with energy — you'd never know it was barely 7 a.m The vibes on the train ride were excellent overall Even our lively conductor made sure to stop and chat with each passenger while checking tickets I and many other passengers had our laptops out to use during the ride we lost cellphone service about 30 minutes into the trip and I wasn't able to use my hot spot or do much on my computer after that Fortunately, I was able to spend most of the trip looking out the window at the stunning mountain scenery My favorite spot on the train was the lounge car which had domed windows on top and large ones on either side This car also had snacks and drinks for sale The highly relaxing trip took roughly two hours in total We pulled into the train platform shortly after 9 a.m. and I could see the ski runs right out the train windows Amtrak employees unloaded our skis and snowboards for us and we stepped off the train platform and right onto Winter Park grounds We were less than 50 steps from Winter Park's base ski lift and village area rent a ski locker or equipment for the day The Amtrak journey to Winter Park wasn't overly expensive and felt highly efficient It was a great alternative to driving to the mountain Although I've been told driving from downtown Denver can be a slightly shorter trip at around 90 minutes Winter Park can get really congested during peak ski seasons I was able to fully embrace the stunning mountain views around me The only real downside for me was that I couldn't bring my dog as the train is not pet-friendly — Winter Park commissioners on Wednesday will get a final look at the city's Park Avenue Refresh Project which aims to improve the avenue between Fairbanks and Webster Avenue.  Enhancements include new streetlights, new infrastructure and public safety improvements recommended by residents through a city survey conducted last year City officials said the survey received over 1,300 responses from members of the community about changes they wanted to see enacted Some recommendations include better lighting designated locations for ride-sharing services and more parking roughly 30% of survey respondents reported ride sharing was “fairly common” on Park Avenue Winter Park Communications Director Clarissa Howard said that falls under the Public Works and Transportation Department Howard said the city aims to identify and address the needs of the community The city plans to replace some streetlights and include Dark Sky Lights which improve visibility for pedestrians walking at night City officials also want to incorporate mobility hubs for electric vehicles and e-bikes as part of its initiative to become a “smart city.” Winter Park's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has allocated $1 million for the project that it will phase out throughout the year Howard said this project has been a long time coming “The last time Park Avenue had a major renovation was actually back in 1996 to 1999 there’s a lot of things that happen during that timeframe and it’s time for a refresh Park Avenue is our crown jewel,” Howard said City commissioners will review the project design Wednesday afternoon and vote on its approval before Phase 1 starts construction for the multiyear project will begin in the summer at Webster Avenue toward Canton and Garfield avenues The city said it is too early to know when the project will be completed.  Park Avenue Refresh Project — AdventHealth Winter Park has opened the AdventHealth Cancer Institute Winter Park an innovative and patient-centered facility designed to provide comprehensive oncology services in a single This expansion brings cutting-edge technology expert care and compassionate support closer to home for patients and their families The institute offers a wide range of services radiation oncology and a 17-bay infusion center At the heart of the institute is the Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator a state-of-the-art radiation oncology machine that delivers precise external beam radiation therapy with advanced features like 4D imaging rapid arc treatment delivery and respiratory motion management These capabilities allow for more targeted treatments improved outcomes and a focus on patient comfort during every session “The opening of the AdventHealth Cancer Institute Winter Park represents a major step forward in our efforts to provide whole-person care to our community,” said Justin Birmele in a space designed with the comfort and dignity of our patients in mind.” The infusion center provides a warm and supportive environment complete with comfortable patient recliners supported by a clinical team of registered nurses The institute is also home to the one-of-a-kind Eden Boutique which specializes in services and products tailored to address conditions such as hair loss ensuring that patients feel cared for both physically and emotionally “Cancer treatment is a journey that requires more than just medical expertise,” said Dr director of oncology at AdventHealth Winter Park By bringing these comprehensive services together we’re providing a seamless experience that supports patients every step of the way.” The AdventHealth Cancer Institute Winter Park offers a broad range of outpatient services therapeutic phlebotomy and blood specimen collection Patient support services such as financial advocacy and scheduling support to make it easy for the patient This opening marks a new chapter for Winter Park and reinforces its commitment to delivering world-class cancer care to the Central Florida community Baby Mattie needed a liver transplant but was too sick to even get on the list For the nurses at AdventHealth for Children her organs were shutting down and her little body was fighting a battle that seemed insurmountable AdventHealth is expanding its nursing workforce enhancing hands-on training programs and reinforcing its commitment to exceptional patient care our organization embarked on multiple global mission projects that made a significant impact on the lives of two families in need AdventHealth Carrollwood has been awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group a national nonprofit upholding the standard of excellence in patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory.. Dozens of community members and several organizations came together to help support the AdventHealth Lake Placid and Wauchula Foundations during the 11th annual Clays and Camo fundraiser we honor the extraordinary acts of kindness and compassion demonstrated by our nurses across the region Three remarkable nurses from AdventHealth Avista's surgery center have embarked on.. AdventHealth is proud to join Nemours Children’s Health System as the official medical services provider for the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona A local nurse and a CEO were recognized by the Central Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce The spring 2025 Leapfrog grades have been released and four AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Region hospitals have achieved top honors for patient safety AdventHealth North Pinellas achieves elite national status as a straight- ‘A’ for patient safety  All AdventHealth hospitals in Pasco County continue to earn straight ‘A’ hospital safety grades from The Leapfrog Group Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use Browsing our website means you accept these terms Winter Park voters reversed a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers that went into effect in July 2024 The city had passed an ordinance in 2022 prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers citing noise complaints and environmental health impacts Lawn equipment across the United States produced more than 68,000 tons of nitrogen oxides in 2020, according to a report shared by The Public Interest Network. The report also says the equipment produced 30 million tons of carbon dioxide Pollution is one of the reasons members of the Winter Park City Commission cited when they chose to implement the ban They also said they had received complaints from residents about the noise of gas-powered equipment lawn care agencies argue that electric leaf blowers don’t hold charge long enough for commercial work which would result in them having to buy multiple batteries to keep on hand in their trucks the city gave a 30-month grace period for residents and lawn care agencies to replace their equipment 54% of voters decided to reverse the ban in Tuesday’s Orange County elections.  News | Feb 18 Community members from across Grand County traveled to Winter Park on a snowy Presidents Day to rally in support of public lands Attendees held up signs touting the importance of protecting public lands, such as national forests, parks and ski areas. The signs also decried recent layoffs of federal land management employees ordered by the Trump administration Some cars honked in support as rallygoers chanted on the corner of U.S “The signs were really about solidarity and trying to show support for the employees,” said Meara McQuain executive director and president of the Headwaters Trails Alliance “To just really highlight the importance of public lands in our community.” She said the event was actually “positive and jovial” amid anxieties over impacts to public lands “What’s happening is so hard,” she said “It was really nice for everyone who was there to actually feel like they were doing something right instead of just letting this thing happen.” Kremmling and the Fraser Valley took time out of their day to attend the rally The nearby Viking Lodge offered coffee and a place to warm up “There were people from across the county who were committed to this cause on a powder day “These were people who really wanted to be there.” part of the president’s executive order issued Feb impacted employees of federal organizations Bureau of Land Management and National Parks Service According to executive order 14210 federal agency heads “shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force.” The order, known as “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” has resulted in the loss of about 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees, including 90 in Colorado. These numbers are according to a statement issued by Gov. Jared Polis on Feb McQuain said any additional reductions of employees who manage public lands in Grand County would be catastrophic The county is composed of nearly 75% public lands and is home to Rocky Mountain National Park On the same day as the Winter Park rally, Estes Park residents held a rally at the east entrance to Rocky in support of National Park rangers faced with job cuts McQuain said the day created empowerment and togetherness for the community “We’re gonna actually stand up to this thing,” McQuain said “We’re not gonna let our economy and our livelihoods — the reason we live up here — be changed and not speak up about it.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page News | Apr 3 Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the nonprofit Gravy’s donation will go towards and statements from Colin Karge Gravy, an avalanche rescue dog with the Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team Gravy won first place in a competition organized by the Ikon Pass In the “Bark Bracket,” people could vote on their favorite four-legged patroller that works at an Ikon resort anywhere in the world “Whether he’s bounding through deep powder to work on rescue skills or racing alongside his ski patrol team onto the next job he brings energy and enthusiasm to every day on the mountain and has even helped train other dogs,” Ikon wrote on its website early morning walks and running alongside his parents while cross-country skiing,” according to Ikon which added that the fun “keeps him in top form.” Gravy is owned by ski patrol handler Colin Karge Gravy joined the team as a fluffy puppy in 2020 and is now a dedicated and athletic dog Karge stated that he hopes appreciation is given to all of Winter Park Resort ski patrol and the hard work that goes into training avalanche dogs like Gravy He also now has his validation through the Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment team they can assist on rescue missions outside of the resort but every team that has validated an avalanche rescue dog has put in a serious amount of work over a number of years,” Karge stated they’re searching machines with serious jobs and love doing their job.” The competition began March 24 with 16 dogs. Votes were cast on the Ikon Pass’ Instagram page Gravy joined Sno from Grandvalira Andorra Resort The pooches were part of the “Final Fur” and won a three-month subscription to Maev for Raw Food Voters could choose between Gravy and Jetty on March 31 The competition was as fierce as the dogs are friendly Gravy won Ikon’s title as the 2025 Pinnacle of Pooch Gravy is just one of the canine rescuers on Winter Park’s dog team owned by Brian Roman; Biskit the border collie owned by Rico LaRocca; and Charlie the golden retriever Biskit and Emma are Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment-certified and Charlie (in training) has her inbounds certification “Many of us in the patrol community have trained together and are proud to be resources for the mountains we live in,” Karge stated “These dogs also help bring up morale and support mental health within our ski patrol teams.” The Bark Bracket actually got its start at Winter Park Resort thanks to an idea from Winter Park local Katie Steinharter the director of social media and content for Alterra Mountain Co she was chatting with Winter Park Resort employees about how it would be fun to feature resort dogs in a competition similar to basketball’s March Madness bracket — “because dogs are so much more fun” than basketball with Powder from Steamboat Resort taking the title “Each year, we open it up to any Ikon Pass destination to submit their local working dogs to be featured, and then our social media fans vote in a bracket-elimination-style on the Ikon Pass Instagram Stories until one dog remains,” Steinharter explained Karge chose this to go to Grand County Pet Pals to help fund construction of its new shelter Gravy is ready for a day of adventure in the snow Gravy stands proud for his portrait at Winter Park Resort in 2022 Danny Minard – Winter Park Resort/Courtesy photo View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ikon Pass (@ikonpass) News | Dec 23 Winter Park Resort’s proposed development plan, dubbed “Winter Park Unlocked,” lays out how it wants to upgrade its terrain, amenities and connectivity. Some of these improvements are coming soon while others are slated to take years — making this a multiyear, multiphased project. All changes will be done through a partnership with the Winter Park Recreation Association, the town of Winter Park, Alterra Mountain Co. and the U.S. Forest Service. A mountain master development plan was submitted to the U.S. Forest Service in 2022, when it went through official reviews and public commentary.  The improvements are going to be largely funded through private investment from Alterra. However, Winter Park Resort is also looking at public financing tools for parts of the project that benefit the community, such as upgrading infrastructure, public parks, public transit, preservation of the Fraser River and more. Winter Park Resort spokesperson Jen Miller explained that the plan is a way of “taking a look at the future.” “Winter Park is the oldest resort in Colorado, and the last time we did major developments was almost 25 years ago,” Miller said. Some of the resort’s longer-term plans are centered around transportation. “What I am most excited about is the mobility around the community and our connection to the Front Range and up U.S. Highway 40,” Miller said. One of the proposals would connect the town of Winter Park to the mountain and the resort’s base area using an aerial transit system or gondola. A new ski-back trail would also further connect the resort to the town. “I think those will really enhance both the guest and resident experience a lot,” she said. The idea of riding a gondola from the resort into town is novel for many, but Miller said the concept is also a very practical solution for transportation issues.  “In 10, 20 or 30 years into the future, it will be a primary transportation tool because you could park in Winter Park and ride the gondola, and then not have to bring your car to the resort,” Miller explained.  The proposed base area development plan is focused on creating a seamless experience for guests while they eat, stay and play at the resort. The plan includes developing neighborhoods within the resort with distinct identities, improving pedestrian mobility, updating parking and expanding open spaces. The plan also considers new lodging and dining options within the base area, with the goal of enticing visitors to stay a little longer. No ski resort plan is complete without terrain improvements. As part of the master development plan that was submitted in 2022, enhancements would be made to the resort’s current terrain as well as expanding intermediate terrain for more casual recreationists. For the 2024-45 season, Winter Park Resort is unveiling its upgraded $37 million snowmaking system. This is the first major upgrade to the system since the original system was installed in the late 1970s, and the project has been two years in the making.  The upgraded system now pumps up to 6,000 gallons of water per minute — more than double the capacity of the old system, which operated at 2,400 gallons per minute, according to the resort. “It will ultimately make our snowmaking system more efficient and more sustainable for the long term,” Miller said. “And we’ll be able to cover more terrain earlier.” Miller explained that these improvements will allow for more terrain to open sooner in the season but not necessarily an earlier opening for the resort since the system still requires consistent cold temperatures to make snow.  “It will allow us to more efficiently cover the mountain and open more terrain earlier,” Miller said. Miller emphasized that the resort is looking to implement these changes thoughtfully and wants to hear from residents and visitors about the proposed changes. “I think there is a deep desire for the resort, the town and the community as a whole, to maintain that kind of secret sauce that makes Winter Park what it is,” Miller said. Throughout the process of implementing these upgrades to Winter Park Resort, Miller explained that resort representatives will be speaking at public meetings and hearings. Miller and other resort leadership encouraged the public to attend these meetings to learn more about what the resort is doing. “I think an important part of all of this is we’re not doing this on our own or without the input of our community,” Miller said. “That’s really important to us, so I would encourage people to get involved.” The threat to public media has grown. Act now with a donation to sustain our work! 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Contact Buell Public Media Center 2101 Arapahoe St Bonfils Stanton Foundation and Koelbel & Company This site uses cookies for continuous video streaming News | Mar 10 The Winter Park Town Council gave final approval on a plot of land for The Landing townhomes at its March 4 meeting The new development, slated to be completed in spring 2026, will consist of 18 townhomes providing “an exclusive mountain sanctuary in the heart of Winter Park,” according to the website The plot sits along Vasquez Creek between Lions Gate Drive and Vazquez Road a short walk to downtown Winter Park and about a five-minute drive to the base of Winter Park Resort Council also moved toward finalizing a contract with Xcel Energy to continue providing gas services to the town The contract will be shortened from 20 years to 15 years to allow for flexibility in the town’s energy delivery policy moving forward This was the first reading of the contract which will be considered again at council’s next meeting council voted to apply for a grant from the Open Lands Rivers and Trails Fund to help pay for the construction of the Fraser River Trail through the Roam development The grant application will be for $250,000 The town will be responsible for covering the remaining total of about $2 million Council also approved temporary loans to the new Winter Park Urban Renewal Authority. The the authority, created by Council in October 2024 will be responsible for addressing infrastructure issues preventing development in Winter Park will assist the authority with administrative and operational tasks and will be repaid once the authority begins generating revenue through one or more renewal projects For more information about the amendment or the capital improvement contracts, access the full meeting agenda and minutes at WPgov.com Interested in more? Search Courses whether you’re a high-schooler thinking about attending DU an admitted student learning your way around or a teacher or counselor setting up a group visit With opportunities to participate in research and internships as well as robust service learning and study abroad traditions a DU education takes you beyond the lecture hall walls Our student and faculty researchers are blazing trails Check out some of our recent success stories and our ongoing efforts to improve our world sustainable residence halls and meals made from scratch to accommodate all dietary needs Learn about our brand new Kennedy Mountain Campus and explore the ways it contributes to our Four-Dimensional Experience Winter Carnival promises students a perfect mid-quarter blend of cold-weather campus events and mountain fun at Winter Park The weeklong event has endured as a hallmark of DU community spirit with only three interruptions in its decades-long history: a snow shortage in 1981 extreme road conditions in 2020 and a pandemic in 2021 “This is the most events we’ve had planned for a Winter Carnival since 2020,” says Sydney Gutierrez president of the DU Programming Board (DUPB) the student organization that puts on the event “We’re trying to bring it back to what it was like pre-COVID.” DUPB offers scholarships to cover costs for bus transportation ensuring every student has the chance to participate Applications for financial assistance can be submitted through Feb and especially the weekend getaway at Winter Park hit the slopes and enjoy Colorado’s snowy winter Whether it’s conversations sparked when you’re stuck in line for a chairlift or packing into a room with old friends from freshman year “you’re all a lot closer by the time you get back,” she says.” Tuesday, Feb. 4: Live music, chocolate fountains and charcuterie at the Snowflake Social Wednesday, Feb. 5: Inflatable hamster ball racing, cookie decorating and more at the Baller Bash students will pack up and head to Winter Park for three days on the slopes If you’re not already a skier or a snowboarder there’s still plenty to do on the mountain faculty and staff can get lift tickets for $80 and tubing tickets for $10 on CrimsonConnect students can also go to a Friday evening showing of “The Breakfast Club,” make gingerbread houses and see DU Hockey take on Arizona State University at the Saturday night watch party Students who stay on campus can enjoy activities like Saturday’s sip and paint and Sunday’s open skate with the club Figure Skating Team DUPB has a limited number of bus tickets for students traveling to Winter Park Check Crimson Connect to see if you can still grab a spot Ride the Bustang: Look for the Craig-Denver Outrider Line to Winter Park the Winter Park Express departs from Union Station and is ADA accessible and lets you off at the base of the mountain Carpool: Riding to the mountains with your friends is a great way to save a few dollars and it’s way more fun than doing the drive alone Students can book accommodations at discounted rates at the Vintage Hotel or  the Zephyr Mountain Lodge or Fraser Crossing which are located at the base of the mountain—and are a perfect way to spend every minute you can on the slopes grabbing an Airbnb or other rental with a couple of friends is a great way to stay close to the mountain without breaking the bank For more information on events, financial assistance or to register, visit DUPB on CrimsonConnect. Check out DUPB on Instagram for updates and more | The University of Denver is an equal opportunity affirmative action institution a universal application that can be sent to many schools First-Year Students Transfer Students All Students Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest Graduate Application Graduate Academic Programs Graduate Academic Programs Request Info Request Info First-Year Students Transfer Students Schedule a Visit Find your graduate program representative and schedule a visit Schedule a Visit Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Colorado Department of Health & Environment Kaiser Permanente DU's Health & Counseling Center — A group of neighbors plan to ask the Winter Park city commission later this week to repeal a resolution in favor of a traffic signal along Aloma Avenue Drew and Blakie Bernstein contacted Traffic Inbox because they’re concerned about a traffic signal being installed at the end of their street Cortland Avenue at busy Aloma Avenue (State Road 426) “What we're opposed to and what the community is more importantly opposed to is a traffic light at this intersection which is really unwarranted and unsupported,” said Drew Bernstein the Winter Park City Commission approved a resolution supporting the installation of a traffic signal at Aloma Avenue and Cortland Avenue City leaders say the hope is to slow down busy Aloma Avenue and make it safer to turn from Cortland Avenue “This is something that we've dealt with for 12 years,” said Drew You're typically not waiting more than 10-15 seconds to kind of cross.” The couple say the traffic signal would do more harm than good They cite an FDOT study which found more traffic would use Cortland Avenue to access Aloma Avenue we like to play with them,” said Blakie Bernstein “So it's going to be much more difficult now to feel like we can feel safe running across the street.” The city wanted to build the traffic signal just before FDOT began its own work in the area to make State Road 426 safer We reached out to both FDOT and the city of Winter Park about the traffic signal FDOT’s own analysis determined the traffic signal wasn’t warranted city manager Randy Knight sent out an email “recommending discontinuing pursuit of the signal until after the other FDOT improvements are completed.” Concerned with the increase in traffic along their street the Bernsteins are happy the city is holding off on the plans quiet neighborhood that we've come to love and we're just looking to preserve that for us and keep the great charm that we have here,” said Drew Bernstein The city manager is proposing the city commission repeal or amend the resolution of support for the traffic signal at their meeting on Wednesday so they along with their neighbors plan to show up at the meeting If you’ve got a traffic trouble spot you’d like us to look into, fill out the form here News | Feb 13 A few inches of fresh snow had already piled up as we waited to board the train fat flakes melting in our hair and soaking our hats.  I’m sure Berthoud Pass was getting dicey at that point in the afternoon The main focus of the moment was the plan my friend and I had just concocted to immediately head to the snack bar upon boarding the Amtrak Winter Park Express instead of going right to our seats We figured plenty of other ski train passengers were also ready for happy hour looking a bit wiped out after seven hours on the slopes but still smiling One man bought a 12-pack of beer and a flat My friend and I bought almonds and red wine which we sipped in our seats from cute plastic cups with stems.  The two-hour ride back to Union Station in Denver felt short and relaxing with our feet out of our ski boots and dusky views of forest and mountains out the window.  It was our first time on the train and we decided then that we would do it again and bring more friends We also hoped we would someday ride it all the way to Steamboat for a long ski weekend.  News | Mar 2 Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the direction in which the red Hyundai involved in the crash was traveling Highway 40 in Winter Park resulted in one fatality and serious injuries to two other people Sunday between Lakota Drive and the north entrance to Winter Park Drive according to a news release from the Fraser Winter Park Police Department According to the preliminary investigation a 2008 Dodge Ram truck traveling westbound “lost traction on icy roads and veered into the eastbound lane of travel.” The truck first sideswiped a silver Nissan that was traveling eastbound then collided with an eastbound red 2015 Hyundai Grand County EMS transported one victim to Middle Park Medical Center in Granby Anthony Hospital in Denver by a MedEvac helicopter The third person involved in the crash was pronounced dead “It is believed that the deceased victim was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash,” the news release states East Grand Fire Department and the Granby Police Department all assisted Fraser Winter Park Police in the crash they now require allergy and EpiPen training in all before and after school programs state lawmakers from Orlando proposed legislation to require training in before and after school programs [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] This year, the issue is once again before lawmakers with House Bill 1197 and Senate Bill 1514 Isler traveled to Tallahassee on Monday to testify before state senators about the need for school staff to have anaphylaxis training during regular school hours (students) have an emergency action plan that says that if they have a EpiPen and if they had a reaction that they’ll get the EpiPen administered first and then 911 will be called but it only covers regular school hours,” said Isler “So this bill makes sure that the EAP is effective at all times when a student is on campus The bill has already been amended in a different senate committee and would now only apply to students in grades kindergarten through 8th Both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend anaphylaxis and EpiPen training for school staff The need may also be greater now than ever before food allergies are rising now affecting one in every 13 kids “There have been children that have died from anaphylaxis at schools As long as they have training on how to prevent an allergic reaction and how to treat it immediately Lisa Bell has been in Central Florida since 2007 covering the big stories that impact our community Lisa was promoted to News 6 evening news co-anchor in May 2014 — The Winter Park Police Department is joining the efforts to combat homelessness across Central Florida after announcing a new initiative that begins Monday The program focuses on connecting those people in need with organizations and resources available especially permanent housing when it is available.   Homeless Advocacy Response team or (HART) is being partially funded by federal grant money When President Donald Trump announced a freeze on all federal grants last month it was unclear what that meant for the $250,000 being allocated to the police department the Trump administration rescinded the freeze The grant will help the police department cover the cost of two newly sworn-in officer positions Those officers would primarily focus on one-on-one interactions with people experiencing homelessness creating relationships and trust with those individuals and directing them to resources available in the community In addition to the three-year, $250,000 grant being provided, Spectrum News 13’s partners at the Orlando Sentinel reported that the city of Winter Park will also contribute nearly $280,000 toward the officers' wages equipment and designated vehicles that will allow the officers to lend a ride to local organizations that provide hot meals Resources for those experiencing homelessness can be found on the Winter Park Police Department’s website – An empty car was fished out of a lake in Winter Park on Wednesday officers said they responded to the area of Lake Knowles Circle and Temple Drive around 12:12 p.m after receiving a report about the sunken car “A submerged vehicle was observed in Lake Knowles approximately 40 feet from the shore line,” the release reads “The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Dive team was notified and responded to the scene.” [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] investigators said they found it was empty investigators discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Seminole County back in August 2024 No additional information has been provided at this time including the nature of the theft or the identity of any potential suspect