Epic Discovery Debuts at Breckenridge This Summer
- New on-mountain summer experiences debut with Epic Discovery at Breckenridge combined with existing activities, will connect all ages with the national forests in an active, fun and engaging way
- Epic Discovery enters its second year at Vail Mountain where kids can now ride the gondola for free this summer and at Heavenly Mountain where guests can experience a brand-new zip line tour
- Images are available for editorial use only at https://vailresorts.box.com/v/epicdiscovery
Breckenridge, Colo. – May 10, 2017 – This summer, Breckenridge Ski Resort will begin a new era in its summer offerings for guests with the debut of Epic Discovery, June 9, 2017. Guests will take in some of the best views in North America as they zip, coast, tour, slide, and hike their way around the iconic mountain resort.
Epic Discovery at Breckenridge will provide a unique, on-mountain summer experience, immersing guests in activities which provide big-time thrills; allow them to challenge themselves physically; guide them to explore and better understand their natural surroundings; connect them to the unique history of the town, and ultimately, create lifelong memories.
“The debut of Epic Discovery at Breckenridge marks a completely unique way to explore while interacting with Breck’s incredible mountain environment,” said John Buhler, vice president and chief operating officer of Breckenridge Ski Resort. “Epic Discovery’s exhilarating zip tours, challenge courses, wildlife trail exploration, and interactive ‘learn-through-play’ activities will welcome guests with a whole new aspect of summer fun on the mountain, for which Breck is renowned.”
In addition to the launch of Epic Discovery, summer visitors will continue to enjoy Breck’s famous Alpine SuperSlide, the Gold Runner Coaster and Breck Flyer Zip Line.
Epic Discovery launched at Vail Mountain and Heavenly Mountain Resort last summer. Visitors to Vail Mountain this summer will benefit from the new Kids Ride Free gondola ride program, and Heavenly will debut a new zip line tour experience in late June, inviting guests to fly over the waters of East Peak Lake.
Vail Resorts’ Epic Discovery experiences represent leading innovations for summer recreation in the mountains, and collaborative partnership with the U.S. Forest Service through the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act.
“We wanted to partner with the U.S. Forest Service to create an experience that’s truly unique,” added Hans Vollrath, senior director of summer business for Vail Resorts. “Epic Discovery offers guests an authentic connection to Breck’s beautiful mountain environment by balancing fun, experiential activities and education.”
Epic Discovery will complement the eco-discovery experiences across the mountain with educational content. Subsequently, Vail Resorts will utilize its new “1% For The Forest” program to contribute one percent of all summer lift ticket and activity revenue to The Nature Conservancy, a leading non-profit conservation organization, for forest restoration projects on national forest lands.
The following Epic Discovery experiences will debut at Breckenridge Ski Resort this summer:
- Expedition Zip Line Tour on Peak 7 – Guests will spend two hours exploring the Peak 7 Ore Bucket area of Breckenridge Ski Resort by air; navigating over a mile on eight zip lines between 10 towers and a 200 foot long aerial bridge walk with stunning views of Summit County.
- Alpineer Challenge Course – Just steps away from the top of the Colorado SuperChair area at the base of Horseshoe Bowl, teens and adults will be able to pick their own paths through 16 different challenges from lightly swinging logs to shoe-to-rope balancing maneuvers. The one-of-a-kind course blends in with the surrounding environment of the new Alpine Camp and offers shade for those who want to observe the fun.
- Interpretive Trail with Animal Abilities and Story Stakes – This new 0.75 mile hiking loop takes guests on a journey of learning about Breck’s high-alpine environment, including animals, flora and fauna, mountain wetlands, impacts of the gold rush and additional history of the area. Story Stakes along the loop will provide photos, fun facts and interesting written descriptions to encourage a connection to the area while learning in a unique way.
- Gold Summit Climbing Wall – All ability levels will love testing their skills on the different routes on the new permanent rock climbing wall at the top of the Colorado SuperChair. The 35 foot tall climbing wall, with 13 distinct routes is perfect for beginners to advanced climbers.
Complete details about Epic Discovery at Breckenridge, online ticket sales, lodging deals and more can be found at www.breckenridge.com
Vail Mountain Announces Kids Ride Free Gondola Rides this Summer
Vail Mountain enters its second summer of Epic Discovery with free gondola rides for kids and a new climbing wall when Vail opens on June 2, 2017.
New this summer, children 12-and-under can ride the Vail Mountain gondola free with the purchase of an adult ticket, allowing the entire family a chance to experience panoramic views of the Vail Valley and the legendary Gore Mountain Range through a scenic gondola ride. For each paying adult, one child, 12-and-under, will be given a complimentary ticket to access the mountain, where adventure awaits.
Also debuting at Vail this summer is a new 36-foot-high permanent rock climbing wall, the second-tallest, permanent outdoor climbing wall in Colorado. Guests can choose between 18 routes of varying difficulties to reach the top. The new rock climbing wall is the latest summer activity offered as part of Epic Discovery, which debuted in summer 2016 and includes activities such as an alpine coaster, ropes courses, zip lines, tubing, educational nature hikes and more.
For ease of purchase, guests now have the ability to select summer products online, which includes the introduction of individual activity tickets. This effort provides guests with the flexibility and choice between unlimited access through pass products, or the option to try specific activities at an independent activity cost. Visit Vail.com for more information.
Heavenly Mountain Resort Announces New East Peak (Silver Rush) Zip Line this Summer
Heavenly Mountain Resort enters its second summer of Epic Discovery beginning May 27-29 for sightseeing and then in mid-June for activities, including an all-new thrilling zip line tour.
Heavenly’s Epic Discovery’s newest addition, the 4,159-foot East Peak Silver Rush Zip Line, will take guests from tree-to-tree at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. Overlooking the high desert of the Carson Valley, the last zip line allows guests to fly over the waters of East Peak Lake, concluding with an ATV ride back to the top of the Gondola. The three-hour long, intimate experience is just one of the many activities happening at Heavenly’s Epic Discovery this summer.
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About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate ten world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development 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.
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