Lee Canyon announces its inaugural fall season kicks-off Friday, Sept. 18, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. Fall activities include scenic chairlifts rides on the Bluebird chair, a nine basket hike-to disc golf course, archery, hiking, and mini-ramp skateboarding. The Bighorn Grill and Brewin Burro will debut seasonal menu items, and guests can enjoy the changing of the Aspen trees from the deck of Hillside Lodge. Operating hours will be Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Details are available at www.leecanyon.com.
“Autumn is typically when we close to prepare our facility for the winter season. This year it felt vital to provide a safe place for the Las Vegas community to connect with nature during the fall,” says Jim Seely, Lee Canyon’s marketing director. “We encourage winter season passholders to pick up their passes this fall so they can head straight to the lifts on opening day.”
This fall at Lee Canyon includes two “Play it Forward” community give-back initiatives. Friday, Sept. 18 marks the start of Lee Canyon’s 3rd Annual Spread the Warmth Coat & Sock Drive supporting Project 150, a local nonprofit that assists homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students in Clark County. Donations of new socks and gently used or new coats can be dropped in donation bins stationed in the base lodge area.
In 2019, Nevada had the second-highest percentage of unaccompanied youth who were unsheltered. California ranked first but only by a tenth of a percent. And according to Kelli Kristo, executive director of Project 150, the problem in Clark County is worse than ever. “Many of the teens who utilize our services have been the head of household since they were 10 years old; in the most extreme cases, they are younger,” she says. “When kids have the proper clothing for winter,
they can focus on learning. Now these kids are facing additional stress due to COVID. Eliminating worries like coats and socks, items they often don’t have, is critical.” On Saturday, Oct. 17, Lee Canyon is also hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. The blood drive will be held inside Hillside Lodge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blood donors must register online in advance at https://rcblood.org/327NaqP.
“Lee Canyon is very fortunate to have a community of outdoor enthusiasts who place a high value on giving back,” says Jim Seely, Lee Canyon’s director of marketing. “Supporting Project 150 and the American Red Cross is an essential part of who we are why Play It Forward was created.” Earlier this year, in the throes of the COVID-19 crisis, with the support of parent company POWDR, Lee Canyon launched the “Play It Forward Fund.”
In partnership with the Nevada Community Foundation, the fund supports local nonprofit organizations that provide community assistance. Other Play It Forward initiatives include the Chris Ruby Cup supporting the Nevada Donor Network, Feel Good Fridays supporting the Hi-Fives Foundation, and the Spread the Warmth Coat & Sock Drive supporting Project 150, along with clean-up events. During the blood drive, people can pick up winter season passes to head straight to the lifts on opening day.
Lee Canyon’s winter season opening day is slated early December, weather permitting. For information on summer activities and winter season pass options, visit www.leecanyonlv.com.