Elevation Hotel & Spa Opens New Bar at the Base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort

February 24, 2023

Named for Crested Butte legend, environmental researcher and advocate, billy barr, new lobby lounge and bar celebrates local history and serves as a community anchor at the base of the mountain.

Crested Butte, Colo. [Feb. 24, 2023] /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Elevation Hotel & Spa – the only ski-in, ski-out resort located at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) – announces today the latest addition to its hospitality experience, billy barr. The full-service lobby bar and lounge will open to the public this month.

Named for local environmental researcher and advocate billy barr, and featuring decor thoughtfully inspired by the unique mountain culture of Crested Butte, the new concept will serve as a casual destination for locals and guests to gather for a coffee between runs or après ski cocktails and bites. Design details include memorabilia from the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) and Crested Butte Museum, including vintage art, skis, boots and snowshoes.

Daily service includes coffee and breakfast tacos from 7-11 a.m., followed by cocktails and bar fare from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The cocktail and bar menus offer a range of Crested Butte-inspired items including paninis and sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards and an array of craft cocktails.

Since 1970, billy barr has been living in a secluded cabin in the ghost town of Gothic, Colo., just north of Crested Butte. Barr has been meticulously collecting daily snowpack data and wildlife observations that have helped shape climate science in the Rockies. Now in his early 70s, barr continues to gather data for the RMBL, and puts more than 200 miles on his skis every season. The 2016 short-film The Snow Guardian is dedicated to barr and his work tracking climate change.

“We are honored to celebrate billy barr’s legacy with the launch of this concept,” says Nick Klaus, managing director for Elevation Hotel & Spa. “We are grateful that billy lent his name for our new lobby bar and hope it serves as a gathering space that the local community can enjoy for years to come. We hope to highlight billy’s environmental work and the overall impacts of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in this space through unique events and programming, while offering guests a comfortable, accessible place to enjoy a cocktail or snack.”

“Billy barr is part of what makes Crested Butte so special. For 50 years he has been his own unique individual, doing ground-breaking science around snow,” says Ian Billick, executive director of RMBL and Mayor of Crested Butte. “He has generated more international exposure for Crested Butte than any other person or institution, including RMBL. It is great to see Elevation ensure local awareness around just how special he is.”

The addition of billy barr comes on the heels of Elevation’s acquisition by hospitality company, WoodHouse, and the recent opening of its award-winning Mexican restaurant, José. WoodHouse acquired the property in August 2022 and continues to reimagine its potential, while connecting it with the local Crested Butte community.

About Elevation Hotel & Spa

Elevation Hotel & Spa is a ski-in/ski-out hotel destination located at the base of Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado. The 262-unit hotel reflects a combination of outdoor adventure, mountain charm and contemporary design offering the perfect choice for travelers seeking enriching experiences and hospitality excellence. The property features a full-service spa, heated indoor pool, three hot tubs, and José Crested Butte, a full-service, slope-side restaurant which offers regional Mexican-inspired dishes, cocktails and an extensive tequila collection. José Crested Butte opened in August 2022 and is the second location for the José brand, which has its first location in Dallas. Fore more information, visit www.elevationresort.com.

About the billy barr

Named for a legendary local naturalist and researcher, the billy barr at Elevation Hotel & Spa offers cocktails and light bites served in a casual, approachable environment. The billy barr serves as a celebration of barr’s legacy and acts as an experiential venue for visitors and locals to learn about the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), the area’s oldest non-profit and one of the largest and oldest field stations in the world. Inspired by Crested Butte’s history and the community’s strong environmental ethos, the billy barr was designed in partnership with design firm Winteriors and features memorabilia on loan from RMBL and the Crested Butte Museum.

The billy barr serves coffee and breakfast tacos daily from 7 am to 11 am, followed by cocktails and bar fare from 11 am to 10 pm. The cocktail and bar menus offer a range of Crested Butte- inspired items including paninis and sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards and a range of craft cocktails. For more information, please visit www.elevationresort.com and www.rmbl.org.