The State Highway Dept. begins to plan a 4-lane highway 82 from Glenwood to Aspen. Whip Jones donates Aspen Highlands to Harvard University, which sells it to Gerald Hines, who becomes a partner with the Aspen Skiing Company, which assumes operations of Aspen Highlands. The Cirque lift opens giving Snowmass the nation's longest lift-served vertical rise of 4,406 feet. The lift is built in an ecologically sound fashion to protect local animals and their habitat and is the first lift to be operated solely by clean, renewable wind power. Cafe closes for ever.
Construction begins on new Highlands Village.
Cloud Nine Cafe debuts. Sundeck is demolished to be replaced by a new 21,600 square foot mountain-top restaurant. New Cloud Nine lift built. A controversial roundabout is completed at the intersection of Highway 82 and Maroon Creek Road with hopes of relieving increased traffic congestion at Aspen's entrance. There are now 9 traffic lights between Mill St. in Aspen and the first light in Glenwood.