Historically for the Steamboat Ski Area, first time skiers would ride up magic carpets to the top of a mild slope and head down in plain view for all to see. The runs would be short and some participants would not get to ride a lift. That all changed with the introduction of the Green Horn Ranch, an innovative, Terrain Based Learning™ area located near the previous Rough Rider/Bashor Basin area.
Greenhorn Ranch is unique in that it is a brand-new area that has been re-shaped, re-graded and re-designed to create the ultimate Terrain Based Learning® experience. Landmark worked closely with the SE Group to ensure that the design intent was reflected in the grading and drainage plan. The scale of the improvements required real-time LiDAR updates to assist with volume management and design adjustments. Additionally, Landmark worked closely with representatives of the US Forest Service to ensure that the drainage conveyance solutions worked with the woodland environment and used naturally found materials where practicable.
Other fascinating civil engineering aspects of the project included coordinating an ‘Out of District Service Agreement’ with the local water provider, Mount Werner Water. We also married the Wild Blue Gondola mid-station to the project with the help of Dendrite and Eric Smith Associates. This simple addition to the ski area was not only a game changer for locals and guests, but also those new to skiing. Riding a world class gondola is quite the impression compared to the previous option of a magic carpet.