Skift Take
A challenge for niche adventure companies is to navigate growth while maintaining the experience's appeal in the first place.
Aspen-based adventure travel operator Heli Adventures has acquired the iconic Silverton Mountain Ski Area in Colorado, with the highest ski elevation in the U.S.
Silverton, loved by extreme adventure travelers, was founded in 2001 and has no set runs, no signage, and no grooming of trails. It's a sharp contrast to commoditized, developed ski resorts and meant for expert skiers and snowboarders.
Founders Jen and Aaron Brill were selective in choosing buyers, according to new owners Heli co-founders Andy Culp and Brock Strasbourger, who finalized the deal at the end of September for an undisclosed amount.
Silverton features a single, two-seat chairlift and a small warming yurt, with the majority of its 26,819 acres accessible only by hiking from the top of the lift. There's also a helicopter option: "So by using a helic