Breckenridge, Colo. – July 21, 2017 – Breckenridge Ski Resort launched a new era of summer fun Friday with the grand opening of Epic Discovery at Alpine Camp. Guests were treated to a scenic ride up the Colorado SuperChair on Peak 8 for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The event marks the debut of Breck’s Gold Summit Climbing Wall, along with the resort’s observation tower and interpretive hiking loop.
Several dignitaries were on hand at the ceremony offering remarks to commemorate the opening:
- John Buhler, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Breckenridge Ski Resort
- Chris Jarnot, Executive Vice President of Mountain Division
- Donna Lynne, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
- Carlos Fernandez, Colorado State Director of The Nature Conservancy
- Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor of The White River National Forest
After the reception, guests were able to try their hand at scaling the Gold Summit Climbing Wall. The 35 foot tall climbing wall offers 13 distinct routes perfect for beginners to advanced climbers. “Epic Discovery at Breckenridge will provide a unique, on-mountain summer experience, immersing guests in activities which provide big-time thrills, allowing them to challenge themselves physically, and guiding them to explore and better understand their natural surroundings,” said John Buhler, vice president and chief operating officer of Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Also now open to the public, Epic Discovery’s interpretive trail with animal abilities and story stakes. The 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 provide photos, fun facts and interesting written descriptions to encourage a connection to the area while learning in a unique way.
Others attending the ceremony were among the first to take in panoramic views of the mountain and Summit County from Alpine Camp’s brand new observation tower. “What makes Colorado such a great place to live is the sense of community and that’s what this really represents, and it couldn’t happen here without the community spirit that we have here at Breckenridge,” said Donna Lynne Lieutenant Governor of Colorado.
An important part of Epic Discovery is Breck’s “One Percent for the Forest” program. The Nature Conservancy will invest one percent of Breck’s donated summer lift ticket and activity revenue into forest restoration projects on national forest lands. “We cannot do it alone. There are 24 million acres of forest in the State of Colorado. Six million of them really need our help and so we cannot do it unless an organization such as Vail Resorts and Breckenridge invite us to work together,” said Carlos Fernandez, Colorado State Director of The Nature Conservancy.
Epic Discovery’s new activities complement a variety of other popular attractions already open at the resort, including:
- Alpine Slide
- Gold Runner Alpine Coaster
- Silver Summit Climbing Wall
- Bungee Trampoline
- Gemstone Panning
- Ripperoo’s Bounce House\
- Mineshaft Maze
- Mini Golf
- Tom’s Nugget Tubing*
- Lil’ Climber Ropes Course*
- Little Flyer Zipline*
- *For guests 30-100lbs
These new offerings, paired with the existing favorites, will make Epic Discovery at Breckenridge a must-do for anyone visiting the historic mountain town this summer. Summer operations run daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Sept. 4, 2017 with an additional weekend, Sept. 8-10, 2017.
Complete details about Epic Discovery at Breckenridge, online ticket sales, lodging deals and more can be found at www.breckenridge.com
About Breckenridge Ski Resort
With five huge peaks, 2,908 acres, four terrain parks, a 22ft Superpipe, 11 bowls, the highest chairlift in North America, family-friendly terrain and a world-class ski school, all situated above an authentic, hip mountain town with awe-inspiring views, there are good reasons why “Breck” is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Western Hemisphere. Renowned for the welcoming spirit and friendly character of its locals, with over 200 restaurants, bars, and shops, and numerous year-round activities and events, Breck embodies more than just a destination, it inspires a way of life. www.breckenridge.com.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 11 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; Stowe in Vermont; 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.