Elevating the Guest Experience at Taos Ski Valley

Challenge

Taos Ski Valley envisioned a complete transformation of its base area to better serve its guests, support long-term growth, and enhance its reputation as a premier ski destination. With its remote location in northern New Mexico, the resort faced the challenge of competing with larger, more accessible resorts across the region. Leadership recognized the need to elevate the guest experience – from smoother arrival and circulation to more modern lodging and updated infrastructure – all while honoring the unique character that sets Taos apart. 

The team was committed to a thoughtful and sustainable approach, prioritizing upgrades that would both improve day-to-day operations and preserve the resort’s natural beauty and alpine charm. Maintaining the authenticity of Taos Ski Valley was non-negotiable. Every improvement needed to reflect the values that attract visitors to the mountain year after year: a rugged setting, rich culture, and a strong connection to the land. 

Solution

To bring Taos Ski Valley’s vision to life, the project called for a complete reimagining of the base village – anchored by a new skier plaza and The Blake at Taos Ski Valley, a six-story hotel and condominium complex that serves as the resort’s signature lodging destination. Every element of the civil engineering design was tailored to improve the guest experience and operational efficiency, while aligning with the resort’s long-term goals for sustainability and growth. Enhancements included new skier arrival and drop-off areas, pedestrian walkways, an expanded plaza, underground parking, and upgrades to the adjacent river channel. A regional snow storage, stormwater detention, and treatment system featuring a sand filter designed to meet LEED® standards supported the resort’s commitment to environmental stewardship. 

Taos Ski Valley also prioritized long-term resilience. The Rio Hondo – a mountain stream that flows directly through the resort– was routed beneath Sutton Place, a primary roadway within the base village, by way of old and inadequate culverts. These structures were both undersized for current and future flow volumes and in poor condition, increasing the risk of flooding and infrastructure failure. A new stream crossing was designed using 100-year flood modeling and scour analysis to ensure long-term performance. The resulting solution was a 10-foot by 12-foot pre-cast concrete box culvert which significantly improves flow capacity, supports aquatic life through a grouted riprap streambed, and carries critical utilities above, including stormwater routed to the regional detention system. 

 As development progressed, the resort faced the challenge of aging, deteriorating utilities crisscrossing the site. These critical systems needed to be replaced and rerouted – without disrupting existing operations. The solution involved a carefully phased plan to relocate and upgrade water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, electrical, and communication lines, ensuring uninterrupted service throughout construction. At the same time, the adjacent roadway was redesigned to improve traffic flow, enhance guest access, and add value to neighboring properties. A new gondola plaza and pedestrian crossing were incorporated to further improve mobility within the village. 

To ensure a seamless on-mountain experience, the skier plaza was carefully designed to connect with both the existing chairlift and a new lift installed in 2018, despite their differing elevations. Through close coordination with the lift manufacturer, the team optimized the layout to support intuitive guest flow, efficient snowmaking and grooming, and streamlined lift queuing. The result is a well-integrated, smooth transition from plaza to trail, enhancing the skier experience and supporting year-round operations.