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this article we’ll take a closer look at each of these to examine should be) on the must visit list of any serious skier or
what opportunities each bring to the table. snowboarder. What most potential guests don’t realize is
that, hidden in the shadow of Kachina Peak, Taos also has
INVESTMENTS IN PHYSICAL SPACE a long-standing history of providing outstanding learning

If you’re lucky enough to have the funding and square experiences.
footage to build out your children’s learning infrastructure, Looking to capitalize on the emerging “adventure
this is certainly one way to increase your lesson capacity. family” market, this past summer Taos invested heavily in
Claire Humber of SE Group and John Ashworth of Bull its beginner and children’s lesson offerings. With the help
Stockwell Allen led a great session on this topic at the 2015 of SE Group and SNOW Operating, the resort redesigned
National Convention in San Francisco. During that discus- and renovated its existing 22,000-square-foot Ernie Blake
sion they identified two key factors to consider when build- Children’s Learning Center. In addition, the resort regraded
ing out your physical space. the Strawberry Hill Learning Area, curbing grades from a
fear-inducing 20-plus percent to less than 14 percent—all
1. Your children’s center should reflect the to make the guest experience less intimidating and allow for
brand and character of your resort. the implementation of Terrain Based Learning for children
™
and adults. Finally, Taos connected its learning terrain and
Of all the different departments at a resort, the children’s children’s center to the village center via a new Pulse Gondola
center screams for theming and animation more than most, affectionately named “The Gondolita.”
so have fun with it and embrace what makes your resort
unique. That said, don’t be so kitschy that it will become
dated quickly or that you’ll tire of it in a few years.
In their presentation, Humber and Ashworth highlighted
Aspen Snowmass as a showcase example of theming that stays
true to the resort’s brand. Aspen’s brand is built around the
“Power of Four”—four connected resorts that each provide
unique and extraordinary experiences. Aspen Snowmass is
home to two of the most impressive (and perfectly named)
children’s centers in the country, The Treehouse at Snowmass
and The Hideout at Buttermilk, both true to the character
and aesthetics of their individual resort, and both extraordi-
nary in their own right.
“The Treehouse was designed with kids in mind,” says
Sue Way, director of children’s programs at Aspen Snowmass.
“Our goal was to have children start their mountain journey
before they ever hit the snow. Environmental sustainability and
awareness are core values at Aspen Snowmass, and as such we
wanted The Treehouse to enrich the children’s experience and
share a common appreciation and respect for the environment
in an energizing way that helps to develop the kids’ spirits.”
As for The Hideout, Way says they wanted the facility
to feel as if it was in the same family as the Treehouse but
still have its own identity and style. “Buttermilk is designed
for beginners, so convenience and fun were key to the
design. We wanted the Hideout to be attractive to both
children and parents. We wanted to create a playful envi-
ronment that offers high-quality experiences in a comfort-
able, easy-to-use way,” she says.
Another area that recently invested in its physical space
for children’s programs is Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico. Theming at two Aspen Snowmass children’s centers—The Treehouse at
Snowmass and The Hideout at Buttermilk—correlates with the company’s com-
Renowned more for its steep-and-deep terrain, Taos is (or mitment to sustainability and respect for the environment. Jeremy Swanson

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