SAM Magazine-Arapahoe Basin, Colo., Mar. 20, 2007-Not much has changed at Colorado's Arapahoe Basin since the resort opened in 1946. A few runs cut, some new lifts, a revamped base lodge. But the Basin is about to become a lot bigger. Last week the resort received approval for a 400-acre expansion that will substantially improve the intermediate terrain and increase the mountain's skiable acreage by 80 percent.

The new terrain is on the southern part of the resort's Special Use Permit and will be served by a Leitner Poma fixed grip quad with a 9-minute ride time, a rise of 1,100 vertical feet with an uphill capacity of 1900 people per hour. The chair, dubbed the Zuma, will offer skiers and riders access to 34 new runs. Opening is slated for the 2007-2008 season, with construction commencing this spring. The price tag for the project is $3 million.

"We are very excited to open this terrain to the public. We have considered this expansion since our 1982 master plan," said Alan Henceroth, vice president and chief operating officer. "It has always been important to us to give the intermediate skier and rider additional terrain and give the advanced skier and rider more variety and diversity. Montezuma Bowl will do all of that and more."