{"id":2442816,"date":"2019-04-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=303917"},"modified":"2019-04-11T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T06:00:00","slug":"true-tales-of-aspen-highlands-closing-day-parties-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/true-tales-of-aspen-highlands-closing-day-parties-past\/","title":{"rendered":"True Tales of Aspen Highlands Closing Day Parties Past"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.9004376367615\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-303917-507\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Jackie Francis\/Aspen Historical Society | A legendary closing day rager at the at the base of Aspen Highlandson April 5, 1998. The bar's building was torn down the next day.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1.jpg\" alt=\"A legendary closing day rager at the at the base of Aspen Highlandson April 5, 1998. The bar's building was torn down the next day.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>A legendary closing day rager at the at the base of Aspen Highlandson April 5, 1998. The bar&#8217;s building was torn down the next day.<\/strong><br \/>Jackie Francis\/Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Jackie Francis\/Aspen Historical Society | A legendary closing day rager at the base of Aspen Highlands on April 5, 1998. People were partying on the roof of the bar, which was demolished the following day.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"A legendary closing day rager at the base of Aspen Highlands on April 5, 1998. People were partying on the roof of the bar, which was demolished the following day.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>A legendary closing day rager at the base of Aspen Highlands on April 5, 1998. People were partying on the roof of the bar, which was demolished the following day.<\/strong><br \/>Jackie Francis\/Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"John Russell\/Aspen Historical Society | A crowd at the base of Aspen Mountain on its closing day in April of 1988. Construction of The Little Nell began after that ski season .\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"A crowd at the base of Aspen Mountain on its closing day in April of 1988. Construction of The Little Nell began after that ski season .\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A crowd at the base of Aspen Mountain on its closing day in April of 1988. Construction of The Little Nell began after that ski season .<\/strong><br \/>John Russell\/Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chris Cassatt\/Aspen Times file\/Aspen Historical Society | Skiers participate in the annual\" on ridge bell mountain at end of the ski class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-3.jpg\" alt=\"Skiers participate in the annual \" on ridge bell mountain at end of the ski><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Skiers participate in the annual &#8220;Buckoff&#8221; on the Ridge of Bell Mountain at the end of the 1983 ski season.<\/strong><br \/>Chris Cassatt\/Aspen Times file\/Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Aspen Historical Society | The former Lift One, the\" fifth ski run and a relatively undeveloped aspen pictured on closing april happened to be easter sunday. this also marked the last day for which was replaced by lift class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-4.jpg\" alt=\"The former Lift One, the \" fifth ski run and a relatively undeveloped aspen pictured on closing april happened to be easter sunday. this also marked the last day for which was replaced by lift><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>The former Lift One, the &#8220;Fifth Avenue&#8221; ski run and a relatively undeveloped Aspen pictured on the mountain&#8217;s closing day, April 11, 1971, which also happened to be Easter Sunday. This also marked the last day for Lift One, which was replaced by Lift 1 A.<\/strong><br \/>Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Partiers on Aspen Mountain for Bonnie's Bash.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-5.jpg\" alt=\"Partiers on Aspen Mountain for Bonnie's Bash.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Partiers on Aspen Mountain for Bonnie&#8217;s Bash.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Bacon and closing day at Buttermilk.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-6.jpg\" alt=\"Bacon and closing day at Buttermilk.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Bacon and closing day at Buttermilk.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Damian Quigley in snowblades for Highlands closing at the Merry-go-round.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-7.jpg\" alt=\"Damian Quigley in snowblades for Highlands closing at the Merry-go-round.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Damian Quigley in snowblades for Highlands closing at the Merry-go-round.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | A skier carries a blow up doll down Aspen Highlands for closing day.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-8.jpg\" alt=\"A skier carries a blow up doll down Aspen Highlands for closing day.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A skier carries a blow up doll down Aspen Highlands for closing day.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | The Aspen Highlands closing day party at the base.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-9.jpg\" alt=\"The Aspen Highlands closing day party at the base.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>The Aspen Highlands closing day party at the base.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-10.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | The Aspen Highlands closing day party at the base.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-10.jpg\" alt=\"The Aspen Highlands closing day party at the base.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>The Aspen Highlands closing day party at the base.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-11.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | A participant of the swimsuit ski down at Snowmass for closing day.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-11.jpg\" alt=\"A participant of the swimsuit ski down at Snowmass for closing day.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>A participant of the swimsuit ski down at Snowmass for closing day.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-12.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | The party at the base of Aspen Highlands for closing day.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-12.jpg\" alt=\"The party at the base of Aspen Highlands for closing day.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>The party at the base of Aspen Highlands for closing day.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-13.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-13.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-15-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-15.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-15.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-18-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-18.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times |\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/coverstory-atw-041119-1-18.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/weekly\/true-tales-of-aspen-highlands-closing-day-parties-past\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/weekly\/true-tales-of-aspen-highlands-closing-day-parties-past\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">A rowdy contingent of locals swigged spirits, sparked joints and consumed questionable substances while grooving on the roof of the bar at the Aspen Highlands base to a 25-piece band \u2014 a local apr\u00e8s-ski supergroup \u2014 on closing day 1998.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The more disorderly of the bunch flung chairs through the glass windows of the bar; others ripped signs and memorabilia off the walls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt was the closing day to end all closing days,\u201d Travis McCraw, then a bartender at the Highlands Caf\u00e9, said of the 1998 celebration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Still, more than 20 years later, McCraw confirms: \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Although Highlands was already the wild child of the gang, Aspen Skiing Co.\u2019s plan to demolish the base area bar the following day only fueled the level of debauchery that ensued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Aspen Highlands was independently owned until only a few years prior, and \u201cIt was a big moment\u201d when Skico acquired what had long been considered \u201cthe locals\u2019 mountain,\u201d McCraw said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">With its old-school-cool feel, the vibe and crowd at Highlands were different than at the other three mountains, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Highlands Caf\u00e9 bar at the base, for instance, was \u201cjust a real locals\u2019 dive, hang-out bar\u201d \u2013 a place where ski patrollers, at the end of their shifts, would grease the surface of the bar with Crisco, strip down and slide across naked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">On the legendary closing day of 1998, McCraw and his seven fellow bartenders sold beer to customers by the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">When thirsty patrons depleted the beer stock from the outside bar within the first hour of the party, more beer was transported to the base from the Merry-Go-Round restaurant via snowmobiles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">All told, the Highlands Caf\u00e9 party people polished off about 80 kegs and 200 cases of beer, by McCraw\u2019s count.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Of course, liquor also was flowing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Two drink \u201cspecials,\u201d if you can even call them that, stand out in McCraw\u2019s memory: The first, labeled a \u201cShip o\u2019 Fool,\u201d was a shot of Nassau Royale liqueur mixed with Admiral Nelson, or \u201cknock-off Captain Morgan,\u201d rum. The other odd refreshment simply combined the two beers that were on tap: A dark ale called Pete\u2019s Wicked Winter Brew mixed with some good old-fashioned Coors. The shots sold for $2; pitchers of the beer blend cost $5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt wasn\u2019t as bad as it sounds,\u201d McCraw said, laughing. \u201cIt was like a \u2018When in Rome\u2019 kind of thing, you know \u2014 it sounded disgusting, but we all tried it and we all ended up drinking it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Asked if the bartenders were imbibing whilst crafting said concoctions, McCraw quipped, \u201cWe were pretty much drunk the whole season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Each bartender walked away from that closing evening with $850 in cash, McCraw said. That equates to about $1,300 today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cI mean, I think we probably spent half of it going out and partying that night in Aspen,\u201d McCraw said, \u201cbut that\u2019s a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">More than two decades later, locals still cut loose and can be equally boisterous as the season comes to a close.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Aspen resident Ari Mizrahi, 39, will never forget his Highlands closing day of the 2015 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cA few weeks earlier, some guys ducked a rope and triggered an avalanche that covered the entire skiers\u2019 left side of the Highland Bowl and created gigantic debris piles at the base of the Bowl. During closing, people hauled in kegs and hid them inside the avalanche debris,\u201d Mizrahi recalled. \u201cSo when we skied down, we climbed up and over the debris piles and into a full-on raging keg party with people on all sorts of substances and dressed in amazing costumes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cFirst and probably the only time I have ever experienced a keg party in an avalanche. It was a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">What\u2019s changed since the early days, however, is the sheer size and reach of the event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cThe Highlands party has taken on a life of its own,\u201d Skico spokesperson Jeff Hanle said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Whereas closing parties used to be predominately local, today people travel from all over to get in on the action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cHighlands closing has become a destination business driver,\u201d Hanle said. \u201cIt\u2019s one of \u2014 if not the \u2014 biggest days of the year at Highlands,\u201d surpassing crowds on holidays such as Christmas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">In recent years, more than 4,000 skiers and snowboarders have scanned their pass at Highlands on closing day, according to Hanle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The total number of people celebrating is even greater, as Hanle noted another \u201crecent phenomenon\u201d of visitors who arrive solely to party without any ski equipment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Highlands sees scores of visitors from fellow ski resorts, like Steamboat and Vail, and other areas throughout the state and country, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Lorelei Strasburger, 26, of Denver, drove to Aspen for Highlands closing last April with a car full of Front Range friends and a few who flew in from Boston for the occasion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Strasburger called the event the highlight of her year, and fully expects to return this weekend for round two.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt was so much fun,\u201d Strasburger said. \u201cThe base of Highlands was just a riot. Just (with) all the festivities, you could feel there was an energy going through the town.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cI pretty much put it on my (2019) calendar right after last year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\"><em><a href=\"mailto:erobbie@aspentimes.com\">erobbie@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/weekly\/true-tales-of-aspen-highlands-closing-day-parties-past\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A legendary closing day rager at the at the base of Aspen Highlandson April 5, 1998. The bar&#8217;s building was torn down the next day.Jackie Francis\/Aspen Historical Society A legendary closing day rager at the base of Aspen Highlands on April 5, 1998. People were partying on the roof of the bar, which was demolished [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2442816","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-16 13:54:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442816\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}