Establishing a model sure to be followed by many cities in the near future, Ruby Hill Rail Yard is a free (yup, free), urban terrain park located in Denver’s Ruby Hill Park, which makes it possible for people who might not otherwise get on snow to ski. Because, in case you were wondering, skiing is expensive.
In preparation for last Saturday’s opening, more than an acre of snow has been pumped into the park in the last few days and final grooming touches are being made by Winter Park Resort, which also provided rails, design, and crew.
“With Ruby Hill Rail Yard, we are excited to again be able to bring the mountains to the metro area. Skiers and riders can expect a different layout this year with an additional rail and a lot of snow,” said Bob Holme, terrain park and youth marketing manager at Winter Park Resort. “The conditions are perfect, we have more snow than we have ever had.”
The Rail Yard is more than just an urban oasis for park rats. Denver Parks and Recreation will offer youth programs and free rentals throughout the winter. “Our vision is to continue to grow the sport and to offer a terrain park experience to those who may not have access to the mountains,” Holme says. Ruby Hill is funded, and manhandled into existence by volunteers, private donations, and partnerships with companies like Christy Sports and the Snowboard Outreach Society.
Eliminating nearly every excuse not to go skiing, the city has seen a great response from the park in years past, which makes us excited for the future.
The city of Denver has announced the opening of the Rail Yard at the intersection of Platte River Drive and Jewell Avenue this Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 12:00 p.m.
Details
The Ruby Hill Rail Yard will be open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. through the end of February, weather permitting. Free ski and snowboard rentals will be available for kids ages 8 to 17, beginning January 14, 2010 with the following schedule:
Fridays: 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sundays: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For more info check out:
http://www.winterparkresort.com/todo/rubyhill.htm
http://www.denvergov.org/rubyhillrailyard
