There's no denying that one of the top things on the massive list of cool things that Colorado is known for is its world-famous ski industry.

Ski towns like Vail, Aspen, and Beaver Creek, just to name a few, have served as settings for uber-rich celebrities to hit the slopes, countless high-profile competitions, and the main source of income for residents of these towns as well as neighboring communities for many years.

Read More: Colorado Has an Alarming Number of Abandoned Ski Resorts |

However, it may come as a surprise to learn that Colorado is tied for third as far as being home to the most ski areas in the United States, and the two states that boast more ski areas than Colorado may be even more surprising.

Which Two States Have More Ski Areas than Colorado?

According to the National Ski Areas Association or NSAA, Colorado is tied for third in the nation with the state of Wisconsin, each of which serve as home to a total of 33 ski areas.

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In second-place as far as the number of ski areas go is the state of Michigan which, surprisingly, is home to a whopping 40 ski areas.

However, perhaps the biggest surprise, especially for Colorado natives, is that the state with the most ski areas in the country is New York with an impressive 52 ski areas.

While Michigan and New York technically have more ski resorts than Colorado, it's highly unlikely that these statistics will have the slightest impact on the reputation of the Centennial State's strong association with skiing and snowboarding.

Smoke Shacks are Secret Manmade Huts on Colorado Ski Mountains

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

If you’re not a ski bum or a ‘local’ in a ski town, you may not know about the secret, manmade huts on Colorado ski mountains known as ‘smoke shacks.’

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

Flashback: What it was Like Skiing in Aspen in 1965

Take a look back in time to what it was like to ski in Aspen back in 1965.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

The Development of Colorado's Ski Industry

A lot of events had to take place for Colorado to become the world-class skiing destination that it is today.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde