An Energized Taos Ski Valley Prepares for 2016-2017 Season, Launch of The Blake Hotel

New ski school choices, technology improvements and snowmaking make visitor experience better than ever

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Aug 10, 2016, 09:05 ET

TAOS SKI VALLEY, N.M., Aug. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This 2016-2017 winter season, Taos Ski Valley will open the much-anticipated centerpiece of its base area renovation, The Blake at Taos Ski Valley, a new 80-room lodging property. Additionally, Taos Ski Valley has a variety of other new enhancements designed to improve the visitor experience in the valley this year. The changes come as Taos Ski Valley's new CEO David Norden kicks off his first season at the ski valley bringing decades of mountain resort industry experience.

In addition to the planned opening of The Blake this winter, some key improvements visitors will notice immediately include:

Expanded glading in the famed hike-to Wild West area, as well as on the North American run and Ernie's Run
Significantly improved mobile phone coverage in the valley and on-mountain, allowing visitors to post social media photos and connect with family and friends
Additional snowmaking for enhanced early season conditions
A variety of new ski school options at the famed Ernie Blake Snowsports School including telemark, steeps & bumps, women-only, and racing specialty clinics

"This year promises to be our best yet as more of the significant investments we've been making in the ski area become real for our guests and local residents for the first time," said Norden. "Visitors will immediately notice the improvements, however, the soul and mystique of Taos Ski Valley is still the same. Our world-class terrain, renowned snowsports school and children's program, and unique culture are unmistakably intact."

Taos Ski Valley's concerted base area renovations and on-mountain improvements began over two years ago with the launch of the Kachina Peak Chair Lift, and continued last season with a new drop-off area that features views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and a walkway with stores and services that line the path to the base area and lifts. The base area renovation will continue for the next several years, and include a variety of new retail areas, dining choices and a plaza.

Mountain Collective, Taos Card
Taos Ski Valley continues to offer one of the best values in skiing, and season pass holders also get reciprocal privileges of 50 percent off one-day ticket prices at all Mountain Collective resorts as well as three days each at Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin. In addition, the Taos Card gives guests $19 off the single-day ticket rate during regular season, plus every 7th day is free, and lets skiers and riders go straight to the lift, charging their credit card automatically.

Both the season pass and the Taos Card offer a variety of valuable discounts on-mountain including discounts at restaurants, rentals, retailers and summer activities.

The scheduled opening day will be Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, and key in-season events include:

Dec. 16 – 17, Demo Days
Dec. 31, New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks
Jan. 7, 21^st Annual Brewmasters Festival
Jan. 17 – 22, Not Forgotten Outreach Week
Feb. 25, Shred the Love: Fifth Annual K2 Bumps Challenge and the Eighth Annual Paint for Peaks: A Snowboard Art Auction
Mar. 2 – 4, Taos Freeride Championships

About Taos Ski Valley
Located in northern New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley is one of North America's premier ski and snowboard destinations, with more than 305 inches of average annual snowfall and more than 110 trails. Taos Ski Valley has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, spectacular scenery and amazing terrain for every ability level, truly making it a world of its own.

To learn more about Taos Ski Valley, please visit www.skitaos.com.

SOURCE Taos Ski Valley