Snowmass Base Village – set to become the largest ski resort in North America – will open its doors just in time for this year’s Christmas season.

Designed by a team of firms including Oz Architecture, Raymond Letkeman Architects, and Eldon Beck & Associates, the 100,000 sq ft leisure hub and "ski in, ski out"-resort will include a public plaza and skating rink, as well as multiple restaurants, pools, gyms, lounges, and shops.

Snowmass will also feature two multi-storey hotels and condominiums – The Limelight and the Lumin – both of which will serve as homes away from home for Aspen's seasonal and permanent guests.

The hallmark of the new community epicentre, however, will be a 54 ft enclosed climbing wall, the largest of its kind in the state of Colorado.

In development since 2002, Snowmass will open partially on 15 December and complete construction in 2019.