Join the Celebration of Vail’s 50th Anniversary This Week
- The Shins, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Wilco headline Vail Snow Daze, Dec. 10-16
- Vail, the Rise of America’s Iconic Ski Resortpremieres Thursday, Dec. 13
- Public celebration, limited edition souvenirs and fireworks spectacular end the week on Saturday, Dec. 15
VAIL, Colo. – Dec. 10, 2012 –Nearly 50 years ago Vail Mountain opened its lifts and trails to skiers for the first time. Now, after years of evolving into the country’s largest ski resort, the 50th anniversary season is underway and guests can look forward to a fantastic lineup of special events and celebrations throughout the week leading up to the official anniversary this Saturday, Dec. 15.
This celebration kicks off with special 50th anniversary edition of Vail’s signature, early-season concert series, Vail Snow Daze, Dec. 10-16. In addition to on-snow DJs, parties, demos and expos all week, this year’s event features one of the biggest musical lineups in Vail’s history. Headline acts include Grammy-Award winning Chicago-based alternative rock band, Wilco, on Saturday, Dec. 15. Musical performances will also include The Shins on Thursday, Dec. 13 and Michael Franti & Spearhead on Friday, Dec. 14. Tickets and full details are available online at www.vail.com/snowdaze.
The premiere of Vail, the Rise of America’s Iconic Ski Resort, a new film by Vail’s original filmmaker, Roger Cotton Brown, will take place on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort. Although the 5:30 show is sold out, complimentary tickets are still available for the 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. shows and must be reserved in advance at www.vail.com/50th. Additional screenings of the film will take place on select dates throughout the winter at the Grand View Room in the Lionshead Welcome Center.
“Vail Mountain and the Town of Vail have worked side by side in organizing what we hope will be a memorable lineup of events, activities and celebrations for our guests and the entire community in honor of the 50th anniversary season,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “I invite everyone to join us in honoring the past, present and future generations of Vail on Saturday, Dec. 15 for the official public celebration and throughout the 2012-2013 season.”
Guests, locals and the entire Vail community can come together to help commemorate Vail’s 50th anniversary 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.
Check out all the details of Vail’s 50th anniversary celebration and Vail Snow Daze at www.vail.com/50th, and visit the Lionshead and Vail Village Welcome Centers for more information on Vail’s history and 50th anniversary.
For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, or stop by the Mountain Information Center in Lionshead 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.
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