Heavenly Announces 2009-2010 Resort Improvements
Contact(s)
29 September 2009
South Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev. – September 29, 2009 – Heavenly Mountain Resort (www.skiheavenly.com) announced improvements for the 2009-10 ski and snowboard season designed to enhance specific elements of Lake Tahoe’s premier winter destination resort. Trail enhancements and a new, state-of-the-art tubing lift headline the changes, which also include upgrades to overall food quality and variety, superior snow surfaces, ski and snowboard school programs, and ease of planning/booking a vacation.
“In terms of the size of the resort, the quality of the service, the commitment to snowmaking and grooming, and the accessibility of lodging for any budget, Heavenly is the one mountain at Lake Tahoe that delivers a complete destination resort experience,” said Blaise Carrig, Heavenly’s chief operating officer. “The new tubing lift really adds to the diversity of exceptional experiences at Heavenly and takes on-snow family fun to a new level.”
Continued Trail Enhancement Projects
Heavenly, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, continues to make advances in selective trail enhancement projects. These projects annually identify key trails for treatment by widening pinch-points and lowering the height of obstacles on trails. This year, The Pinnacles trails were selected and through the installation of temporary, removable snow fences as well as rock removal in key areas will allow earlier opening of these trails this winter. The quality of the skiing will be enhanced now that the trails can be groomed more consistently.
Meteor, Jackpot and Canyon, Sky Chute, and Otto’s Chute (the transition from the top of Tamarack Express Chairlift to Orion’s Run) were also widened. The entrances to Nova, Big Dipper from lower Skyline, and Milky Way Bowl from upper Skyline were all enhanced to provide more convenient access. Obstacles were removed from California Trail, reducing the amount of snow needed to open and maintain this popular trail.
Commitment to Lake Tahoe’s Finest Snow Surfaces
Fulfilling its promise to provide the finest snow surfaces Lake Tahoe has to offer, Heavenly has purchased three new Prinoth Bison X grooming machines to add to the world's largest fleet of most technologically-advanced snow cats. Already home to the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, Heavenly is on a continuous capital program to improve overall snowmaking efficiency. The resort will also add snowmaking to the new tubing area to provide early-season access for sightseers as well as skiers and snowboarders looking for non-ski activities. The combination of grooming expertise and snowmaking capacity ensure that Heavenly’s guests are always skiing or snowboarding on the finest snow surface conditions Lake Tahoe has to offer.
On-Mountain, Non-Ski, Family Fun
Heavenly's new, four-lane tubing hill will be accessed by a state-of-the-art covered magic carpet lift. Stretching 450 feet up East Peak, with a 65-foot vertical drop, the new tubing hill will be a fantastic addition to Heavenly’s Adventure Peak family recreation area. The fully-enclosed, elevated magic carpet lift will be multi-purpose: Beginning snowboarders can use the surface lift to access new teaching terrain while others access the multi-lane tubing hill.
Satisfying Guests’ Appetite for Life
For the 2009-10 season, Heavenly will serve a high-quality, gourmet burger that has been completely reworked from the bottom up and will set the quality standard for a mountain resort burger. The Epic Mountain Burger will have two fresh quarter-pound patties of specially-seasoned Angus beef, and will be surrounded by fresh lettuce, tomato and a specialty bun. Also new is the Lunch for Less value meal that will vary daily and include an entree, side dish and non-alcoholic beverage for just $9.95. In addition, guests can now pre-purchase a mountain dining card on-line and in select locations for cost savings and convenience. The dining card comes with additional value added when pre-purchased.
“Our guests are going to be amazed by the Epic Mountain Burger. It will be better than their favorite burger back home,” said Steve Turner, Heavenly’s director of Food and Beverage. “We’ve pretty much re-built our menus across the board. Guests will be pleased to find a variety of menu options and prices to fit every budget.”
Make the Most of Your Ski Day
The Ski and Ride Schools of Heavenly have announced a new mountain guide program called The Adventure Sessions that bridges the gap between a private and group lesson. For $119, advanced skiers and snowboarders can spend a day sharing a top guide with an intimate group, allowing quick access to the best terrain and conditions on the mountain. Guests will be teamed with like-minded, similarly-skilled ski/ride enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their day, going places that they might not go themselves. Not only will participants receive lunch and preferential lift line access, but they'll pick up tips and technical information along the way.
“Think of The Adventure Sessions like hiring a guide to go fishing in Alaska – you tap into the experience of Lake Tahoe’s best ski coaches who show you the sweet spots only the locals know about,” said Mike Allen, Heavenly’s director of Ski School and Skier Services. “We like to say, 'If ski school had a recess, this would be it.'”
Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle…And Go Big
In 2008-09, Heavenly's terrain parks won an award from Ski Area Management Magazine for the best use of recycled features. This season, the Terrain Park Crew has gone back to the lab to create the most creative, urban-based jibs at Lake Tahoe. Most features will be 100 percent recycled, including highway barriers, water drums and corrugated pipes.
An Online Experience to Match the On-Mountain Experience
Skiheavenly.com will re-launch this fall as a completely new web site with dynamic, immersive functionality that will give guests the feeling of being at the resort while sitting in the comfort of their own homes. Utilizing the latest, best-in-class technology, skiheavenly.com will be the leading, most user-friendly web site in the ski industry. Upgrades include: A resort map using Google mapping technology that will give users in-depth knowledge of all the attractions and amenities in the immediate vicinity; an immersive, 360-degree virtual tour gallery that puts the user right in the middle of a high-quality video experience; and a trip folder that allows the user to plan their trip over time, with the ability to save, retrieve and share particular aspects of certain trips or whole itineraries. Along with its blog, the live, streaming web cam, ski and snowboard instructor profiles, and the industry’s most entertaining video library, skiheavenly.com has everything to make booking a trip fun and easy.
Early-Season Vacation Values
Heavenly is scheduled to open for skiing and snowboarding on November 20, 2009, weather and conditions permitting. Guests who book a two-day, two-night early-season (Nov. 29 – Dec. 15, 2009) vacation by October 30, 2009, get the third and fourth nights free. That works out to $49 per person per day for lodging and lift tickets. Some restrictions apply. Visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 1-800-HEAVENLY (432.8365) to get more information or to book your trip.
“In terms of the size of the resort, the quality of the service, the commitment to snowmaking and grooming, and the accessibility of lodging for any budget, Heavenly is the one mountain at Lake Tahoe that delivers a complete destination resort experience,” said Blaise Carrig, Heavenly’s chief operating officer. “The new tubing lift really adds to the diversity of exceptional experiences at Heavenly and takes on-snow family fun to a new level.”
Continued Trail Enhancement Projects
Heavenly, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, continues to make advances in selective trail enhancement projects. These projects annually identify key trails for treatment by widening pinch-points and lowering the height of obstacles on trails. This year, The Pinnacles trails were selected and through the installation of temporary, removable snow fences as well as rock removal in key areas will allow earlier opening of these trails this winter. The quality of the skiing will be enhanced now that the trails can be groomed more consistently.
Meteor, Jackpot and Canyon, Sky Chute, and Otto’s Chute (the transition from the top of Tamarack Express Chairlift to Orion’s Run) were also widened. The entrances to Nova, Big Dipper from lower Skyline, and Milky Way Bowl from upper Skyline were all enhanced to provide more convenient access. Obstacles were removed from California Trail, reducing the amount of snow needed to open and maintain this popular trail.
Commitment to Lake Tahoe’s Finest Snow Surfaces
Fulfilling its promise to provide the finest snow surfaces Lake Tahoe has to offer, Heavenly has purchased three new Prinoth Bison X grooming machines to add to the world's largest fleet of most technologically-advanced snow cats. Already home to the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, Heavenly is on a continuous capital program to improve overall snowmaking efficiency. The resort will also add snowmaking to the new tubing area to provide early-season access for sightseers as well as skiers and snowboarders looking for non-ski activities. The combination of grooming expertise and snowmaking capacity ensure that Heavenly’s guests are always skiing or snowboarding on the finest snow surface conditions Lake Tahoe has to offer.
On-Mountain, Non-Ski, Family Fun
Heavenly's new, four-lane tubing hill will be accessed by a state-of-the-art covered magic carpet lift. Stretching 450 feet up East Peak, with a 65-foot vertical drop, the new tubing hill will be a fantastic addition to Heavenly’s Adventure Peak family recreation area. The fully-enclosed, elevated magic carpet lift will be multi-purpose: Beginning snowboarders can use the surface lift to access new teaching terrain while others access the multi-lane tubing hill.
Satisfying Guests’ Appetite for Life
For the 2009-10 season, Heavenly will serve a high-quality, gourmet burger that has been completely reworked from the bottom up and will set the quality standard for a mountain resort burger. The Epic Mountain Burger will have two fresh quarter-pound patties of specially-seasoned Angus beef, and will be surrounded by fresh lettuce, tomato and a specialty bun. Also new is the Lunch for Less value meal that will vary daily and include an entree, side dish and non-alcoholic beverage for just $9.95. In addition, guests can now pre-purchase a mountain dining card on-line and in select locations for cost savings and convenience. The dining card comes with additional value added when pre-purchased.
“Our guests are going to be amazed by the Epic Mountain Burger. It will be better than their favorite burger back home,” said Steve Turner, Heavenly’s director of Food and Beverage. “We’ve pretty much re-built our menus across the board. Guests will be pleased to find a variety of menu options and prices to fit every budget.”
Make the Most of Your Ski Day
The Ski and Ride Schools of Heavenly have announced a new mountain guide program called The Adventure Sessions that bridges the gap between a private and group lesson. For $119, advanced skiers and snowboarders can spend a day sharing a top guide with an intimate group, allowing quick access to the best terrain and conditions on the mountain. Guests will be teamed with like-minded, similarly-skilled ski/ride enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their day, going places that they might not go themselves. Not only will participants receive lunch and preferential lift line access, but they'll pick up tips and technical information along the way.
“Think of The Adventure Sessions like hiring a guide to go fishing in Alaska – you tap into the experience of Lake Tahoe’s best ski coaches who show you the sweet spots only the locals know about,” said Mike Allen, Heavenly’s director of Ski School and Skier Services. “We like to say, 'If ski school had a recess, this would be it.'”
Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle…And Go Big
In 2008-09, Heavenly's terrain parks won an award from Ski Area Management Magazine for the best use of recycled features. This season, the Terrain Park Crew has gone back to the lab to create the most creative, urban-based jibs at Lake Tahoe. Most features will be 100 percent recycled, including highway barriers, water drums and corrugated pipes.
An Online Experience to Match the On-Mountain Experience
Skiheavenly.com will re-launch this fall as a completely new web site with dynamic, immersive functionality that will give guests the feeling of being at the resort while sitting in the comfort of their own homes. Utilizing the latest, best-in-class technology, skiheavenly.com will be the leading, most user-friendly web site in the ski industry. Upgrades include: A resort map using Google mapping technology that will give users in-depth knowledge of all the attractions and amenities in the immediate vicinity; an immersive, 360-degree virtual tour gallery that puts the user right in the middle of a high-quality video experience; and a trip folder that allows the user to plan their trip over time, with the ability to save, retrieve and share particular aspects of certain trips or whole itineraries. Along with its blog, the live, streaming web cam, ski and snowboard instructor profiles, and the industry’s most entertaining video library, skiheavenly.com has everything to make booking a trip fun and easy.
Early-Season Vacation Values
Heavenly is scheduled to open for skiing and snowboarding on November 20, 2009, weather and conditions permitting. Guests who book a two-day, two-night early-season (Nov. 29 – Dec. 15, 2009) vacation by October 30, 2009, get the third and fourth nights free. That works out to $49 per person per day for lodging and lift tickets. Some restrictions apply. Visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 1-800-HEAVENLY (432.8365) to get more information or to book your trip.
About Heavenly
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. In addition to Heavenly, Vail Resorts, Inc. owns and operates the Colorado mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and in the Caribbean. 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. For more information on Heavenly, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 1-800-HEAVENLY.