VAIL, Colo. – Jan. 2, 2019 – Beginning Friday, Jan. 4, Vail Mountain and the Town of Vail will celebrate the unique history of its founders with the 10th Mountain Legacy Parade.
On select Friday evenings (Jan. 4 and 18, Feb. 15, and March 8) in Vail Village, guests are invited to watch skiers dressed in traditional 10th Mountain Division Ski Trooper uniforms perform a Torchlight Ski Down to the base of Gondola One, followed by a parade of military veterans, also in traditional uniform, marching from Gondola One down Bridge Street, across the Covered Bridge and finishing at the 10th Mountain statue. The side of Vail Mountain will be illuminated with the 10th Mountain Division logo, and the celebration will feature a film on the history and legacy of Vail projected at the base of Gondola One and animated with fireworks. Vail’s newly-renovated Colorado Snowsports Museum will stay open after the parade for guests to visit and learn about Colorado’s ski history through the new 10th Mountain Division exhibit-- the most comprehensive of its kind in the world--and a showing of the film "Climb to Glory."
“The 10th Mountain Legacy Parade brings history to life and pays homage to the founders of Vail and those that have represented our country,” said Doug Lovell, chief operating officer at Vail. “This event is an example of the partnership between the town and the resort and how we can work together to bring the past into the present.”
Each 10th Mountain Legacy Parade will begin at 6 p.m. EpicMix Photographers will be available to take pictures of guests with the soldiers and commemorative Legacy of Vail pins and hot chocolate will be offered, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Vail’s 10th Mountain History
During World War II, the United States Army created a training center just south of the Vail Valley called Camp Hale, where the 10th Mountain Division trained for alpine combat. Made up of excellent skiers and mountaineers, soldiers of the 10th fought in mountainous Northern Italy. Upon return, many of them became major players in the quickly growing American ski industry, founding or working at more than 50 resorts in the U.S.
Pete Seibert, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, along with Earl Eaton, who worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Glenwood Springs, first climbed Vail Mountain during the winter of 1957 and looked down at the future Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls. They both agreed it would be the perfect ski area, and thus, Vail was born.
Vail’s pioneering spirit and core value of service to others are rooted in the legacy of its founders. The 10th Mountain Legacy Parades will honor that legacy and welcome Vail guests to learn more about the rich history of Vail.
About Vail Mountain
Under blue skies more than 300 days each year, Vail is the world’s premier mountain resort. The year-round alpine destination delivers a superior, seamless experience for every guest, from the vast terrain and natural grandeur of the surrounding Gore and Sawatch Ranges to world-class events, shops and spas, and the abundant culinary options and luxurious accommodations that line the pedestrian-friendly streets of Vail and Lionshead Villages. Vail offers more than 5,200 acres of developed ski and snowboard terrain including seven limitless Back Bowls in winter, and flourishing with new summer activities after the debut of Epic Discovery in 2016. Coupled with the enduring spirit of innovation inherent in Vail’s founders, and a timeless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail is like nothing on earth.
###
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 15 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte 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; Stowe and Okemo in Vermont; Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; 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.
Contact(s)
Hannah Dixon
Senior Communications Specialist
Email: HLDixon@vailresorts.com
Sally Gunter
Senior Communications Manager
Email: sgunter@vailresorts.com
Phone: 9707543001