Spider Mountain celebrates its anniversary with free chairlift rides, a ride clinic and a cold forecast

Spider Mountain celebrates its anniversary with free chairlift rides, a ride clinic and a cold forecast

A cyclist rides the lift to the top of Spider Mountain on Feb. 9, 2019. Pam LeBlanc photo

When the chairlifts started cranking on opening day at Spider Mountain bike park in Burnet almost two years ago, snowflakes sifted from the sky.

It seemed appropriate then, since the chairlift at the country’s only year-round, lift-served mountain bike park had once whisked snow skiers up the mountain at Taos Ski Resort in New Mexico. And it seems appropriate that snow is once again in the forecast here in Texas as Spider Mountain celebrates its second anniversary this weekend.

Besides free scenic chairlift rides all weekend, Pro XC bike racer, Enduro champion and Youtube cycling star Rich Drew will lead a clinic focusing on how to ride berms and hit jumps, then take anyone willing to brave the cold on some “party laps” down the Texas-sized mountain. That event is scheduled for 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sunday; live music is planned for 1-3 p.m. at the base area.

A polar plunge scheduled to take place in the swimming pool at neighboring Thunderbird Lodge has been put on hold (on ice?) due to the chilly forecast.

I’ve ridden at Spider Mountain twice. I’m not an aggressive rider, but swooping downhill and around banked corners made my tongue dangle out of my mouth in puppy-like happiness. More advanced riders can geek out on the steeper, faster, and more obstacle-laden expert runs.

And stay tuned – a new intermediate trail dubbed Sidewinder is scheduled to open later this spring. I’m already planning a visit.

Onetime Austin resident and overgrown-kid-in-disguise James Coleman, managing partner of Mountain Capital Partners, which owns six ski resorts around the country, owns the park, which is located at 200 Greenwood Hills Trail near Burnet, 60 miles northwest of Austin.

Lift tickets are $59 for adults (discounts for youth and seniors; free for kids 10 and under. Women ride for $40 on Fridays.)

Go to  SpiderMountain.com for more information.

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Spider Mountain Bike Park suspends operations during pandemic

Spider Mountain Bike Park suspends operations during pandemic

 

Spider Mountain is suspending operations starting this weekend. Pam LeBlanc photo

Spider Mountain Bike Park in Burnet is suspending operations starting this weekend.

Officials at the chairlift-served mountain bike park say they will continue to follow federal, state and county guidelines and assess a reopening date on a day-by-day basis.

“The COVID-19 crisis compels us to make difficult decisions for the well being not only of our guests and employees but also of Texans as a whole,” said managing partner James Coleman.
Check for update on the park’s website, spidermountain.com. Spider Mountain’s accompanying lodging, Thunderbird Resort, will continue its normal operations.

Read my story about Spider Mountain at https://www.austin360.com/entertainmentlife/20190228/how-chairlift-from-new-mexico-is-changing-things-for-central-texas-mountain-bikers.

The park is located 60 miles northwest of Austin.

A cyclist rides the lift to the top of Spider Mountain on Feb. 9, 2019. Pam LeBlanc photo

Spider Mountain Bike Park adds crazy new trails

Spider Mountain Bike Park adds crazy new trails

Cyclists bomb down new trails at Spider Mountain Bike Park near Burnet. Photo courtesy Spider Mountain

Spider Mountain Bike Park, where a ski lift carries cyclists to the top of a hill so they can focus on the ride down, has added two new trails to its network of twisty routes.

One, dubbed Tarantula, features a 115-foot stretch of boardwalk that’s elevated 7 feet off the ground. There’s also a wooden wall ride (painted like a huge Texas flag), bridges and ramps, so riders can fly through the air as they rumble down the 900-foot trail.

“Tarantula is designed for both those who are new to mountain biking and those who live and breathe it,” says Deseree Hernandez, director of operations. “Beginners can roll through to have fun or go expert-style and show off their freeride skills.”

The new wall feature at Spider Mountain is painted like a Texas flag. Photo courtesy Spider Mountain

Recluse, the second new trail, isn’t quite as daunting. The rolling, 300-foot route rides like a pump track between the existing Viper’s Den and Itsy-Bitsy trails.

All the trails at the park are marked green for beginner, blue for intermediate and black for expert, just like trails at a snow ski resort.

“Our concept was to make Recluse a light blue trail,” Hernandez said. “It’s a great way for riders to progress from Itsy-Bitsy, our easiest trail, to a blue run with more challenges. But it’s also super fun for more experienced riders.”

To celebrate the new trails, the park will host a party this Saturday, Aug. 3, complete with a ribbon cutting, a train of riders coming down both trails, competitions and an evening party. Activities start at 10 a.m., with the Texas State Whip-Off Championship at 11 a.m. and the Wall Ride Competition at 1 p.m. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. and a post-race party starts at 7 p.m.

The new Tarantula trail features five new technical features, including this one. Photo courtesy Spider Mountain

When I visited the park last February, the day after it opened, I loaded my bike onto a ski lift that once whisked skiers up Al’s Run at Taos Ski Resort in New Mexico and bombed down Itsy-Bitsy alongside the park’s crazy-like-an-over-grown-kid mastermind, James Coleman.

James Coleman, the owner of Spider Mountain. Pam LeBlanc photo

Coleman grew up in Austin and dreamed of owning ski resorts, which he now does. He lives in Durango, where he’s the managing partner of a company that owns Purgatory Resort, Arizona Snowbowl, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Pajarito Mountain, Hesperus Ski Area, Nordic Valley Ski Resort, and Colorado’s largest snowcat skiing operation, Purgatory Snowcat Adventures.

Cyclists ride a ski lift up Spider Mountain near Burnet, Texas, on Feb. 9, 2019. Pam LeBlanc photo

Spider Mountain is the only lift-served mountain bike park in Texas, and the only year-round park of its type in the United States.

Want an idea of what it feels like to ride the new Tarantula trail? Watch this video from Spider Mountain:

 

Spider Mountain is at 200 Greenwood Hills Trail near Burnet, about 60 miles northwest of Austin. Park hours are noon to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, plus holidays and spring break. Day passes are $50 for adults ($45 youth or senior; free ages 10 and under). To ride the lift without a bike, pay $20 round-trip adult or $15 youth or senior. For more information go to spidermountain.com.Want to stay overnight? Thunderbird Lodge, a no-frills hotel and marina, is located next door.

 

 

 

About Pam

I’m Pam LeBlanc. Follow my blog to keep up with the best in outdoor travel and adventure. Thanks for visiting my site.

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