As Colorado skiers and snowboarders await Tuesday's announcement from Vail Resorts to see how its Epic Pass will counter the new Ikon Pass offered by a rival industry behemoth, Copper Mountain announced its own big news Monday.

The family-owned Summit County resort revealed a $20-million plan to replace both of the main lifts out of the center village base area for next season while starting the season passes, on sale March 6, at $459. For the 2017-2018 season, the pass topped out at $599.

"We wanted to get the news out because there is going to be a lot of noise in the marketplace here shortly," said Copper president and general manager Gary Rodgers.

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