TRUCKEE and SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Jan. 21, 2012 – The National Weather Service is calling for significant snowfall to continue at Lake Tahoe this weekend, and both Heavenly and Northstar are prepared to capitalize on it and open even more terrain for skiers and riders to enjoy. Already featuring the most open terrain in Tahoe thanks to extensive snowmaking systems, the two resorts are best positioned to take advantage of the new snowfall and expand the terrain accessible within their boundaries.
“We’re taking advantage of the snow that’s falling and are working to quickly open more terrain. Today alone we were able to open nine more trails,” said Bill Rock, chief operating officer at Northstar. “This first storm is helping to build on the base we already had thanks to our snowmaking and grooming efforts, allowing us to continue to offer our guests the best snow conditions and a complete winter mountain experience.”
Northstar currently has 39 open trails accessed by 16 lifts, featuring top-to-bottom skiing and riding on 2,280 vertical feet of terrain. The resort has continued to open new terrain throughout the season, having just opened Iron Horse, one of the more popular advanced trails on the Backside of the mountain, as well as Woodchuck and Ax Handle, intermediate trails located on the front of the mountain just prior to the storm’s arrival.
Offering a complete winter mountain resort experience, Northstar has all three of its on-mountain lodges open daily, as well as lift served snow tubing and guided snowshoe tours. The resort is preparing to open its cross-country ski trails in the coming days as well. The Village at Northstar is open, offering shopping, dining, interactive activities such as candle making, pottery painting and jewelry design, and access to the resort’s two movie theaters and 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink.
Heavenly has already received more than 21 inches of snow since it started falling, adding to the 18-24” base the resort already had thanks to its snowmaking efforts. With the new snowfall, skiers and riders will have access to 30 trails accessed by 24 lifts, featuring top-to-bottom skiing and riding on 3,500 vertical feet and more than 19 miles of terrain. The resort has all three of its Ski and Ride School locations open, as well as eight of its nine on-mountain lodges.
“Winter is finally here and we couldn’t be more excited. The storm door is open and we’re looking forward to another round of storms this weekend,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “The new snow has really added to the significant head start our snowmaking has given us in terms of the amount and quality of terrain we have open.”
The most economical way for skiers and riders to enjoy both Northstar and Heavenly this season is to take advantage of the Lowest Price Guarantee on lift tickets. When purchased seven days in advance online at snow.com/lifttickets or through Vail Resorts Central Reservations, guests are guaranteed the price will be the lowest available for that day – and significantly lower over the holiday period – compared to the window rate.
Ski and Stay Free lodging packages are available at Northstar, starting at $115 per person, per night (some restrictions apply). Skiers and riders can also get their snow fix with Heavenly's Snow Binge package. Spend three nights over a weekend and ski three days at Heavenly starting as low as $99 per person, per night (some restrictions apply).
For conditions updates or more information, visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com
and www.skiheavenly.com.
About Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind combination of scenic beauty and exhilarating on-snow experience. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. One of the largest resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features more than 94 trails for every level of skier or snowboarder. For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.
About Northstar California Resort
One of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America, Northstar is host to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, movie theaters, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 97 ski trails spread across 3,170 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and more.
Northstar is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar California in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort property and hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction 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)
Russ Pecoraro
Heavenly Mountain Resort
775.586.4451
rpecoraro@vailresorts.com
Jess VanPernis
Northstar California Resort
530.448.6981
jvanpernis@vailresorts.com