Breckenridge

The town of Breckenridge originated as a mining town in 1859. At the base of Hoosier pass, the town remained relatively isolated for decades. Skiing was used as a way to navigate the mountains during the winter. But by the early 1900s, ski jumping started to become increasingly popular, and in the 1930s, Hoosier Pass ski area opened to skiers.

A few decades later, the area around Dillon lake began to grow into a summer recreational community. As this was happening, a geologist named Bill Stark started scouting the area above the town of Breckenridge for a potential ski area. The applications were submitted to build a ski area in 1960 and in December of ‘61, Breckenridge ski resort opened its first terrain on peak 8.

Over the following decades, Breckenridge rapidly expanded to cover more terrain under Peaks 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. During that time, the resort changed hands a number of times, including to the Aspen Skiing Company, and even 20th Century Fox, following the Star Wars success. Now it is owned by Vail Resorts, and one of the most visited ski resorts in the world every year. It’s also one of the most exciting ski resorts in North America with the highest chairlift in North America, services an elevation of 12,840 feet at the top of Peak 8.