Ruby Hill Rail Yard 2017

**Update 1/13/17** The Ruby Hill Rail Yard is open for the season! The park’s lights stay on until 9 p.m., and the hill opens every morning at 5 a.m.

On January 2, 2017, snowmaking began at Ruby Hill Park for the Ruby Hill Rail Yard 2017 season.

According to a comment made on the Ruby Hill Rail Yard Facebook page by Bob Holme, Director of Mountain Maintenance at Winter Park Resort, “Snowmaking takes a few days. Once it is complete, likely over the weekend, we will let the piles leach. We hope to push things out next week and be ready by next weekend.”

Another source noted that “we will have two new features this year (two flat rails) and the return of an old favorite (think big and blue), along w/ our usual assortment of boxes and rails.”

The Ruby Hill Rail Yard is a joint effort between Denver Parks and Recreation, Winter Park Resort, and Christy Sports. As reported by CBS News in their article about the opening last year, “Winter Park provides the rails and terrain park design along with staff while Christy Sports provides free rental equipment and Denver Parks provides the location and youth programs.”

According to the Westword, “Christy Sports is back on board, too: The on-site facility will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, loaning snowboards and skis; volunteers will help with fit and adjustments. (Those eight to seventeen will need a parent present to sign a release form.)”

From the Winter Park website:

• The park is free and open to the public during normal park hours.
• Eight boxes and rails are featured in beginner, intermediate, and advanced configurations.
• Events and contests will be held occasionally to showcase Ruby Hill Rail Yard.
• A team of ~30 volunteers will be used to maintain the Rail yard. Volunteers will be selected from the community and the ski/snowboard industry. If you see them out on the hill, thank them for their support of your park!