News Archive

 
“Chicago and Milwaukee area skiers and snowboarders are the big winners this winter with a completely re-imagined experience at Wilmot Mountain and access to the most iconic mountain resorts out West,” said Taylor Ogilvie, general manager at Wilmot Mountain. “The Epic Local Pass is similarly priced to what Wilmot-only passes were in the past, plus it grants skiers access to world-class skiing at Vail Resorts’ nine iconic western resorts, including Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge in Colorado, and Park City in Utah.”
 
Vail Resorts has been busy this summer with $13 million in capital improvements at Wilmot Mountain that will encompass every aspect of the guest experience, from the terrain and lifts, to base area facilities and snowmaking technology. The improvements currently underway to upgrade and modernize Wilmot Mountain include:

• New Lifts. Three new four-person chairlifts are currently replacing existing lifts. Towers and chairs have arrived from Colorado and all tower and terminal footings have been poured. The towers are currently being erected and terminal steel is arriving at the resort daily. These three new chairs, combined with a new high-speed rope tow in the terrain park and two new surface conveyor lifts in the beginner area, will increase uphill capacity by up to 45 percent, allowing skiers and snowboarders more time on the slopes.
• Base Area Transformation. The entire base lodge is being transformed, including the addition of 400 seats and upgrading the mountain dining offerings to accommodate more guests. In addition, the facility will be modernized to offer seating for families, groups and adults, including a new bar and Wi-Fi throughout the facility. The Iron Kettle restaurant will be completely redesigned and will include a new lounge where parents will be able to watch their children ski and snowboard and enjoy a full-service bar and food service in an energized, yet comfortable, setting.
• Expanded State-of-the-Art Snowmaking. Significant improvements to the snowmaking infrastructure also are underway to increase the snowmaking capacity and allow Wilmot to open more terrain earlier in the season and offer better snow surface conditions all season long. More than four miles of new snowmaking pipe and 56 new snowmaking guns have been ordered, including 30 low-energy fan tower guns, six portable fan guns and 20 air-water guns which will complement the refurbishment of existing snowmaking equipment. Additionally, the snowmaking pump station will be modernized to increase water flow capacity, including a 500 horse-power variable frequency pump. To date, 75 percent of the snowmaking pipe has been installed and the new snowmaking guns have arrived, with the tower guns currently going up.
• New Kids’ Ski and Snowboard School and Enhanced Beginner Area. The learning terrain has been completely re-graded to be more accessible for teaching beginners and two new surface conveyor lifts will be arriving shortly for installation. Construction is also progressing on a dedicated and state-of-the-art children’s ski and snowboard center adjacent to the learning terrain at the base of the ski area, featuring a playful open space for kids along with their own lunch and break room.
• New Terrain Park and High-Speed Rope Tow. A new expanded terrain park will offer unique and innovative features designed and created by terrain park staff at Vail Resorts’ western resorts, as well as the addition of a new high-speed rope tow to enable skiers and snowboarders to spend more time in the terrain park. All grading of the terrain park is complete and the tow rope will be arriving at Wilmot for installation soon.

 2016-2017 Season Pass Options for Wilmot Skiers and Snowboarders:

• Ski Unlimited Locally and Out West with the Epic Pass™: Ski as much as you want, whenever you want for $809. The Epic Pass pays for itself in just over five days of skiing or riding out West. With more than 32,000 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain, this pass is the best in the industry. It features unlimited, unrestricted access to Wilmot Mountain locally, plus Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, Park City in Utah, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe, Perisher in Australia for the 2017 season, Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $419.
• Ski Unlimited Locally and with Some Restrictions Out West with the Epic Local Pass™: Ski like a local no matter where you are from. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just four days out West. For $609, pass holders receive unlimited and unrestricted skiing or riding at Wilmot Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton, with limited restrictions at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, plus a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $319.
• Ski Wilmot Mountain Only with the Wilmot Pass (including Wilmot Mountain Family Pass): For those who plan to ski or snowboard solely at Wilmot Mountain, there is the Wilmot Pass. At $379 for adults, pass holders receive unlimited access to Wilmot Mountain with no restrictions. A discounted rate is offered for families of three people at $809; additional family members can be added for $149 each. New this year, parents can purchase a season pass for their child to ski at Wilmot for only $319 (previously only adult passes were offered). That pass is an Epic Local Child Pass and includes access to nine world-class mountains in Colorado, Utah and California.

 For further details and additional pass options, such as Epic 7-Day and Epic 4-Day passes, visit EpicPass.com.
 
Season Pass Insurance:
Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase pass insurance. All of the Company’s season pass products are non-refundable and non-transferable; however, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Find out more at EpicPass.com. 
 

Lesli Carlson, Vail Resorts, 303-404-6472, lcarlson@vailresorts.com
Rachael Muhlenbeck, Wilmot Mountain, rmuhlenbeck@vailresorts.com
J Public Relations, wilmot@jpublicrelations.com