Steamboat will become the state's third-largest ski area thanks to expansion.

Thanks to a planned $233 million in improvements by Alterra Mountain Co. Resorts, Steamboat and Winter Park ski areas will be getting some upgrades for the 2020-21 season.

Steamboat will add 355 acres north of its current boundary. Called Pioneer Ridge, it will rocket the ski area from fifth-largest to third-largest in Colorado, surpassing Winter Park and Keystone in size.

According to a press release, Pioneer Ridge will feature advanced/expert, mostly aspen, lodgepole pine and spruce tree terrain with 1,800 vertical feet, accessible via the Pony Express lift. Twenty-five new chairs will be added to the line of Pony Express lift, increasing lift capacity from 1,200 people per hour to 1,800.

“Pioneer Ridge is a game-changer for Steamboat,” said Rob Perlman, president and chief operating officer for Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “While we have always been known as an intermediate paradise, this expansion will provide the Champagne Powder® snow we are known for in more steep, advance/expert terrain, meeting a need long expressed by our locals and our visiting guests. Some of our dedicated locals have been getting fresh tracks in this area for years. By bringing it into the resort’s boundary we can offer Patrol services in the area, creating a safer experience.”

In addition, Hazie's Restaurant at the top of the gondola in Thunderhead Lodge will be updated for the first time since 1986. Work is expected to begin on all renovations after the resort closes in April.

Winter Park will also see a restaurant upgrade. The popular Sunspot will be upgraded with an extended deck to take in the amazing views of the Continental Divide, as well as indoor seating and two new bars.

Are you excited for the new expansion in Steamboat? Would it encourage you to ski there more? Let us know in the comments.