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Beaver Creek cancels Cookie Time; resort says physical distancing is impossible

Avery Davis prepares more Arrabellicious Chocolate Chipper cookies during the annual World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2019 in Beaver Creek. The event is not happening this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Chris Dillmann | cdillmann@vaildaily.com

One of Beaver Creek’s most beloved traditions, Cookie Time — where every guest is greeted with free, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie at 3 p.m. in the village — is canceled for the 2020 season.

“While we know Cookie Time holds a special place in our guests’ hearts as it brings us all together, by its very nature of bringing us all together, this makes it impossible to adequately allow for physical distancing,” said Jen Brown, managing director of the Beaver Creek Resort Company. “This decision, and every decision regarding Beaver Creek Resort Company’s events for this season, was made with safety at the forefront. We look forward to resuming Cookie Time in subsequent seasons.”

Jeff Forbes, who’s owned Coyote Cafe in Beaver Creek since 1988, has watched Cookie Time grow since it first started three years earlier in 1985.



“It’s a tradition that’s going to be missed for this year,” he said. “It’s another thing we’re not doing that’s kind of sad because of COVID.”

He hopes to see it return next year.

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Guests who ski and snowboard at Beaver Creek were naturally disappointed to hear the news.

In the grand scheme of things, Vela Apparel co-owner Matt Holmes commented on the Vail Daily’s Facebook post, losing Cookie Time this year is disappointing, but not the worst thing that could have happened.

“Just be thankful you can still ski, and be proud that we aren’t putting the poor workers who would have to hand these out at extreme risk,” he said.

Vail Valley local Lisa Arnett commented on the post with a gif of Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell in the movie “Elf,” screaming “no.”

Gary Pitcock felt similarly, joking in the comments that the year 2020 has hit a “new low” and that he “can’t ski Beaver without Cookies.”

On a more serious note, in a private message he expressed his disappointment that cookie time won’t be possible this year.

“I always look forward to the free cookies when hitting the hill. It’s kind of synonymous with Beaver Creek,” he said.

For more information about Beaver Creek’s winter happenings and COVID-19 policies, visit beavercreek.com.


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