SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Nov. 20, 2020 — Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort kicked off a successful start to the 2020-21 ski and ride season today. With a winter operating plan focused on comprehensive safety protocols, they were the first two Tahoe area ski resorts to open.
On Opening Day at Heavenly, skiers and riders had access to Patsy’s, Maggie’s and Ridge Run trails. The resort kicked off the season on a historic note, celebrating its 65th anniversary and opening the California-side of the resort for skiing and riding first for the first time in over a decade.
Northstar welcomed guests back with wide-open runs including Lumber Jack, Skid, Upper and Lower Main Street, Lower Lion’s Way, Easy Street, and Carpet Bowl trails. This season guests can enjoy a revamped version of an existing Kids Adventure Zone, located near Powder Bowl. The Powder Bowl location will have wood carved animals such as bears and pine martens located in the trees throughout the zone, with improvements also being made to the corridor.
Kirkwood is looking forward to opening on Dec. 4, weather and conditions permitting.
This season, safety takes on more importance than ever at Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and across all Vail Resorts mountains. A few of the key ways the resort is prioritizing safety this winter include:
- Face Coverings: Guests are required to wear a face covering in all aspects of the operation, including in line, while riding lifts and gondolas and in all facilities.
- Reservations: Reservations are required for all guests so that the resort can manage access and allow for physical distance.
- Sick? Stay Home: Anyone who is sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 must stay home. Please cancel any reservation to give other skiers and riders a chance to ski and ride.
- Re-Imagined Mountain Experience: New operating procedures are in place across the resort, including lift and gondola loading, in Ski School, F&B and rental locations.
- Cashless Transactions: For the best experience, book and pay online in advance.
- Follow State Guidelines: Know, follow and adhere to California’s COVID-19 measures https://covid19.ca.gov/
Guests are encouraged to visit SkiHeavenly.com, NorthstarCalifornia.com and Kirkwood.com for updates on winter operations and new safety procedures. Each resort will continue to expand and open terrain as conditions allow.
Opening Day and week-of reservations for Heavenly and Northstar began this week on Wednesday. Pass holders can make early-season reservations from Nov. 20-29 for Heavenly and Northstar. Priority Reservation Days for the core season (Dec. 8-April 4) for Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood are also available for pass holders. For more information and to make reservations, guests should visit EpicPass.com.
Following the State of California’s guidance for indoor dining, Heavenly and Northstar, the resorts had grab and go food options available for outdoor dining. Restrooms are open with limited capacity. Heavenly and Northstar encourage guests to bring their own water, food and snacks.
Early Season Conditions
Limited terrain and early season conditions exist. Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood require all skiers and riders to observe all posted signs and warnings. Closed trails may contain hazards due to limited natural snow coverage and snowmaking operations. For the safety of all guests, please keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
Epic Pass Provides Exclusive Early Season Access for Pass Holders
For skiers and riders who have not locked in their pass, now is the time. Lift tickets will be limited this season, so the best way for guests to access the mountains is with a pass. The Epic Pass, Tahoe Local Pass, Tahoe Value Pass and the entire suite of pass products, each providing unbeatable value, go off sale Sunday, Dec. 6. For the greatest value and access, guests should lock in their pass sooner than later. Prices increase Nov. 22, with the Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass both going up $100. Additionally, there are now three weeks left of the exclusive booking window for pass holders to lock in up to seven Priority Reservation Days for the core season before lift tickets go on sale Dec. 8.
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Media Note: Please click links for Heavenly and Northstar images and b-roll. Please include credit to the respective resort upon use of content.
Media Contacts: Russell Carlton, rcarlton@vailresorts.com, Joanna McWilliams, Jlmcwilliams@vailresorts.com, Susan Whitman, Sswhitman@vailresorts.com
About the #TahoeTrifecta: Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood
The #TahoeTrifecta offers skiers and riders three world-class resorts with more than 10,000 acres of terrain to explore and endless possibilities for on-mountain fun and incomparable après and dining options. All three resorts are located throughout the Lake Tahoe region, making multi-mountain ski trips accessible for travelers. Heavenly is the social Lake Tahoe mountain playground with truly inspiring beauty that spans two states (California and Nevada); Northstar is California’s relaxed luxury destination offering attentive focus on creating timeless moments and peace of mind for every guest, in a pristine setting with top-tier amenities; and Kirkwood is the California resort that provides a pure mountain escape with an authentic community of like-minded skiers and riders that make it their winter escape.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 37 destination mountain resorts and regional 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, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia; Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River in Ohio; Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri; Wilmot in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and Paoli Peaks in Indiana. 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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About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 37 destination mountain resorts and regional 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, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia; Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River in Ohio; Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri; Wilmot in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and Paoli Peaks in Indiana. 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.