"More Winter!" Says Punxsutawney Phil.

There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties.

Members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke up the furry critter at 7:25 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see whether he would see his shadow or not.

Shortly after this year’s prediction was revealed, one of the members of the inner circle shared a message he said Phil had told him earlier in the day: “After winter, you’re looking forward to one of the most beautiful and brightest springs you’ve ever seen.”

Another member of the “inner circle” noted the uniqueness of the past year.

“People have been referencing Groundhog Day. It has felt like at times we’re all living the same day over and over again,” one of the members said. “Groundhog Day also shows us that the monotony ends. The cycle will be broken.”

“Today actually is Groundhog Day, there’s only one,” he added. “There is quite literally a new day coming over the horizon.”

The spectacle that is Groundhog Day still went on, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, revelers weren’t able to see Phil and celebrate in person: This year, it was all virtual and included cardboard cutouts to represent spectators.

A livestream, which had more than 15,000 viewers at one point, played footage from previous Groundhog Day’s ahead of the big reveal.

Then of course, the prognosticator of prognosticators emerged at dawn. The lore goes that if he sees his shadow as he did this year, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.

Wearing top hats, members of the club summoned Phil from a new tree stump.

“You look beautiful,” club president Jeff Lundy told Phil, who directed members to one of two scrolls.

A club member announced, “We have all passed through the darkness of night, but now see hope in morning’s bright light. But now when I turn to see, there’s a perfect shadow cast of me.”

The livestream from Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, is made possible by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office’s Holi-stay PA. The event there — always Feb. 2 — dates back to 1887.

Phil this year, like many years in the past, gave his forecast during a major snowstorm that hit the entire Northeast.

The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The 2020 forecast called for an early spring — however, Phil didn’t say anything about a pandemic.

In its 135-year history, Phil has predicted winter 106 times and spring 20 times, the club said. Ten years were lost because no records were kept.

Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog seer but he’s certainly not the only one. There are two other high-profile “imposters,” as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls them, in the region.

Connecticut marked Groundhog Day with a hedgehog making the prediction after the state’s official groundhog, Chuckles X, died last year. Like Phil, Phoebe predicted another six weeks of winter after seeing its shadow at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.

New York City’s Staten Island Chuck disagreed, predicting an early spring in a video shown on the Staten Island Zoo’s Facebook page.

“We’re going to have an early spring! Spring is coming,” Brian Gomez, of event sponsor Investors Bank said in a video message.

Ranch Near Kremmling with Private ski slope sold!

The buyers of a 6,343-acre ranch minutes away from Kremmling won’t have to worry about getting an Epic or Ikon pass for the ski season.

Elk Island Ranch, which sold for $30 million on Dec. 31, features its own private ski slopes, as well as a massive sledding hill. The listing dubbed the land  “a four-season recreational playground of the highest order.”

The buyer was Capstone Property Group LLC, records show.

Seller Charlie Gallagher purchased the ranch for $24.3 million in 1999, according to records.

Gallagher founded Denver-based Gallagher Industries private equity firm in 1986, according to its website. He developed the private ranch concept over the years for his family, according to 5280.

The founder hired Montana-based Kibo Group Architecture to design and Englewood-based Diamond Homes to build the 16,000-square-foot lodge on the property with five bedrooms and 12 bathrooms.

Elk Island Ranch also features a 10,500-square-foot party barn called the Nevada House Saloon with a built-in bar, catering kitchen, stage, dancefloor, upstairs bunkroom and a showroom for “historic ranch vehicles and collection of trophy game mounts,” according to the listing.

The Nevada House Saloon.

With nearly 10 square miles of land, the property houses an Outpost Chalet with two bedrooms for warming up after traversing the private slopes or for discussing the next big game during hunting season.

There’s also a 14,400-square-foot heated storage facility for all the gear and equipment, which was sold with the property, including a plow truck, snowcats, tractor, ATVs, and snowmobiles.

Elk Island Ranch, despite its private setting, is located less than 10 minutes from McElroy Airfield in Kremmling, which services large private jets. It was also once part of the 19,000-acre Grand River Ranch, which was donated to the University of Denver, and gives the owners access to Grand River’s equestrian center, fishing reservoir, dining venues and more.

Winter Park now requiring reservations.

Winter Park Resort announced Tuesday that it will start requiring reservations for pass holders on Dec. 19 to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and manage the volume of visitation.

Pass holders may start reserving days beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.

For individual lift ticket holders, their ticket is dated and serves as their reservation, so they do not need to access the system and make a reservation, according to the Tuesday announcement from Winter Park resort. Ikon Pass and Winter Park Pass holders can access the system and make reservations through their pass account.

“Winter Park has long been a place to escape and recharge, and this year is no different. The health and well-being of our employees, guests and community remain paramount, and we must manage the number of people in the resort in order to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Sky Foulkes, Winter Park Resort President and COO. “We’re asking for everyone’s patience and cooperation this winter as we navigate ever-changing restrictions, while still offering an excellent guest experience. We have planned for many contingencies, and we’re ready to do whatever it takes to help stay safe and stay open.”

Pass holders can book up to 10 days at a time and can make additional reservations as they use their bank of 10 reserved days. Pass holders should logon to their account and visit this page to learn more.