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Best of Tahoe Resorts Now Open for the 2015-16 Season; November 22 is Last Chance for Skiers and Riders to Get the Tahoe Local Pass
  • Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood Open Nearly a Week Ahead of Schedule
  • More Valuable than Ever: Last Day to Purchase Tahoe Local Passes and Tahoe Value Passes is November 22
  • New Storm on the Horizon Bringing More Snow to Blanket the Region
The Best of Tahoe Resorts – Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort –  all opened today with epic conditions, blue bird skies and more snow on the horizon according to NOAA. With lifts now turning and dozens of runs open, now is the best time for guests to purchase the Tahoe Local Pass before the last deadline hits on November 22, 2015.
 
“Excitement is mounting around Lake Tahoe as Vail Resorts’ Tahoe trifecta are all open nearly a week early with incredible conditions,” said Pete Sonntag, Tahoe region vice president and chief operating officer.  “El Niño is continuing to pay off with yet another early season storm hitting the region this weekend. It’s never been a better time to buy your Tahoe Local Pass, bringing guests the best conditions to ski and ride in Lake Tahoe and new this season, including five days in Utah and Colorado!”
 
Heavenly plans to operate the Gondola, Tamarack Express, Dipper Express, Big Easy, as well as its Bear Cave Carpet. Upper California Trail and Orion’s are open which, at over a mile long, will be the longest run available in the Tahoe basin. Tamarack Return and Easy Street will also be open. Northstar opens top-to-bottom with 10 freshly groomed trails including West Ridge, Luggi’s, Skid, Pinball, Lumberjack, Lower Main Street and Village Run, along with seven lifts and 14 features in the Pinball terrain park. Kirkwood is turning three lifts accessing the region’s only expert terrain. Cornice Express, Solitude and Snowkirk lifts are also open with all levels of skiing & riding.
 
Utilizing the local Tahoe Epic Passes, guests experience benefits from the West Coast’s most sophisticated, state-of-the-art snowmaking systems at Heavenly and Northstar that ensure Tahoe’s most consistent and reliable snow surfaces. Kirkwood continues to bring an undisputed reputation for major snowfall and huge accumulation that translates to world-class powder and an authentic big-mountain skiing and riding experience. 
 
The following EpicPasses are still available through November 22:
  • The Tahoe Local Pass is the best way to access Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood seven days a week. It includes Saturday access at all three Tahoe resorts with limited holiday restrictions, all for $519. Pass holder tickets are available for purchase for 50 percent off during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. The Tahoe Local Pass pays for itself in fewer than four days. New for the 2015-16 season, the Tahoe Local Pass now includes five days of non-holiday skiing and riding at Utah’s Park City, combined with Canyons Resort to now become the largest ski resort in the U.S., and Colorado’s Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. A child pass is $249 (age’s five to 12).
  • The Tahoe Value Pass™ is best for people who can handle a few restrictions. Ski or ride seven days a week at Heavenly and six days a week at Northstar and Kirkwood. The pass is available for $469, and pays for itself in just over three days. The Tahoe Value Pass has holiday restrictions at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood with Saturdays excluded at Northstar and Kirkwood. Pass holders can purchase lift tickets valid at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood Resorts on restricted days for 50 percent off per day.
  • Epic Local Pass™: Perfect for people who can navigate a pass with restrictions. For $619, get unlimited, unrestricted skiing or riding at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with limited restrictions at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. Also includes a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in less than four days. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $319.
  • The Epic Pass™: Ski as much as you want, whenever you want for $809. The Epic Pass pays for itself in less than five days of skiing or riding. With more than 32,000 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain, this pass can’t be beat. It features unlimited, unrestricted access to 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 2016 season there; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and up to five free consecutive days when staying at in-resort accommodations at Verbier, Switzerland. No restricted dates. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $419.
For the best prices of the season on all Tahoe passes and for more information on pass holder benefits, Please Click Here .
 
Positions are still available to join the Best of Tahoe Resort teams, Please Click Here to view career opportunities. 
 
About Best of Tahoe Resorts
Collectively, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort offer guests unmatched variety, the highest standard of guest service, the most terrain with 10,270 skiable acres, and access to the region’s finest snow surface conditions through state-of-the-art snowmaking and acclaimed natural snow depth. The Best of Tahoe resorts, subsidiaries of Vail Resorts, Inc., represent the essence of Lake Tahoe’s most famed characteristics – including Heavenly’s unrelenting, high-energy party atmosphere, Northstar’s renown for laid-back California luxury and Kirkwood’s prized bounty of authentic, big-mountain terrain and prodigious snow depth. Each resort’s unique characteristics complement one another and combine to offer skiers and riders the Best of Tahoe experience. 

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. The Company’s subsidiaries operate nine world-class mountain resorts and two urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Perisher in Australia; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. The Company owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
 
Contact(s)

Marcie Bradley, mhbradley@vailresorts.com, 530.562.3866

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