Stories in this list received the most page views on SummitDaily.com from Nov. 17-23

1. ‘Upwards of 1,000% increases:’ Breckenridge officials discuss extreme spikes in homeowners insurance plus impacts to renters

Two factors have been identified as the driving force behind sharp increases for homeowners insurance in recent years: Summit County’s designation as a high-risk area for wildfires and the national trend that shows wildfires are growing in intensity. 

Breckenridge officials heard from Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District wildfire division captain Matt Benedict at a Nov. 13 Breckenridge Town Council meeting regarding some of the struggles locals have experienced and what the district is doing to help.

Colorado’s Division of Insurance estimated insurance costs increased more than 50% across the state between 2020 to 2023. Benedict said Summit County is contending with home value spikes, construction cost increases and a “red zone” designation on maps that determine wildfire risk, all of which impact insurance costs.

— Kit Geary

2. Dream Unlimited Corp. officially sells Arapahoe Basin Ski Area to Alterra Mountain Co.

Months after announcing plans to buy one of Summit County’s legendary ski resorts, Alterra Mountain Co. officially owns Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.

Alterra purchased A-Basin from Dream Unlimited Corp., a Canadian real estate company based in Toronto, which had owned the ski area since 1997. The sale had been pending for months while it waited for a Department of Justice antitrust investigation to wrap up. In financial documents, Dream Unlimited Corp. valued the sale at approximately $105 million.

With the purchase of A-Basin, the Denver-based Alterra Mountain Co. now owns a heli-skiing operation, the popular Ikon Pass and 19 year-round resorts, including Steamboat Ski Resort and Winter Park Resort. There will reportedly be no changes to A-Basin’s local season passes or Ikon Pass access for the 2024-25 winter season.

— Staff report

3. Silverthorne, concerned neighborhoods find some middle ground amid contentious land purchase as the sale becomes finalized

A Silverthorne-based metropolitan district which has been the loudest voice of opposition to a land purchase says some of its apprehensions have been pacified thanks to a recent agreement put forth by the town. 

After numerous stalls — some of which can be attributed to the metro district — officials authorized Silverthorne to purchase the Lowe property at a Wednesday, Nov. 13 meeting. 

Silverthorne will close on the $2 million purchase, splitting it with Summit County who committed to the purchase at a Nov. 12 meeting, on Nov. 18 with future plans to make it open space. 

— Kit Geary

4. CDOT releases large-scale project plans for major roads in Dillon, Silverthorne — plus connections to Interstate 70

Sprawling maps and sticky notes covered the Silverthorne Pavilion Nov. 19 as the Colorado Department of Transportation sought the community’s feedback on what will be a multimillion dollar effort to improve one of Summit County’s most highly trafficked areas. 

CDOT unveiled preliminary plans to boost safety and operations along U.S. Route 6 and Colorado Highway 9 in Dillon and Silverthorne following an 18-month mobility study. The study also considered Wildernest Road and Stephens Way, since both create major connections within the corridor.

Based on a statewide traffic growth model and potential developments in both towns, CDOT is anticipating traffic through the corridor will increase 45% by 2045, and officials are planning with this in mind. 

— Kit Geary

5. New Castle man killed in single-vehicle, rollover crash on I-70 in Summit County over the weekend

Editor’s note: This story was published on May 22, 2024.

A New Castle man died in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 70 near Silverthorne over the weekend, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

The crash occurred while the 39-year-old man was driving a gray Toyota Tacoma westbound on I-70 just past the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels on Sunday, May 19, in the early hours of the morning, State Patrol Sergeant Patrick Rice said.

— Staff report