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Big Mountain Enduro Returns to Sunrise Park Resort in 2024

North America’s Premier Enduro Series returns to Sunrise Park Resort in 2024 after a highly successful first-time race this past June

Greer, Arizona – August 4, 2023 – Big Mountain Enduro (BME) announced today that Sunrise Park Resort has been selected to host this prestigious enduro series for the second year in a row. Sunrise welcomed hundreds of skilled mountain bike competitors during BME in June 2023 to great success. For the 2023 BME schedule, Sunrise will be the third destination in this prestigious series and the event will be held June 8-9, 2024.

For the 2023 BME Race, Sunrise Park Resort added two new raw-cut trails on Apache Peak, which opened to the public after the completion of the event. BME also brought a number of world-class vendors of quality and custom bikes and equipment, which are expected to return in 2024. Sunrise has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into the bike park this summer and continues to work on trail improvements and expansion, including brand new bike racks (doubling the uphill capacity), four new straights and 10 new turns to the Dual Slalom track, and expansion of the Jump Line trail. Additional trails are also being cut across the mountain to further expand the ridable terrain for events and the mountain biking community.

BME is North America’s premier Enduro tour and brings professional and amateur mountain bikers from across the country to compete at some of the most challenging mountain courses. There are six stops for the BME series, all specially picked for their challenge and trail offerings, and Sunrise is proud to be selected as a host mountain for the second year in a row. Registration for BME 2024 will be available soon at www.bigmountainenduro.com.

About Big Mountain Enduro (BME)

Established in 2012 and based out of Crested Butte, CO, the Big Mountain Enduro presented by Specialized is the premier enduro mountain biking series in North America. Over the past 10 years, BME has held major events throughout Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Arkansas, the Midwest and Mexico. BME has consistently ranked amongst the top global enduro series attracting the best riders and media in the world, while staying true to the roots of mountain biking. The foundation of BME is simple; offer authentic multi-stage Enduro events in unparalleled mountain biking destinations that fully support the riders, sponsors, the overall industry as a whole and the sustainable growth of Enduro racing.

Big Mountain Enduro 2024 Schedule
2023-08-04T19:13:31-07:00August 4th, 2023 7:12 pm|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort Opens for the 2022/23 Ski Season

Greer, Arizona – December 2, 2022 – Sunrise Park Resort opened for the 2022/23 ski season Friday, December 2, 2022. The resort has been making snow since October 23 and has a base layer of over two feet of snow across all open trails. Sunrise Park Resort is now open Friday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and plans to transition to daily operation starting December 16, 2022.

Open Trails: For opening weekend Spirit Ridge (Lift 8) will provide access to the trails Fairway, Pinedale, and Rooster Pass. Pony Double (Lift 2) will also provide access to the Bunny Hill for beginners.

Dining: Sunrise has three restaurants open at this time with the other four scheduled to open later this season. Dining for opening weekend includes the Sunrise Day Lodge Cafeteria, Sunrise Pub, and Midway Café. All dining locations feature updated menus with quality food, drinks, craft beers, and vegetarian options.

Rentals and Lessons: Rentals are available on-site at the new rental shop on the second floor of Sunrise Day Lodge. Private lessons are now available for ages four and up. Group lessons will be available after December 16. Both lessons and rentals are available for on-site purchase with online booking coming soon.

Cross Country Skiing and Snow Tubing will be available later this season as snow levels increase. Guests can visit the Sunrise website for a daily snow report with up-to-date snowfall levels, trail status, and condition information.

In an opening ceremony speech this morning, General Manager Todd Clarke said

“In the last year we have brought Sunrise to a whole new light. We have worked on projects that I could probably go on all day. We have a Cyclone access solution coming late December, we have converted Lifts 2 and 4 from analog to digital, we have re-build the decks of the day lodge and Apache Peak lodge, our snowmaking team has doubled the capacity of their efforts by repairing a million dollar compressor system that sat idle for years, and our hotel is undergoing a full renovation of all guest rooms and common areas. At the end of the day it’s everyone in this team that is making that happen. Even on that team are our customers. We are re-investing the love and passion of our guests into making Sunrise the best place possible.”

More information about Sunrise Park Resort, including lift tickets, rental info, and dining menus, are available on the Sunrise website at www.sunrise.ski.

Ribbon cutting of updated Sunrise Day Lodge
Ribbon cutting of updated Sunrise Day Lodge
Ribbon cutting of updated Sunrise Day Lodge
Preparing for First Chair
First Chair
Skiers on Pony Double
Snowboarders on the snow
Groom lines
Skier on the snow
2022-12-03T08:18:31-07:00December 3rd, 2022 5:42 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Winter 2022/23 Improvement Updates

Sunrise Park Resort has worked over the summer to implement a number of improvements going into this winter season

Sunrise Park Resort is excited to welcome you back for another great Winter season! There have been a number of projects at Sunrise this summer to improve the guest experience, which were detailed in our Improvement Plan announcement back in August. Below is an update on several of the projects at Sunrise:

Sunrise Day Lodge

September 17

October 24

September 17

October 24

New Decks and Paint on Sunrise Day Lodge: Both the second floor and third floor entrance decks and stairs have been removed and completely rebuilt with a new configuration to improve access to the building. The new deck facing the slopes was built to provide more dining and seating space to watch riders on the mountain. The build of the new deck is now complete and awaiting final finishing (completion photo coming soon). The exterior of the building has been completely repaired for any rotting wood and all gaps sealed from ground to roof. An all-new paint scheme has been started and should be complete near our opening date.

Apache Peak Lodge

September 20

September 20

September 20

New Deck on Apache Peak Lodge: The entire back deck of Apache Peak Lodge has been completely re-built with lumber from the White Mountain Apache Reservation. The new deck will allow guests to enjoy the amazing views of the mountains to the south of Sunrise once again. The Apache Peak Lodge be open daily for dining this season soon as the mountain opens.

Cyclone Cord Lift

Cyclone Access via Cyclone Cord: Crews have widened “Denny’s Way” to access the peak of Cyclone Circle. Cement pads are ready at the base and peak of the run to accommodate the new Cyclone Cord lift. The lift is scheduled to arrive in December and be installed by the end of 2022. It will run approximately 600′ in distance and have an approximate 50′ elevation gain. The Cyclone Cord is a “Swiss Cord” style surface lift and can accommodate around 5,000 people per day.

Additional Updates

Sunrise Base Dining: We have a new dining option at Sunrise Base! The Crown Dancer Cafe and Grill will be located in the former rentals building at the base of Sunrise Peak. There will be both indoor and outdoor seating and dining options will include a full grill menu, coffee and drinks, and a selection of alcohol.

Introducing Mountain Learning Center: Sunrise has developed a new “Mountain Learning Center” to replace Ski School. This new center will provide a number of improvements to the learning options at Sunrise and will consolidate everything into one area at the Sunrise Day Lodge (floor 2). Guests will be able to head straight to rentals to obtain their gear, lift tickets, and prepare for instruction. The Mountain Learning Center will provide ski and snowboard instruction at Sunrise Base. Ski Bike rental and instruction will be available at Cyclone Base when it opens later in the season.

Streamlined Rentals and Demo Gear: Rentals has been moved into the Mountain Learning Center on the second floor of Sunrise Day Lodge to consolidate everything into one location. Guests will be able to go straight to the Mountain Learning Center to rent gear and get their lift tickets for the day. Sunrise is also introducing a new Sunrise Demo Center. This location will offer brand new, top-of-the-line skis and snowboards for guests to test on the snow. The Demo Shop will be in the building between Camp Sunrise and the Sunrise Day Lodge.

Streamlined Rentals and Demo Gear: Rentals has been moved into the Mountain Learning Center on the second floor of Sunrise Day Lodge to consolidate everything into one location. Guests will be able to go straight to the Mountain Learning Center to rent gear and get their lift tickets for the day. Sunrise is also introducing a new Sunrise Demo Center. This location will offer brand new, top-of-the-line skis and snowboards for guests to test on the snow. The Demo Shop will be in the building between Camp Sunrise and the Sunrise Day Lodge.

Tubing Hill: The tubing hill has been adjusted to accommodate 2-3 tracks of tubing and turned to provide a longer and more gradual slope. The new tubing hill will provide lift-service via a “magic carpet” lift instead of the cable line last year. Skier’s left of the magic carpet will provide tubing tracks and skier’s right will provide a learning area for skiers and snowboarders in the Mountain Learning program.

Early Start to Snowmaking: Sunrise got one of the earliest starts to snowmaking ever! We started making snow on October 23, with 10 snow machines running from Sunrise Base to Midway. Snowmaking has continued since, and we are running every time weather allows so we can provide an amazing base and opening day experience to start off the 2022/23 season!

We look forward to seeing you on the slopes soon!

Winter season passes are available online now at the link below:

2022-11-12T23:46:08-07:00November 12th, 2022 11:26 pm|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort is Hosting Big Mountain Enduro (BME) in 2023

BME Enduro is North America’s Premier Enduro Tour and Sunrise Park Resort was selected as one of the five stops in the national race series

Greer, Arizona – October 13, 2022 – Big Mountain Enduro (BME) has announced their summer 2023 schedule and has selected Sunrise Park Resort to host the second of five races for their 2023 BME Enduro Series.  This selection makes it a first for both Arizona and Sunrise Park Resort to be a host venue of this prestigious event series. The event is scheduled June 10-11, 2023.

Sunrise Park Resort has been and continues to work tirelessly on expanding the network of trails and improving upon the existing trails throughout the entire mountain. The resort opened four new trails this summer and is dedicated to continuing trail improvements and has plans for several additions in the coming years. These efforts have brought an increase in mountain bike riders and new bike events, such as the Sunrise Scramble collegiate national qualifying races in September.

BME is North America’s premier Enduro tour and brings professional and amateur mountain bikers from across the country to compete at some of the most challenging mountain courses. There are five stops for the BME series, all specially picked for their challenge and trail offerings, and Sunrise is proud to be selected as a host mountain this year. Registration for BME 2023 will be available starting January 1, 2023 at www.bigmountainenduro.com.

About Big Mountain Enduro (BME)

Established in 2012 and based out of Crested Butte, CO, the Big Mountain Enduro presented by Specialized is the premier enduro mountain biking series in North America. Over the past 10 years, BME has held major events throughout Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Arkansas, the Midwest and Mexico. BME has consistently ranked amongst the top global enduro series attracting the best riders and media in the world, while staying true to the roots of mountain biking. The foundation of BME is simple; offer authentic multi-stage Enduro events in unparalleled mountain biking destinations that fully support the riders, sponsors, the overall industry as a whole and the sustainable growth of Enduro racing.

BME 2023 Race Lineup
2022-10-13T10:01:37-07:00October 13th, 2022 9:33 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort Announces $5.5 Million Improvement Plan

Facility Repairs, Lift Upgrades, Snowmaking Improvements, a Full Hotel Interior Renovation, and an All-New “Swiss Cord” Lift Accessing Trails on Cyclone Circle

Greer, Arizona = August 25, 2022 – Sunrise Park Resort is proud to announce over $5.5 million in investments on the mountain this summer in preparation for the upcoming 2022/23 ski season. Sunrise has focused on investing in facility repairs, lift upgrades, snowmaking improvements, a complete remodel of the Sunrise Park Lodge, and an all-new “Swiss Cord” lift for access to trails on Cyclone Circle.

Crews have already cleared areas on Denny’s Way and are working on concrete pads for the new lift.

New Lift on Cyclone Circle

Sunrise signed a contract with manufacturer Star Lifts for a Swiss Cord style lift that will operate from the base of “Denny’s Way” to the peak of Cyclone Circle. This Swiss Cord lift will provide access to the coveted and unique terrain of Cyclone Circle for over 5,000 people per day. This will greatly improve access to the mountain that has been limited to hike and snow cat access since the removal of Cyclone Lift 6 in 2017 due to its age and condition. The new lift is scheduled to be installed by the end of 2022.

Full Interior Hotel Remodel

Sunrise received approval for a $4 million remodel of the Sunrise Park Lodge hotel. This will be a full remodel of the rooms and updates in communal areas, such as the lobby, pub, pool area, and restaurant. Due to the large nature of this remodel, it will be completed in phases, with the lake-facing rooms to be remodeled first. Additional hotel remodel information will be released as it becomes available.

The Sunrise Park Lodge Hotel provides convenient guest accommodations close to the mountain, with an indoor pool, hot tub, pub, and restaurant.

Apache Peak Lodge offers a unique dining experience as the highest restaurant in Arizona with views for as far as you can see.

Facility Repairs

Sunrise has also invested in a number of key facility repairs prior to welcoming guests back this coming winter. The exterior decks at Sunrise Lodge and Apache Peak Lodge have been rebuilt, with a new surface and new supports. All stairs and entries are being replaced at Sunrise Lodge. These new decks will allow for increased usage of both lodges this winter season. Apache Peak Lodge is also undergoing kitchen repairs to offer a more diverse menu selection this winter. There will also be new and expanded on-mountain dining options for the winter season.

Cyclone Lodge Updates

Cyclone Lodge received a new fiber optic internet line this summer that will allow for expanded operations and services this coming winter. Last winter season Cyclone Lodge did not have wired internet, which limited the ability to facilitate credit card transactions for ticket sales and dining operations.

Cyclone Base area offers a secondary access point to park and enjoy the slopes. The day lodge offers dining and there is lift access that connects you to all three mountains

Lift and Snowmaking Improvements

Lift and snowmaking improvements are scheduled to be completed in October. This will include an analog to digital conversion for Fort Apache Lift 4 and Pony Lift 2 to ensure more reliable operation than with the current analog system. Pony Lift 2 will also be receiving a replacement haul rope and the Sunrise snowmaking infrastructure will be improved to increase output and operating efficiency.

Additional Improvements:

  • Renovations to the cabins at Sunrise Lake to offer nightly rentals beginning this ski season
  • New paint and exterior maintenance to buildings
  • Ski and Snowboard rentals will be moved to a new location to improve efficiency and improve customer convenience
  • Overhaul to Snowsports programs
  • Moved retail shop and improved efficiencies for customer convenience
  • Upgrades to ticket scanning systems and technology systems

Additional updates regarding mountain biking at Sunrise will be released soon.

With the number of renovations, addition of a lift on Cyclone, and the expansive renovation of the Sunrise Park Lodge, this coming winter will see the largest number of improvements to the mountain in over a decade. Photos and videos of the many improvements across Sunrise Park Resort will be available in the coming weeks on all of the resort’s social media channels as well as on Sunrise website at www.sunrise.ski.

2023-07-03T11:33:12-07:00August 25th, 2022 3:45 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort Celebrating End of 2021/22 Ski Season

Greer, Arizona – March 14, 2022 – Sunrise Park Resort announces that the final chair of the 2021/22 ski season will leave the base of Sunrise Mountain at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2022. A “Sunrise Spring Carnival” event is planned for the final weekend of the season and will feature a number of activities around the mountain.

Saturday, March 19 – Terrain Park Party: Music in the terrain park and riders will be encouraged to wear a fun costume on the slopes. The guest with the best costume in the Terrain Park Party will win a pair of Sunrise day pass lift tickets for the 2022/23 season.

Sunday, March 20 – Pond Skimming Challenge: The pond will be located at the base of the Bunny Hill and will be 90 feet long. Skiers and snowboarders must be wearing a costume and can participate in an attempt to cross the pond for a chance to win lift tickets. Participants can register at Guest Services prior to 1:00pm on Sunday, March 20. The competition will begin at 2:00pm and participants will be judged on air, distance, style, costume, and crowd participation. The winner of the Pond Skimming Challenge will win four Sunrise day pass lift tickets for the 2022/23 ski season.

“This season has been a great success with many operational improvements that took place, a daily dedication to consistent delivery of the experience and team Sunrise working hard to ensure a great experience,” said General Manager Todd Clarke. “Sunrise is the best mountain in Arizona. We have a full agenda this summer to revitalize the facilities and services ensuring Sunrise is Arizona’s Ultimate Mountain Adventure. We invite you to follow along on our website and social media pages as we provide regular updates on our summer progress.”

2022-10-01T09:22:35-07:00March 14th, 2022 5:56 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Peak Starting Service on Christmas Day

Greer, Arizona – Service to the top of Sunrise Peak is scheduled to start Saturday, December 25, 2021. Sunrise will also be offering night skiing December 26 through January 1, with fireworks scheduled at 8:30pm on New Year’s Eve (December 31). Finally, Camp Sunrise is now open with daily childcare services for children ages one through six.

Sunrise Peak Opening: Sunrise Express (Lift 1) will open Saturday, December 25, with service to the top of Sunrise Peak. We will also plan on opening the Rustler (chairlift 3) on busier days to provide less lines and faster service to our open trails. Sunrise will have the trails Spirit Ridge to No Name, where it will connect to currently open Midway trails. Also, with Sunrise Peak open, scenic chairlift rides will be offered on Sunrise Express (Lift 1) daily.

Night Skiing: Sunrise will offer night skiing on three occasions this season. Night skiing will be offered from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the dates below. There will also be a fireworks show on New Year’s Eve, Friday, December 31, at 8:30pm. The night skiing dates are as follows:

  • December 26 – January 1
  • January 15 – January 17 (MLK Weekend)
  • February 19 – February 21 (Presidents Day Weekend)

Camp Sunrise: Camp Sunrise is now open, offering daily childcare for ages 12 months through six years old. Camp Sunrise will offer a caring, safe, and fun environment for children to play, rest, and enjoy their day. Special lessons will also be available for children from ages four to six with professional instructors dedicated to teaching children to ski or snowboard in small groups. Reservations are highly recommended and more information about Camp Sunrise can be found on the Sunrise Park Resort website at www.sunrise.ski/winter/camp-sunrise/

2022-10-01T09:21:35-07:00December 21st, 2021 7:00 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort to Open for 2021-22 Winter Season on Friday, Dec. 10

December 8, 2021 – Greer, Arizona – After unseasonably high temperatures and daily snowmaking, Sunrise Park Resort will begin the 2021-22 winter season on Friday, December 10, 2021. On opening day, the Midway and Bunny Hill lifts will be running from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and will then run daily from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. starting Saturday, December 11, 2021.

Sunrise Park Resort will be offering special day-pass prices on opening week.

December 10, 2021 – online purchases for day passes will be discounted to $29 for general admission, $18 for Super Seniors (aged 75+) and Children (aged 6 and under).

December 11 – 16, 2021 – online purchases for day passes will be discounted to $39 for general admission, $18 for Super Seniors (aged 75+) and Children (aged 6 and under).

For more information about prices and fees, please visit our website at: www.sunrise.ski

In addition to Midway and the Bunny Hill, Sunrise Park Resort will open the Daylodge Cafeteria, Daylodge Pub, and Midway Cafeteria with new, high-quality menu options. Information about the dining options will be available soon on our website. https://www.sunrise.ski/dining/.

The Sunrise SnowSports School has revamped programs and will offer daily lessons with morning, afternoon, and full-day packages. For more information about the Sunrise SnowSports School, please visit https://www.sunrise.ski/winter/lessons/.

“As soon as the weather allowed for snowmaking, the team at Sunrise Park Resort worked day and night to get the mountain ready.” said General Manager Todd Clarke. “The day we have been working towards is finally here and we can’t wait to see visitors back on the slopes starting December 10.”

Sunrise Park Resort is hoping to open more trails, mountains, dining options, and tubing as the season and snowfall continues. The best place to check for daily trail openings and snow reports is the website, www.sunrise.ski

Sunrise Park Resort is committed to guest safety while enjoying our mountain. In accordance with CDC guidelines, guests will be encouraged to wear face masks and practice 6 feet of separation. Face masks will be required indoors. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the property and designated staff will clean all public access areas and touch-points.

2022-10-01T09:04:41-07:00December 8th, 2021 7:12 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort Announces 33rd Annual Sunrise Mountain 3D Shootout

Greer, AZ – Shoot your shot this summer at the 33rd Annual Sunrise Mountain 3D Shootout. For decades, competitors have traveled the country to attend the annual archery shootout for both the challenging courses and the beautiful scenery – this year will be no different.

As the largest outdoor 3D archery shoot in the west, visitors will be able to register for “shoot for fun” courses or compete for prizes, including a trophy bull elk tag. The event will take place July 2 – 4, 2021 and will conclude with a firework display (pending fire restrictions) on the evening of July 4.

In addition to the 3D archery shoot, families will be able to enjoy other summer activities at Sunrise Park Resort, including scenic lift rides, zip lining, tubing hill, rock climbing, horseback riding, and more.

Sunrise Park Resort is under new management this season and is working hard to prepare the course and sign-ups for the event. Sign-ups and pricing will be on our new website soon at www.sunrise.ski.

Sunrise Park Resort would also like to remind visitors that there is an extreme risk for wildfires. Kindly follow the guidelines set by Navajo County to prevent wildfires while visiting, including refraining from smoking outside.

Sunrise Park Resort is committed to guest safety while enjoying our mountain. In accordance with WMAT EOC guidelines, guests are required to wear face masks while indoors. Hand sanitizers are available throughout the property and designated staff will clean all public access areas and touch-points.

2022-10-01T09:07:05-07:00May 28th, 2021 7:00 am|Press Release|0 Comments

Sunrise Park Resort will open for summer activities on May 27, 2021

Greer, AZ – Escape the heat and join the fun at Sunrise Park Resort, starting May 27, 2021. From zip lining to archery and scenic lift rides to downhill mountain biking, however you’re looking to spend your summer, Sunrise Park Resort has you covered. To kick off the season, Sunrise has a weekend jam packed with activities for the whole family.

ADMISSION DISCOUNTS: Early bird gets the worm! The first person in line each day between May 27-30, 2021 will receive (1) one-day Explorers Pass. Additionally, the next 20 people in line will receive a 50% discount on admission tickets.

PRIZES: Sunrise Park Resort will be raffling off door prizes every hour throughout the entire opening weekend (May 27-30, 2021), with a grand prize raffle at the end of each day. But that’s not it – there will also be prizes hidden throughout the resort, so keep your eyes peeled throughout your visit.

LIVE MUSIC: Dust off your dancing shoes. Visitors can expect live music every day throughout the opening weekend from 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. Bands include Relentless and Planting Seeds.

5K RUN: On your mark, get set… go! Runners can meet at Sunrise General Store on Saturday, May 29 at 8 a.m. for a race to the base of Sunrise Mountain. First three finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories will win a prize.

HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT: Grab your lucky horseshoe and meet at the base of Sunrise Mountain on Saturday, May 29 at 11 a.m. for a horseshoe tournament. The tournament will be facilitated by Sinone Tortice and prizes will be awarded to 1st – 6th place in both the singles and doubles categories.

“Sunrise Park Resort has transformed from Arizona’s premier ski resort into a summer mountain escape.” said General Manager Roger Leslie. “From zip lining to hiking, mountain biking to fishing, we have activities the whole family will enjoy.”

Summer activities at Sunrise Park Resort include Arizona’s longest and fastest zip line, 13 different mountain bike trails, hiking, horseback riding, lake activities and more. All activities are dependent on weather. Sunrise Park Resort will be open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For up to date information, a full list of summer activities and prices, visit www.sunrise.ski.

Fire danger is at an all time high. Please no open campfires until further notice and put out cigarette butts completely.

Sunrise Park Resort is committed to guest safety while enjoying our mountain. In accordance with CDC guidelines, guests will be encouraged to wear face masks and practice 6 feet separation. Hand sanitizers are available throughout the property and designated staff will clean all public access areas and touch-points.

2022-10-01T09:25:22-07:00May 5th, 2021 7:00 am|Press Release|0 Comments
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