Four major Western resorts spruce up

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A state-of-the-art ski and snowboard school for children, the arrival of snowboarders where none had been welcomed before, a variety of multimillion-dollar improvements at a premier resort and a new tram.Those are just some of the developments at these major Western resorts.COLORADOBeaver CreekThe Ranch, a state-of-the-art children's ski and snowboard school designed to "revolutionize" the way kids learn to turn, will open this season.The 4,000-square-foot center at the top of the Buckaroo Express Gondola is surrounded by beginner learning terrain. Its picture windows allow parents to discreetly view their children as they learn to ski and ride on customized slopes designed to facilitate the correct body movements.The upscale resort said the kids will have healthy and fresh food options at lunchtime. All-natural meat, organic dairy and a yogurt bar will be served as part of Vail Resorts' Appetite for Life initiative. The Ranch is a key part of Beaver Creek's commitment to offer a top family vacation experience.New, automated snowmaking will be added to high-traffic areas and energy-efficient towers will be installed to reduce the amount of compressed air needed for operation. The work is part of a five-year snowmaking automation and upgrade plan that began last year.Last winter, the resort introduced the kid-friendly Buckaroo gondola, a customized learning area and terrain park, as well as complimentary family programs each evening. (For more information: www.beavercreek.com; 1-800-525-2257.)NEW MEXICOTaos Ski ValleyIf anyone asked when Taos would allow snowboarders to shred its slopes, the usual answer was "when hell freezes over."So, when the resort finally decided to welcome snowboarders last March 19, it billed the event as "the day hell freezes over."Forty lucky snowboarders were selected by lottery to be on the first 10 chairlifts up the mountain on that Wednesday morning. They found stellar conditions as they shredded the most recent of the 250 inches of snow Taos had received as of that date.New this season is North American, the first of two double black-diamond runs that will be accessed near the top of Lift One, drops 1,400 vertical feet and flows into the return trail. It is the first terrain expansion in many years. The second run will be cut next summer and will be named in honor of Ernie Blake, founder of Taos Ski Valley.The Burroughs, a new 400-foot beginners' area with a moving carpet for novice skiers and snowboarders, will open this season. "Our terrain will have the perfect balance of new challenges and old favorites for our expert and beginner visitors," said general manager Gordon Briner. (For more information: www.skitaos.org; 1-866-968-7386.)UTAHDeer ValleyIf you want to be pampered on a ski vacation and are prepared to pay for it, Deer Valley Resort is the place to go.The resort, less than an hour's drive from the Salt Lake City airport, offers luxurious amenities, such as ski valets, groomed-to-perfection slopes, gourmet dining in three elegant day lodges, on-site child care, an award-winning ski school and state-of-the-art snowmaking.No wonder Ski magazine readers once again have rated it the No. 1 ski resort in North America. It spent $8 million this year to:-- Replace Cushing's Cabin at the top of Flagstaff Mountain with a cabin that seats 40-45 guests. It offers a similar menu, features updated restrooms and also houses the Flagstaff Mountain Ski Patrol.-- Remodel the Empire Canyon Lodge to add seating.-- Replace five snowcats.-- Replace the main snowmaking line from the Snow Park snowmaking lakes to the bottom of the Carpenter Express and Silver Lake Express chairlifts.-- Add 50 cabins to house 200 seasonal employees and provide shuttle service to get them to and from the resort.Since 1990, Deer Valley, now in its 28th season, has invested more than $121 million in improvements. It has 22 lifts, including a gondola, serving 99 slopes and trails. Lift tickets for adults and children ages 4-12 are $83 and $50, respectively, but are less expensive when purchased as part of a package. (For more information: www.deervalley.com; 1-800-424-3337.)WYOMINGJackson HoleFor 40 years, the red 55-passenger aerial tram had long been the signature lift -- and logo -- of Jackson Hole.When the box-shaped lift was decommissioned in September 2006, there were fears a new tram wouldn't be taking its place. But there will be, and it's set to begin making test runs on Nov. 29.It will be open for skiers and snowboarders on Dec. 20. The faster and more efficient new tram with its sleek new cabins will carry 100 passengers to the top of Rendezvous Mountain in nine minutes -- three minutes faster than the old one. The vertical rise is 4,139 feet. Those who rode the old tram will find the scenery to be the same -- spectacular.The new tram is part of more than $100 million in capital improvements that include new restaurants and a commitment to offset 100 percent of its energy usage with a mix that includes wind, biomass, small hydro and geothermal.The save-energy program is part of a companywide environmental management system that includes using sustainable construction for the new Bridger Restaurants and adopting a mass-transit program for staff and season passholders. (For more information: www.jacksonhole.com; 1-888-333-7766. Go to www.tram-formation.com to monitor progress on the tram.)(Lawrence Walsh can be reached at lwalsh(at)post-gazette.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)