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Every year, visitors flock to Snowmass Village for Spring Break to enjoy the beautiful weather and great skiing. For many it is a family affair, celebrating a week off from school for the kids and a vacation for the parents.
Snowmass Village second homes and condos are often filled to the rafters with extended families and friends.
While Snowmass Village is not a main destination resort for the usual Spring Break throngs that head off to southern climes where bikinis and sand are ubiquitous, for many, taking a break at a ski resort is the best thing there is.
Locals and visitors recall their favorite Spring Break memories.
Bruce Wood of El Jebel
Wood, who is also the Balloon Meister at the annual Snowmass Village Balloon Festival, has lived here for decades. He remembers the year his niece brought 10 college friends to his home for spring break.
“There were 11 of them and they were sleeping everywhere,” Wood said. He has good memories, but remembers feeling a little overwhelmed.
Shauna McFeeley from Charlotte, N.C.
The McFeeley family has been skiing in Snowmass since 1998. For her, college spring break has a special meaning.
“I met my husband here on St. Paddy's Day 20 years ago. He was on his last day and I was on my first. We first saw each other on Spar Gulch and then met at Shlomo's. Now owners of a Timbers unit, we come here every spring with our three kids. They loved Tube Town and skiing the kids trails to visit the reindeer,” she said.
The Sechler family from San Antonio, Texas
Three generations and four separate families of the Sechlers have been coming to Snowmass to ski and commune. This is their fourth year here.
“We're really happy to come here for Spring Break. I love seeing my whole family and skiing. Snowmass has a lot to offer for all levels of skiing,” said Reed enthusiastically, with agreement from his two siblings.
A new memory for this year was going snowmobiling in Woody Creek.
Ryan Cooney, 14 from Kansas has been coming for years to Snowmass.
“I remember the St. Paddy's Day parties. They're always the best. There were bagpipes and you get to meet a lot of people like Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Skiing is always great in the spring. We've had all kinds of conditions over the years, but it's still great,” he said.
Alexia Taylor now lives at Buttermilk, but is from Argentina
Her most memorable Spring Break happened a couple of years ago, while working at a local ski shop.
“My boss got me drunk. He wanted to show me St. Paddy's Day on the slopes. During a ski break from work, we had green beer on the Mall before going up the lift. I got a little buzzed, but that day I rode my snowboard the best I ever had. It was better than being sober. It gave me a lot of confidence, but then I had to go back to work,” she said.
Drew Romano of New Jersey came with a group of friends from Blair Academy.
“I've been coming for Spring Break for years. I like the skiing, the powder, the sun, the friendly people, Up 4 Pizza and the cookies,” he said
Julie Bechant of Naples, Fla.
She's been visiting the area since the 1970s and now comes out for Spring Break with her new family.
“This is a great place for Spring Break. Snowmass has ski trails for every level of ability in the whole family. We especially love to meet at Gwyn's for lunch,” she said.
Tina Crotty of Cincinnati is part of Bechant's new family.
“I remember St. Patrick's Day last year. Everyone was dressed in green and there were pipers and a cute juggler. I loved the caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and the old Paradise Bakery. I like how very friendly everyone with the Skico is here,” she said.
Tanner Twomey of Austin, Texas, has been coming to Snowmass for years to visit his dad's friend T.J. Johnson of Snowmass Village.
“My best memories are the beautiful weather, the Big Air competitions and Tube Town, when I was really young. My family's been coming here since I was six years old. Another great memory was the first time my friends and I skied Long Shot. That's one of the best runs they have here.” he said.
Allie Litt of New York City
A recent graduate of Union College, Litt has been coming to ski in Snowmass since she was little, but usually over the holidays. She just finished her first Spring Break here.
“Spring is really the best time to come. There's great sunshine, it's warm and the snow conditions are the best. I also remember the great food off and on the mountain, especially Gwyn's and the Viceroy. My favorite places to ski are Alpine Springs and Elk Camp. I also really like Base Village. It's festive and fun and adds a lot to Snowmass. My family has skied here and at many other resorts, such as Vail, but we all agree that Snowmass is the best,” she said
Spring Break in Snowmass seems benign compared to places such as Cancun or Miami. There's no sand, no bikinis and no big time drinking parties, although many locals say they can't remember Spring Break here, because they were having too good of a time, but there are a few wild times, too.
One ski instructor remembers riding up the lift with a 12-year-old boy, when three coeds skied under the lift topless. He covered the boys eyes with his hand but it got brushed away with the demand, “No way, you can't do that to me.”
Snowmass Village second homes and condos are often filled to the rafters with extended families and friends.
While Snowmass Village is not a main destination resort for the usual Spring Break throngs that head off to southern climes where bikinis and sand are ubiquitous, for many, taking a break at a ski resort is the best thing there is.
Locals and visitors recall their favorite Spring Break memories.
Bruce Wood of El Jebel
Wood, who is also the Balloon Meister at the annual Snowmass Village Balloon Festival, has lived here for decades. He remembers the year his niece brought 10 college friends to his home for spring break.
“There were 11 of them and they were sleeping everywhere,” Wood said. He has good memories, but remembers feeling a little overwhelmed.
Shauna McFeeley from Charlotte, N.C.
The McFeeley family has been skiing in Snowmass since 1998. For her, college spring break has a special meaning.
“I met my husband here on St. Paddy's Day 20 years ago. He was on his last day and I was on my first. We first saw each other on Spar Gulch and then met at Shlomo's. Now owners of a Timbers unit, we come here every spring with our three kids. They loved Tube Town and skiing the kids trails to visit the reindeer,” she said.
The Sechler family from San Antonio, Texas
Three generations and four separate families of the Sechlers have been coming to Snowmass to ski and commune. This is their fourth year here.
“We're really happy to come here for Spring Break. I love seeing my whole family and skiing. Snowmass has a lot to offer for all levels of skiing,” said Reed enthusiastically, with agreement from his two siblings.
A new memory for this year was going snowmobiling in Woody Creek.
Ryan Cooney, 14 from Kansas has been coming for years to Snowmass.
“I remember the St. Paddy's Day parties. They're always the best. There were bagpipes and you get to meet a lot of people like Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Skiing is always great in the spring. We've had all kinds of conditions over the years, but it's still great,” he said.
Alexia Taylor now lives at Buttermilk, but is from Argentina
Her most memorable Spring Break happened a couple of years ago, while working at a local ski shop.
“My boss got me drunk. He wanted to show me St. Paddy's Day on the slopes. During a ski break from work, we had green beer on the Mall before going up the lift. I got a little buzzed, but that day I rode my snowboard the best I ever had. It was better than being sober. It gave me a lot of confidence, but then I had to go back to work,” she said.
Drew Romano of New Jersey came with a group of friends from Blair Academy.
“I've been coming for Spring Break for years. I like the skiing, the powder, the sun, the friendly people, Up 4 Pizza and the cookies,” he said
Julie Bechant of Naples, Fla.
She's been visiting the area since the 1970s and now comes out for Spring Break with her new family.
“This is a great place for Spring Break. Snowmass has ski trails for every level of ability in the whole family. We especially love to meet at Gwyn's for lunch,” she said.
Tina Crotty of Cincinnati is part of Bechant's new family.
“I remember St. Patrick's Day last year. Everyone was dressed in green and there were pipers and a cute juggler. I loved the caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and the old Paradise Bakery. I like how very friendly everyone with the Skico is here,” she said.
Tanner Twomey of Austin, Texas, has been coming to Snowmass for years to visit his dad's friend T.J. Johnson of Snowmass Village.
“My best memories are the beautiful weather, the Big Air competitions and Tube Town, when I was really young. My family's been coming here since I was six years old. Another great memory was the first time my friends and I skied Long Shot. That's one of the best runs they have here.” he said.
Allie Litt of New York City
A recent graduate of Union College, Litt has been coming to ski in Snowmass since she was little, but usually over the holidays. She just finished her first Spring Break here.
“Spring is really the best time to come. There's great sunshine, it's warm and the snow conditions are the best. I also remember the great food off and on the mountain, especially Gwyn's and the Viceroy. My favorite places to ski are Alpine Springs and Elk Camp. I also really like Base Village. It's festive and fun and adds a lot to Snowmass. My family has skied here and at many other resorts, such as Vail, but we all agree that Snowmass is the best,” she said
Spring Break in Snowmass seems benign compared to places such as Cancun or Miami. There's no sand, no bikinis and no big time drinking parties, although many locals say they can't remember Spring Break here, because they were having too good of a time, but there are a few wild times, too.
One ski instructor remembers riding up the lift with a 12-year-old boy, when three coeds skied under the lift topless. He covered the boys eyes with his hand but it got brushed away with the demand, “No way, you can't do that to me.”
