Vail Mountain to Offer Skiing and Snowboarding on More Than 950 Acres of Terrain for the 50th Anniversary Weekend; Lifts Open at 8:30 a.m. Beginning Friday
- Vail received 20 inches of new snow in the past seven days and more is forecast for the weekend.
- Game Creek Express Lift (#7), Northwoods Express Lift (#11), Sourdough Express Lift (#14) and Cascade Lift (#20) to open Friday.
- Two Elk restaurant to open Friday.
VAIL, Colo. – Dec. 13, 2012 – As an early gift for the 50th anniversary this Saturday, Dec. 15, Mother Nature provided Vail Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States, with 20 inches of new snow in the past seven days allowing for the addition of the Mountaintop Express Lift (#4), and starting Friday the Game Creek Express Lift (#7), Northwoods Express Lift (#11), Sourdough Express Lift (#14) and Cascade Lift (#20). More snow is in the forecast over the next seven days; stay tuned for more news as additional terrain becomes available based on conditions.
On Friday skiers and snowboarders will have access to 950 acres of terrain and the following lifts:
- Gondola One
- Avanti Express Lift (#2)
- Wildwood Express Lift (#3)
- Mountaintop Express Lift (#4)
- Game Creek Express Lift (#7)
- Born Free Express Lift (#8)
- Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
- Gopher Hill Lift (#12)Sourdough Express Lift (#14)
- Little Eagle Lift (#15)
- Eagle Bahn Gondola
- Cascade Lift (#20)
After celebrating Vail’s 50th anniversary on the snow during the day Saturday, skiers, snowboarders, guests and locals alike are all invited to help commemorate the occasion during a free, public celebration on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Mountain Plaza in Vail Village at the base of the resort’s new state-of-the-art gondola, One. In addition to remarks from special guests, a limited quantity of numbered, commemorative Vail ski boot mugs will be given out along with epic birthday cupcakes. The celebration will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display over Vail Mountain.
Afterwards the party continues as Wilco takes the stage for the final concert of Vail’s Snow Daze. Tickets are still available for purchase by visiting www.vail.com.
On-Mountain Dining, Entertainment and Services
Two Elk, Vail’s largest on-mountain dining venue, opens Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wildwood, Golden Peak Grille and Bistro Fourteen will also open for lunch on Friday.
The 10th, Vail’s newest on-mountain table-service restaurant, is open daily for lunch in the main dining room from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday guests can enjoy après at the bar from 3-6 p.m. and dinner service beginning at 5:30 p.m. Reservations for The 10th can be made by calling (970) 754-1010.
Game Creek Restaurant and Bistro Fourteen open for dinner service on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Visit www.vail.com/dining for online reservations or call Game Creek at (970) 754-4275 or Bistro Fourteen at (970) 754-4530.
Adventure Ridge, offering tubing, kids’ snowmobiling, bungee trampolines and ski biking, is scheduled to open Tuesday, Dec. 18. For more information or reservations, call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).
Vail Ski & Snowboard School
Starting Friday all base area Ski & Snowboard School locations are open, and upper-level lessons will be offered out of Mid-Vail beginning Saturday. The Small World Nursery at the Golden Peak Children’s Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted and guests can also register online at www.vail.com.
Many inbounds closures currently exist as Vail Ski Patrol manages early-season conditions. Skiers and snowboarders are asked to observe all posted signs and closures, especially during the early season.
For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, or stop by the Mountain Information Center, open daily from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. beginning Friday, or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).
About Vail Mountain
Quickly approaching its 50th anniversary on Dec. 15, 2012 and coveted as the largest ski resort in the United States with more than 5,000 acres of skiable terrain and seven legendary Back Bowls spanning seven miles, Vail is an extraordinary winter vacation destination. Under blue skies more than 300 days each year and with more groomed terrain than anywhere on the planet, families reconnect and celebrate here from year to year and generation to generation. The vacation experience is world class, from the Vail Ski & Snowboard School to the events, activities and festivals, the shops and spas, abundant culinary experiences and luxurious accommodations. Coupled with the vision inherent in the spirit of Vail’s founders, and a modern day commitment to excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail can still credibly lay claim to being a resort like nothing on earth. www.Vail.com.
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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 resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood 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 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