A look at when the ski area was owned by dog ​​food maker Purina

DENVER — It was announced Monday that Arapahoe Basin will be purchased by Alterra Mountain Company, the Denver-based ski giant across Ikon Pass. And we thought about the history of ownership of the ski area and the period of time that A-Basin was owned by the pet food company Purina.

A-Basin was founded in 1946 by Colorado ski legend Larry Jump and quickly became a “weekend ski rendezvous for Denver’s younger set,” according to Rocky Mountain News. But in 1972 Jump sold A-Basin to the resort’s general manager, who then sold the property to Ralston Purina, a conglomerate based in St. Louis with holdings in pet food, restaurants, consumer products and entertainment at the time.

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Ralston Purina bought Keystone just four years before acquiring A-Basin. The company considers the two resorts sister ski areas and calls the combined resort Keystone-Arapahoe Basin Resort. A free shuttle operated between the two ski areas and $12 (in 1978) took you to both mountains, according to the Nov. 1 issue of the Golden Transcript. 9, 1978.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Ralston Purina ended up buying other properties in Colorado, including Breckenridge in 1993. However, in 1997, Purina’s Colorado empire ended when the company sold all three properties — Breck, Keystone, and A-Basin — at Vail Resorts. But before long, A-Basin changed hands again, this time to Toronto developer Dundee Realty, later known as Dream. The company will continue to own A-Basin until the acquisition is completed later this year.

With the addition of A-Basin, Alterra’s portfolio has grown to 18 North American ski resorts, including Colorado’s Steamboat and Winter Park resorts. Aspen, Copper Mountain and Eldora are also accessible via the Ikon Pass. There is no change in A-Basin access for the 2023-24 winter season, according to Alterra.

Ralston Purina merged with Switzerland-based Nestlé in 2001. The division is still based in St. Louis.