Afton Alps Unveils New Options to Ski Locally and Go West
- The New Epic 4-Day Pass Gives Skiers and Riders Four Days in Colorado, Utah or Lake Tahoe, and Four Free Days at Afton Alps
- New Family Pass Saves Families of Three or More at Least 20 Percent
- New Nighttime College Pass Removes Excuses to Cut Class
- Epic Local Pass Features Unlimited Skiing and Riding at Afton Alps and a Trip Out West for $549
AFTON ALPS, MINN.– Mar. 7, 2014 – Afton Alps announced its 2014-15 season pass line-up today, featuring a new pass combining four days out West and four free days locally, a new family product, a new night pass for college students and the same ability to ski Afton Alps as much and as often as desired, as well as Vail Resorts’ eight world-class western resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe. For as little as $49 down, Minnesota’s die-hard skiers and riders can lock in the lowest guaranteed prices for the region’s best season pass deals before Apr. 13, 2014.
“With $10 million in resort improvements, more consistent snow conditions and exciting events, we provided our pass holders with unparalleled value in the region,” said Kirsten Lynch, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “This year, our new season pass products are designed to allow Minnesota skiers and riders to access Afton Alps and our resorts in Colorado, Utah and Lake Tahoe in the way that works best for them.”
The new Epic 4-Day Pass ($369 adult) offers skiers and riders four days out West at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwoodat Lake Tahoe, and four free days locally at Afton Alps. It allows skiers and riders who traditionally take a ski trip out West to get four free bonus days locally.
Because family is such an important part of Minnesota ski culture, Afton Alps is offering its standard Afton Alps-only pass in family form this season. New this year, the Afton Alps Family Pass will be available to families of three or more ($889 for three family members and $1,099 for four), allowing families to save up to $575 for a family of four (based on two adults and two teens). The savings increase with the more family members you add (immediate family members only).
With its new terrain parks designed by Winter X Games builder Snow Park Technologies, Afton Alps has become the place to be for area collegians. The new Afton Alps College Night Pass ($149) allows unrestricted, unlimited use at Afton Alps after 3 p.m. Parents of area college students love this option because it removes any excuses for missed classes. To qualify for this pass, students must show proof of 12 undergraduate credit hours, or six graduate credit hours for the 2014-15 school year.
For $549, skiers and riders who can navigate a few restrictions out West can purchase the Epic Local Pass. The Epic Local Pass offers unlimited and unrestricted skiing at Afton Alps, as well as at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with some limited restrictions at Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. The pass also includes a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. A teen rate is offered at $429 and for children ages 5-12, the pass is$279. A discounted rate is also offered for college students at $499 (same proof required).
“Our kids (ages 11, 10 and five) practically live at Afton Alps and the Epic Local Pass is such a perfect option for us,” said Julie Windschitl, a local who has taken two trips to Vail and Breckenridge this season with her family of five. “We moved to the area last year and never would have thought of taking a trip out West, but the Epic Local made it so convenient. Those resorts are so family friendly and you save so much money buying ahead of time. We use our buddy passes to bring friends, and next year we’re going to take an even bigger trip!”
For $729 (adult), Epic Pass holders have the opportunity to experience unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at Afton Alps, as well as the best of the rest of the U.S., including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe; and now five complimentary consecutive days at Niseko, Japan, for the 2014-2015 winter season. The Epic Pass continues to offer the best value in the snow sports industry, with access to 28,400 skiable acres and 26,556 vertical feet in the best resorts in the U.S., as well as complimentary access across multiple continents.
For those who plan to ski or ride solely at Afton Alps, there is the Afton Alps Pass. At $419, pass holders receive unlimited access to Afton Alps with no restrictions.A discounted rate is also offered for seniors at $279 and college students for $269 (same proof required). The child pass is the Epic Local Child Pass at $279.
Special spring benefits for those guests who purchase prior to April 13 include:
· $49 payment option
· Six Buddy Tickets (Rates vary per resort. Excludes the Epic 7-Day and the Epic 4-Day)
· Free April 2015 Vail and Beaver Creek skiing (Epic Local Pass only)
Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase pass insurance. All of its pass products are non-refundable and non-transferrable; however, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Pass insurance is $20 for adults and $10 for children (ages 5-12). Coverage applies for all season passes valid for the 2014-2015 winter season. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.
About Afton Alps
For 50 years, Afton Alps has delighted the Twin Cities’ families as one of the Midwest’s premier winter destinations. Nestled in the scenic St. Croix River Valley just outside Minneapolis and St. Paul, this sprawling resort poured $10 million this fall 2013 into re-imagining the guest experience with rennovated base area facilities, a powerful state-of-the-art snowmaking system and a new cutting edge terrain park.
With nearly 300 skiable acres, 50 trails, 18 lifts and four terrain parks, there is enough terrain to challenge experts to beginners, day or night.
Accessible, affordable and fun, this big-time resort with a small-town feel has converted thousands of first-timers into lifelong skiers and riders, and now with the opportunity to take that passion to Vail Resorts’ iconic western mountains, Afton Alps is truly the place where Epic begins. For more information, please visit www.aftonalps.com.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
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; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; 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.