$30 Million in Capital Improvements Ready in Time for Holiday Season at Northstar California™ Resort
· Zephyr Lodge Expands On-Mountain Seating by 50 Percent, Offers New Fast Casual Dining Experience, Spectacular Views
· Promised Land Express Lift Provides Access to an All New Area of Terrain, Doubles Lift Capacity in Popular Terrain Area
· New Terrain Changes Skier Patterns on the Mountain, Provides Expanded Sidecountry Access
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Dec. 1, 2011 – With the winter season now underway in Lake Tahoe, Northstar California Resort today announced the $30 million in capital improvements that were started over the summer will be ready for guests to enjoy in time for the holiday season.
“Our guests are going to be blown away by the magnitude of the capital projects we’ve completed for this season,” said Bill Rock, chief operating officer at Northstar. “With the addition of the new Zephyr Lodge, the Promised Land Express lift, a whole new area of terrain on The Backside, and other on-mountain improvements, the skiing and riding experience at Northstar is dramatically changed.”
Due to last season’s tremendous snowfall, construction on the Zephyr Lodge, Northstar’s new on-mountain restaurant didn’t begin until the third week in July. The 17,000 square foot lodge is on schedule to open prior to the Christmas holiday featuring 700 seats, a fast casual dining experience, and unmatched views of the Sierra Crest. The Zephyr Lodge provides 50 percent more on-mountain seating, and access to 26 additional on-mountain restrooms.
The Promised Land Express, a new detachable express quad chairlift, has been completed and will open as soon as snow conditions permit. The new lift doubles the lift capacity on The Backside and provides access to an all new area of terrain in one of the resort’s most popular areas, featuring expanded gladed terrain and two new intermediate ski trails.
The resort boundary lines were also expanded this season, providing access to 170 additional acres of new sidecountry terrain for advanced skiers and riders looking for a gladed tree skiing experience when conditions permit. Snow cat tours will also be offered this season on Sawtooth Ridge when conditions permit.
“The short time in which these large-scale projects have been completed is nothing less than incredible. I’d like to thank not only the team at Northstar, but the local contractors who’ve been involved with these projects as well. Their work ethic and commitment to the on-time completion of the Lodge, lift and new terrain are commendable,” said Rock.
Additional capital purchases the resort made that will benefit the on-mountain guest experience this season include three additional grooming cats – one of which is a Prinoth “Beast,” a grooming cat that offers a large operating width, high grooming speed and can achieve 40 percent more grooming performance. The addition of this particular snow cat brings the resort’s “Beast” fleet to 3 machines. Snowmaking was also installed on the Drifter and Castle Peak ski trails, allowing the resort to offer exceptional early season snow conditions when temperatures permit.
Currently, Northstar is open top-to bottom offering the most skiable terrain and highest quality snow surface in North Lake Tahoe. Thanks to continued investments in snowmaking and a commitment to providing a quality ski experience, skiers and riders are invited enjoy 2,280 vertical feet of terrain, snow depths ranging from 18-24 inches on 11 open trails, and 16 freestyle features in the terrain park on Pinball. Additional lifts and terrain are scheduled to open soon. For the latest conditions updates, visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.
Due to popular demand, Vail Resorts’ season pass sales have been extended only through December 5, 2011. Prices start at just $389 for the Tahoe Value Pass, providing seven day per week access to Heavenly, and six day per week access to Northstar all season long. Other pass types are available, including the unlimited, unrestricted Epic Pass, which provides access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar and Arapahoe Basin all season long for just $669. For more information, visit www.EpicPass.com.
For more information about Northstar, including current conditions, lodging and lift packages and more, visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com or call 1-800-GO-NORTH (466-6784).
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.