- Vista Bahn Express to open on Thursday, Nov. 26 along with top-to-bottom skiing from the Eagle Bahn Gondola
A naturalist from the Gore Range Natural Science School will be available at the Nature Discovery Center on Friday, Nov. 27 from 1-4 p.m. Located in an all-seasons yurt adjacent to the Eagle Bahn Gondola atop Vail Mountain, the Nature Discovery Center provides an array of free natural history exhibits and artifacts related for Vail Mountain from animal tracks to the mountain pine bark beetle.
Work off the Thanksgiving turkey and test your acrobatic abilities on the rebound trampoline at Adventure Ridge, also open for the holiday weekend, Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. for just $5 per session.
Vail Mountain Ski & Ride Terrain
Vail Mountain snowmaking and cat crews continue to work around the clock to provide guests with additional access routes and terrain at the resort. On Thursday, the Vista Bahn Express (#16) will open for lift access out of Vail Village to terrain in the Lionshead area. Guests will also have top-to-bottom skiing and riding from the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) and can ski or snowboard back to Vail Village. More lifts and terrain will open as natural and manmade snow conditions allow. The Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest is open daily for on-mountain dining, including the new Epic Mountain Burger and Lunch for Less, a $9.95 value meal that includes an entrée, side and a drink.
Early-season lift ticket prices remain at $69 for adults, $59 for seniors and $45 for children 12 and under (prices are subject to change). Restricted passes including the Colorado Pass, Merchant Pass and others will be restricted Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28. Ticket and pass sales are currently available at the Lionshead Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Adult and Children’s Snowsports School offices in Lionshead are open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Small World Nursery in Golden Peak is open for childcare from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Other Holiday Weekend Activities in Vail
Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame
Explore the history of skiing and snowboarding at the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame. Within the museum’s collection are more than 1,500 photographs, artifacts, pieces of equipment and articles of clothing representing over 130 years of Colorado skiing. Exhibits on display include a timeline of skiing and snowboarding, Olympic and World Cup memorabilia, a 10th Mountain Division display and the newest exhibit, “Vail – Dream Realized.” The museum is located on the third level of the Vail Village parking structure adjacent to the iconic covered bridge and is open daily 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. To learn more about the museum, visit www.skimuseum.net or call (970) 476-1876.
Ice Skating in Vail
Grab a hot chocolate from Rimini and take a spin around the Alderhof Ice Rink, located in the heart of Vail Square. The rink is open daily from 1-9 p.m. throughout the winter. Ice skates are available for rent starting at $10. For more information call (970) 754-7777.
Children can enjoy story hour at the Town of Vail Library followed by skating at Dobson Ice Arena at either 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. Story hour is free and skating time is $10 per child for skates and instruction. Call (970) 479-2271 for details.
For the recreational skater, Dobson Ice Arena hosts open skating sessions for all ages and abilities. Skate rentals are $3 and admission prices range from $2 to $6 based on age. Dobson is located on the in-town bus route on West Meadow Drive across from the Vail Library. For a public skate schedule, visit http://www.vailrec.com/reports/ES_Default.htm.
Holiday Fair and Tree Lighting
The first of two holiday fairs in Vail will take place this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27-28 from 3-7 p.m. on Meadow Drive in the Village Inn Plaza. Visitors will find gift items from artisans and craft vendors as well as food items, free entertainment and children’s activities. The second market is scheduled for Dec. 18-19 in Lionshead from 3-7 p.m. Tree lightings in Vail Village and Lionshead will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28 alongside a children’s parade on Meadow Drive. The event begins with a tree-lighting in Vail Village at 5:30 p.m., followed by the parade to Lionshead and a second tree-lighting at 7 p.m.
Winter Fly Fishing in Gore Creek
Gore Creek Fly Fisherman is Vail’s #1-ranked fly fishing shop for 2009 and offers experienced and friendly guides for your on-water experience – year round! Half-day wade trips in the Eagle River and gold medal waters of Gore Creek are available for up to three anglers. For more information, call (970)476-3296.
Thanksgiving School’s Out Camp
The Vail Recreation District (VRD) Youth Services will offer a School's Out Camp at Red Sandstone Elementary School that will include activities, games, arts and crafts and more. School’s Out Camp will be offered on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and Monday, Nov. 30 from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Visit http://www.vailrec.com/youthafterschool.cfm or call (970) 479-2292 for more information or reservations.
Epic Season Pass
Sales of one of the best deals in the industry – the Epic Season Pass – have been extended through Monday, Nov. 30. The pass is available for $599 for adults and $299 for children ages 5-12, for skiing and snowboarding at all five Vail Resorts – Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly – as well as at Arapahoe Basin. Visit www.epicpass.com for details and additional benefits.
Vail Mountain lifts will open at 9 a.m. for the duration of the early season. For guests with restricted passes, be advised that restrictions will be in effect Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28. Skiers and riders are asked to observe all posted signs and warnings, especially during the early season. Closed trails may contain hazards due to early snow coverage. For more information about Vail Mountain, including opening day, terrain updates, snow reports, events and lodging and vacation values, visit www.vail.com or contact the Mountain Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8425).
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, Heavenly Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, 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 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 the consumer website is www.snow.com.