Vail Resorts Commits $85 Million in Resort Improvements for 2014-2015
Vail Resorts will invest approximately $85 million in resort improvements this winter to elevate the guest experience, which brings its five-year resort investment total to $492 million. Improvements will include multiple express chairlifts and restaurants, significant renovations at the Lodge at Vail, A RockResort, and snowmaking upgrades.
Park City Mountain is Now Epic
Vail Resorts has acquired Park City Mountain in Park City, Utah. The iconic mountain resort now joins the Epic Pass, expanding the collection of legendary mountains offered on the industry-leading season pass to 22 resorts and more than 32,000 acres of the best skiing and riding in the world. In addition to the Epic Pass, Park City Mountain will also be included on the Epic Local Pass, Epic 7-Day Pass and Epic 4-Day Pass offering skiers and riders the best value and greatest flexibility in Utah.
Vail Resorts to Invest an Unprecedented $50 million in Park City in One Season
Vail Resorts has announced planned upgrades to Park City Mountain for the 2015-2016 ski season. The plan, which totals over $50 million, is one of the most ambitious and impactful capital programs in U.S. ski industry history and will transform the guest experience at Park City Mountain Resort. The plan would establish the connection between Park City Mountain and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, and complete a number of critical upgrades to the infrastructure of both resorts.
Vail Resorts Launches Initiative to Make Skiing and Snowboarding More Accessible to Women
New this season, Vail Resorts has launched a new company initiative to increase women’s participation in skiing and snowboarding. Over the course of the 2013-14 ski season, Vail Resorts conducted research with female guests, at resorts and online, to better understand the barriers to the ski experience for women. As a result of this research, the company has launched new women’s specific programming and ski school offerings. Vail Resorts is looking forward to continuing to expand the initiative going forward.
Make the World Your Mountain with the Epic Pass
The Epic Pass continues to be the best value and most popular lift product in the industry. It pays for itself in just over five days of skiing and riding with unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts is also pleased to announce a new partnership with one of the snowiest and most celebrated powder skiing resorts in the world – Niseko, Japan – as well as continued partnerships with Verbier, Switzerland and Les 3 Vallées, France. The Epic Pass includes five free consecutive days at Niseko, Japan, as well as up to five free consecutive days at both Les 3 Vallées, France and Verbier, Switzerland. EpicPass.com
EpicDay Lift Tickets
With the implementation of a new mobile ticket platform, guests will now have the ability to purchase daily lift tickets online and on their mobile devices up to the same day they’ll be enjoying the mountain at the guaranteed lowest price – as much as 25 percent off the lead rate for Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton. Translation – bypass the normal ticket window and get on the mountain faster than ever! Existing hard card lift passes may be instantly reloaded, allowing skiers and riders to head right to the lift. For guests who need a new hard card, an express lane will be available at ticket windows for added convenience. A few more tips to save time and money on skiing and snowboarding:
EpicMix Guide is the fifth generation of the groundbreaking and award-winning EpicMix application, following the introductions of EpicMix Photo, EpicMix Racing and EpicMix Academy. EpicMix Guide will re-imagine how skiers and snowboarders maximize their time on the mountain by using guest input to generate a customized, step-by-step navigational guide to experience Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge or Keystone in Colorado, Canyons in Utah, or Heavenly, Northstar or Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe like a long-time local. Guests will have the ability to log into any one of the various EpicMix channels (app, mobile web, desktop) and answer a variety of questions including: desired resort, starting location at the resort, terrain difficulty desired, and length of time available. EpicMix Guide then pours over 350 possible itineraries to automatically generate the optimal route for that guest on that day. The EpicMix development team sought the insider knowledge of each resort’s most experienced Ski and Ride School instructors to build itineraries which would let guests explore each mountain in a unique way that is appropriate for the corresponding skill level. Once an itinerary is completed, skiers and riders can share their itinerary, along with photos and other stats about their day, on social media through Facebook and Twitter.
2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships | Dream It. Live It. Share It.
The clock is ticking down to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships at Vail and Beaver Creek. The World Championships represents the largest and most impressive collection of ski racing talent in the world, second only to the Olympics, with approximately 700 athletes from more than 70 nations. Beaver Creek will host the majority of the competition – all of which is free to spectators – while Vail is set to serve as the official hub of the ceremonies and nightly festival events – concerts, parties, art and culinary features – from Feb. 2 through 15. Experience the World Championships at home in the United States and see the world’s best ski racers in action while enjoying thousands of acres of terrain and the Vail and Beaver Creek experience that guests have come to expect and love. VailBeaverCreek2015.com
Investments That Will Outlive the 2015 World Championships
Long before the bid for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships was won, there’s been a tremendous commitment to excellence and investment in the guest experience both on and off the mountain at Vail and Beaver Creek. At Vail, six lift upgrades in just six years; a new on-mountain fine dining restaurant; improvements to snowmaking capabilities, countless base developments like The Arrabelle at Vail Square, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, Four Seasons Vail, Sebastian and Solaris; and of course the un-matched terrain including the legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. At Beaver Creek, recent improvements include a new high speed quad chairlift, 17 new acres of terrain that is also part of the new Raptor ladies’ speed course, snowmaking improvements, Talons Restaurant, which will serve as the press center for the World Cup and the World Championships, and a new combination chairlift currently being installed. Unlike other major sporting events, the major infrastructure needed to host the 2015 FIS Alpine World Championships has been well in place, ready to welcome the world and prepared to be enjoyed by millions for years to come.
The Lodge at Vail Receives a Major Facelift
Vail’s landmark hotel, The Lodge at Vail, A RockResort, will undergo significant renovations this fall to debut for the 2014-2015 winter season. The property’s unrivaled Vail Village location, just steps from Gondola One, as well as its alpine chalet charm and impeccable service, have made it a favorite among visitors for years. The transformation will bring the iconic hotel to the forefront of Vail’s evolution, providing guests with modern comfort and chic décor. Fifty-six hotel rooms will be completely renovated, including interior finishes, furnishings, soft goods, lighting and the installation of air conditioning. The hotel’s corridors, main stairways and lobby will also receive upgrades while maintaining the authentic character and cozy ambiance for which the hotel is known. This comes on the heels of a major renovation to Pool One last summer, as well as the addition of a new RockResorts Spa and fitness center in 2008. LodgeatVail.RockResorts.com.
New Beaver Creek Combination Lift
Beaver Creek is replacing the Centennial Express Lift with a new high-speed, state-of-the-art combination lift for the 2014-2015 ski season and the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The first-ever configuration of its kind and the longest-ever installed by Doppelmayr, Beaver Creek’s unique combination lift includes a series of six-passenger chairs alternating with 10-person gondola cabins. Skiers and snowboarders will have the option of riding on the chairlift or in a gondola cabin, serviced by two different lines. The chairs will be accessed by a moving conveyor. The combination lift is considered to be a significant benefit to beginners, and kids, particularly those engaged in ski school lessons, thanks to the loading and unloading ease of the gondola cabins. The new uphill carrying capacity will be 3,400 people per hour, an increase of 35 percent.
State-of-the-Art Snowmaking Upgrades at Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek’s state-of-the-art snowmaking system, which encompasses 650 acres of terrain across the resort, will receive a boost for the 2014-2015 season with the investment into 24 new fully-automated snowmaking guns on Gold Dust trail, providing trail refresh options throughout the season. By refreshing its snow surface several nights a week in the heart of the season, guests are guaranteed that regardless of Mother Nature, there will always be one trail with fresh snow. Lower Larkspur trail will benefit from the addition of 10 new automated snowmaking guns dedicated to building snow depth earlier than normal, thus allowing Larkspur Bowl to open in a timely fashion and the snow will last longer into the spring. Both snowmaking projects will ensure a great snow surface for resort guests all season.
Breckenridge Colorado Super Chair and Peak 9 Restaurant Renovation
On the heels of launching Peak 6 last season, the ski industry’s most significant terrain expansion in the last decade, upgrading the Colorado Super Chair from a quad express to a six-passenger express will provide a 30 percent increase in capacity for Peak 8’s primary and most-used lift. It will help disperse skiers to the surrounding peaks and provides a faster route from Peaks 6 and 7 to Peak 9, where an entire interior remodel of the existing Peak 9 restaurant, along with a new kitchen will provide a warm, welcoming, high-quality guest experience at the resort’s most scenic dining location, sitting at 11,274 feet.
The Peak 6 Expansion Is Open
Last season, Breckenridge Ski Resort added over 540 acres to its famous landscape via the Peak 6 are just north of Peak 7. Peak 6 includes 400 acres of lift-served terrain and 143 acres of hike-to terrain, representing a 23 percent increase in resort’s skiable acres. Peak 6 features high-alpine, intermediate bowl skiing – a rare find in North America.
2014 Dew Tour Returns for the 7th Consecutive Year in Breck, Dec. 11-14, 2014
The culmination of the 2014 Dew Tour will once again take place in Breckenridge, Colo. with four days of snowboard and freeski competitions, as well as live concerts and the interactive Dew Tour Experience, featuring athlete meet and greets, games, and giveaways.
Kids Ski Free Is Back at Keystone
Keystone Resort has long been a place where kids rule; from specialty family-friendly après offerings to mountaintop snow forts, the resort is a winter wonderland that allows kids and parents alike to truly enjoy their well-earned vacation time together. For the 2014-2015 ski season the resort continues its dedication to providing great value to families of all sizes with the world’s simplest Kids Ski Free offer, now in its third season. Every day, all season, children 12 and under will ski/snowboard for free at Keystone. As simple as childhood itself, Keystone’s Kids Ski Free program removes the red tape and fine print, has no blackout dates and is available on all weekends and holidays, a rarity in the ski industry. To qualify children must stay two or more nights in one of Keystone’s numerous accommodation options, which span from luxury hotel rooms to cozy ski-in/ski-out condominiums. In just its first two seasons, the incredibly successful program has provided more than 60,000 Kids Ski Free tickets; proof that when it comes to family, Keystone is at the top of the game.
One of a Kind Family Fun
Kids won’t just ski free at Keystone, they’ll enjoy a mountain experience designed to ignite their imagination and provide little touches that make a big difference. The resort’s daily Kidtopia programming is back for a fourth season with special events and activities for the whole family including the World’s Largest Snowfort at 11,444’. The first-ever Family Ski Trail, introduced last season, is back with more terrain to cruise, the opportunity for kids of all ages to ski and ride with Keystone’s friendly mascot, Riperoo, family photo ops with EpicMix Photo and special appearances by the resort’s avalanche dogs. Camp Keystone, the resort’s unique ski school offering will introduce a new indoor/outdoor slide, a one-of-a-kind way for kids to begin their day on the snow, while post-snow fun at kids après parties are a well-deserved treat (and big kids can partake in Colorado brews and the resort’s mug club). A kid-only PJ party brunch offering, mountaintop fondue dining and sleigh ride dinners even make meal time memorable at Keystone. Plus, with a treasure chest at check-in, red wagons to haul gear (and tired little ones), daily cookie hour and front row family parking, Keystone pulls out all the stops when it comes to a hassle-free family vacation experience.
Newly Re-Designed Cloud Dine Restaurant atop Canyons
Construction is underway on the new Cloud Dine building atop Dream Peak. Cloud Dine is one of Canyons’ most popular on-mountain dining locations, offering a fresh menu of items including made-to-order salads, homemade flat bread pizzas, and specialty sandwiches. Vail Resorts is replacing the temporary Cloud Dine structure with a permanent, 316-seat restaurant, a 41 percent increase in seating capacity. Restrooms and the kitchen area will be expanded. Cloud Dine is scheduled to open Dec. 1.
Largest Resort in Utah
Canyons is Utah’s largest and most dynamic ski and snowboard resort. With nine mountains, 183 trails, 4,000 skiable acres, world-class lodging and award-winning dining it’s no wonder that Canyons was ranked the #4 resort in North America by Outside Magazine, and ranks in the Top 10 in SKI Magazine annual reader rankings. If our terrain isn’t enough, Canyons offers the only resort-based heli-skiing in Park City through Wasatch Powderbirds to access the deepest powder in the Wasatch Mountains.
Unbuckle at Tamarack
Unbuckle at Tamarack, rated as the No. 1 après ski party in North America by Forbes and confirmed by CNN Travel, is Lake Tahoe's highest elevation après ski party featuring music, drinking, dancing and the lovely Heavenly Angels – ripping skiers by day and go-go dancers when the sun dips below the Sierras. Après takes place daily from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. with half-priced drinks and food specials and, exclusively on, Fridays and Saturdays, a live DJ (including special guest DJs), the Heavenly Angels, giveaways and lots of dancing. So, unbuckle those ski boots and snowboard bindings and take your après game to the next level!
DJ Cat
Heavenly upped the ante in December 2013 by partnering with Aaron Hagar to retrofit a retired grooming machine into a custom-built mobile DJ station, complete with 52 high-output speakers, provided by Kicker Audio, and 1,200 watts of power. Three remote control actuators slowly open the walls and roof of the DJ cat to reveal lights, speakers, and a 52” LCD screen, all clustered around a state-of-the-art DJ podium. This DJ cat brings the party to skiers and riders on the mountain.
“Go All In” After Hours at Heavenly
Party and stay like a rock star at Tahoe’s newest property, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe. Scheduled to open during the 2014-2015 winter season, the world-famous Hard Rock will feature a 25,000 square foot casino with 539 rooms, multiple restaurants and bars and live entertainment both indoors and out. If relaxing on your private lakeside balcony is more aligned with how you go “all in,” head to The Landing Resort & Spa, Lake Tahoe’s only 5-star boutique lakeside resort. You’ll appreciate the new hotel's thoughtful amenities, lively personality, restorative spa packages and contemporary European design. In addition to the new world-class lodging options, a stunning new shopping area, The Chateau, is scheduled to open fall 2014. The center will feature boutique shops, restaurants and bars directly across the street from Heavenly Village.
Expedition: Kirkwood
For the adventurous, thrill-seeker types, Expedition: Kirkwood provides a level of education and training that goes beyond the typical ski school experience. Expedition: Kirkwood, rated as Men’s Journal’s top black-diamond ski school program, provides avalanche certification courses, women’s specific programs, beacon training, powder cat tours, private guides, specialty ski and board clinics, a Junior Expedition Team program (JETS), and progression sessions in some of the most extreme in-bounds terrain in North America. Featuring the West Coast’s largest avalanche awareness and backcountry certification program, Expedition: Kirkwood provides expert skiers and riders with a unique backcountry experience while still upholding the highest standards of safety that Vail Resorts is known for.
Vail Resorts will invest approximately $85 million in resort improvements this winter to elevate the guest experience, which brings its five-year resort investment total to $492 million. Improvements will include multiple express chairlifts and restaurants, significant renovations at the Lodge at Vail, A RockResort, and snowmaking upgrades.
Park City Mountain is Now Epic
Vail Resorts has acquired Park City Mountain in Park City, Utah. The iconic mountain resort now joins the Epic Pass, expanding the collection of legendary mountains offered on the industry-leading season pass to 22 resorts and more than 32,000 acres of the best skiing and riding in the world. In addition to the Epic Pass, Park City Mountain will also be included on the Epic Local Pass, Epic 7-Day Pass and Epic 4-Day Pass offering skiers and riders the best value and greatest flexibility in Utah.
Vail Resorts to Invest an Unprecedented $50 million in Park City in One Season
Vail Resorts has announced planned upgrades to Park City Mountain for the 2015-2016 ski season. The plan, which totals over $50 million, is one of the most ambitious and impactful capital programs in U.S. ski industry history and will transform the guest experience at Park City Mountain Resort. The plan would establish the connection between Park City Mountain and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, and complete a number of critical upgrades to the infrastructure of both resorts.
Vail Resorts Launches Initiative to Make Skiing and Snowboarding More Accessible to Women
New this season, Vail Resorts has launched a new company initiative to increase women’s participation in skiing and snowboarding. Over the course of the 2013-14 ski season, Vail Resorts conducted research with female guests, at resorts and online, to better understand the barriers to the ski experience for women. As a result of this research, the company has launched new women’s specific programming and ski school offerings. Vail Resorts is looking forward to continuing to expand the initiative going forward.
Make the World Your Mountain with the Epic Pass
The Epic Pass continues to be the best value and most popular lift product in the industry. It pays for itself in just over five days of skiing and riding with unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts is also pleased to announce a new partnership with one of the snowiest and most celebrated powder skiing resorts in the world – Niseko, Japan – as well as continued partnerships with Verbier, Switzerland and Les 3 Vallées, France. The Epic Pass includes five free consecutive days at Niseko, Japan, as well as up to five free consecutive days at both Les 3 Vallées, France and Verbier, Switzerland. EpicPass.com
EpicDay Lift Tickets
With the implementation of a new mobile ticket platform, guests will now have the ability to purchase daily lift tickets online and on their mobile devices up to the same day they’ll be enjoying the mountain at the guaranteed lowest price – as much as 25 percent off the lead rate for Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton. Translation – bypass the normal ticket window and get on the mountain faster than ever! Existing hard card lift passes may be instantly reloaded, allowing skiers and riders to head right to the lift. For guests who need a new hard card, an express lane will be available at ticket windows for added convenience. A few more tips to save time and money on skiing and snowboarding:
- More savings are available to guests who purchase multi-day tickets.
- Lift tickets purchased at least seven days in advance are not only guaranteed the lowest price but will also be shipped to your home so you can head straight to the lift when they arrive at the resort.
- Lift tickets purchased within seven days of arrival can be picked up at any ticket office EpicDay Express Ticket Pick-Up lane, allowing guests to avoid ticket lines.
- Using the new mobile platform, guests can purchase an EpicDay Lift Ticket upon arrival at the resort, bypassing any ticket lines and going straight to the EpicDay Express Ticket Pick-Up lane.
EpicMix Guide is the fifth generation of the groundbreaking and award-winning EpicMix application, following the introductions of EpicMix Photo, EpicMix Racing and EpicMix Academy. EpicMix Guide will re-imagine how skiers and snowboarders maximize their time on the mountain by using guest input to generate a customized, step-by-step navigational guide to experience Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge or Keystone in Colorado, Canyons in Utah, or Heavenly, Northstar or Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe like a long-time local. Guests will have the ability to log into any one of the various EpicMix channels (app, mobile web, desktop) and answer a variety of questions including: desired resort, starting location at the resort, terrain difficulty desired, and length of time available. EpicMix Guide then pours over 350 possible itineraries to automatically generate the optimal route for that guest on that day. The EpicMix development team sought the insider knowledge of each resort’s most experienced Ski and Ride School instructors to build itineraries which would let guests explore each mountain in a unique way that is appropriate for the corresponding skill level. Once an itinerary is completed, skiers and riders can share their itinerary, along with photos and other stats about their day, on social media through Facebook and Twitter.
2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships | Dream It. Live It. Share It.
The clock is ticking down to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships at Vail and Beaver Creek. The World Championships represents the largest and most impressive collection of ski racing talent in the world, second only to the Olympics, with approximately 700 athletes from more than 70 nations. Beaver Creek will host the majority of the competition – all of which is free to spectators – while Vail is set to serve as the official hub of the ceremonies and nightly festival events – concerts, parties, art and culinary features – from Feb. 2 through 15. Experience the World Championships at home in the United States and see the world’s best ski racers in action while enjoying thousands of acres of terrain and the Vail and Beaver Creek experience that guests have come to expect and love. VailBeaverCreek2015.com
Investments That Will Outlive the 2015 World Championships
Long before the bid for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships was won, there’s been a tremendous commitment to excellence and investment in the guest experience both on and off the mountain at Vail and Beaver Creek. At Vail, six lift upgrades in just six years; a new on-mountain fine dining restaurant; improvements to snowmaking capabilities, countless base developments like The Arrabelle at Vail Square, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, Four Seasons Vail, Sebastian and Solaris; and of course the un-matched terrain including the legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. At Beaver Creek, recent improvements include a new high speed quad chairlift, 17 new acres of terrain that is also part of the new Raptor ladies’ speed course, snowmaking improvements, Talons Restaurant, which will serve as the press center for the World Cup and the World Championships, and a new combination chairlift currently being installed. Unlike other major sporting events, the major infrastructure needed to host the 2015 FIS Alpine World Championships has been well in place, ready to welcome the world and prepared to be enjoyed by millions for years to come.
The Lodge at Vail Receives a Major Facelift
Vail’s landmark hotel, The Lodge at Vail, A RockResort, will undergo significant renovations this fall to debut for the 2014-2015 winter season. The property’s unrivaled Vail Village location, just steps from Gondola One, as well as its alpine chalet charm and impeccable service, have made it a favorite among visitors for years. The transformation will bring the iconic hotel to the forefront of Vail’s evolution, providing guests with modern comfort and chic décor. Fifty-six hotel rooms will be completely renovated, including interior finishes, furnishings, soft goods, lighting and the installation of air conditioning. The hotel’s corridors, main stairways and lobby will also receive upgrades while maintaining the authentic character and cozy ambiance for which the hotel is known. This comes on the heels of a major renovation to Pool One last summer, as well as the addition of a new RockResorts Spa and fitness center in 2008. LodgeatVail.RockResorts.com.
New Beaver Creek Combination Lift
Beaver Creek is replacing the Centennial Express Lift with a new high-speed, state-of-the-art combination lift for the 2014-2015 ski season and the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The first-ever configuration of its kind and the longest-ever installed by Doppelmayr, Beaver Creek’s unique combination lift includes a series of six-passenger chairs alternating with 10-person gondola cabins. Skiers and snowboarders will have the option of riding on the chairlift or in a gondola cabin, serviced by two different lines. The chairs will be accessed by a moving conveyor. The combination lift is considered to be a significant benefit to beginners, and kids, particularly those engaged in ski school lessons, thanks to the loading and unloading ease of the gondola cabins. The new uphill carrying capacity will be 3,400 people per hour, an increase of 35 percent.
State-of-the-Art Snowmaking Upgrades at Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek’s state-of-the-art snowmaking system, which encompasses 650 acres of terrain across the resort, will receive a boost for the 2014-2015 season with the investment into 24 new fully-automated snowmaking guns on Gold Dust trail, providing trail refresh options throughout the season. By refreshing its snow surface several nights a week in the heart of the season, guests are guaranteed that regardless of Mother Nature, there will always be one trail with fresh snow. Lower Larkspur trail will benefit from the addition of 10 new automated snowmaking guns dedicated to building snow depth earlier than normal, thus allowing Larkspur Bowl to open in a timely fashion and the snow will last longer into the spring. Both snowmaking projects will ensure a great snow surface for resort guests all season.
Breckenridge Colorado Super Chair and Peak 9 Restaurant Renovation
On the heels of launching Peak 6 last season, the ski industry’s most significant terrain expansion in the last decade, upgrading the Colorado Super Chair from a quad express to a six-passenger express will provide a 30 percent increase in capacity for Peak 8’s primary and most-used lift. It will help disperse skiers to the surrounding peaks and provides a faster route from Peaks 6 and 7 to Peak 9, where an entire interior remodel of the existing Peak 9 restaurant, along with a new kitchen will provide a warm, welcoming, high-quality guest experience at the resort’s most scenic dining location, sitting at 11,274 feet.
The Peak 6 Expansion Is Open
Last season, Breckenridge Ski Resort added over 540 acres to its famous landscape via the Peak 6 are just north of Peak 7. Peak 6 includes 400 acres of lift-served terrain and 143 acres of hike-to terrain, representing a 23 percent increase in resort’s skiable acres. Peak 6 features high-alpine, intermediate bowl skiing – a rare find in North America.
2014 Dew Tour Returns for the 7th Consecutive Year in Breck, Dec. 11-14, 2014
The culmination of the 2014 Dew Tour will once again take place in Breckenridge, Colo. with four days of snowboard and freeski competitions, as well as live concerts and the interactive Dew Tour Experience, featuring athlete meet and greets, games, and giveaways.
Kids Ski Free Is Back at Keystone
Keystone Resort has long been a place where kids rule; from specialty family-friendly après offerings to mountaintop snow forts, the resort is a winter wonderland that allows kids and parents alike to truly enjoy their well-earned vacation time together. For the 2014-2015 ski season the resort continues its dedication to providing great value to families of all sizes with the world’s simplest Kids Ski Free offer, now in its third season. Every day, all season, children 12 and under will ski/snowboard for free at Keystone. As simple as childhood itself, Keystone’s Kids Ski Free program removes the red tape and fine print, has no blackout dates and is available on all weekends and holidays, a rarity in the ski industry. To qualify children must stay two or more nights in one of Keystone’s numerous accommodation options, which span from luxury hotel rooms to cozy ski-in/ski-out condominiums. In just its first two seasons, the incredibly successful program has provided more than 60,000 Kids Ski Free tickets; proof that when it comes to family, Keystone is at the top of the game.
One of a Kind Family Fun
Kids won’t just ski free at Keystone, they’ll enjoy a mountain experience designed to ignite their imagination and provide little touches that make a big difference. The resort’s daily Kidtopia programming is back for a fourth season with special events and activities for the whole family including the World’s Largest Snowfort at 11,444’. The first-ever Family Ski Trail, introduced last season, is back with more terrain to cruise, the opportunity for kids of all ages to ski and ride with Keystone’s friendly mascot, Riperoo, family photo ops with EpicMix Photo and special appearances by the resort’s avalanche dogs. Camp Keystone, the resort’s unique ski school offering will introduce a new indoor/outdoor slide, a one-of-a-kind way for kids to begin their day on the snow, while post-snow fun at kids après parties are a well-deserved treat (and big kids can partake in Colorado brews and the resort’s mug club). A kid-only PJ party brunch offering, mountaintop fondue dining and sleigh ride dinners even make meal time memorable at Keystone. Plus, with a treasure chest at check-in, red wagons to haul gear (and tired little ones), daily cookie hour and front row family parking, Keystone pulls out all the stops when it comes to a hassle-free family vacation experience.
Newly Re-Designed Cloud Dine Restaurant atop Canyons
Construction is underway on the new Cloud Dine building atop Dream Peak. Cloud Dine is one of Canyons’ most popular on-mountain dining locations, offering a fresh menu of items including made-to-order salads, homemade flat bread pizzas, and specialty sandwiches. Vail Resorts is replacing the temporary Cloud Dine structure with a permanent, 316-seat restaurant, a 41 percent increase in seating capacity. Restrooms and the kitchen area will be expanded. Cloud Dine is scheduled to open Dec. 1.
Largest Resort in Utah
Canyons is Utah’s largest and most dynamic ski and snowboard resort. With nine mountains, 183 trails, 4,000 skiable acres, world-class lodging and award-winning dining it’s no wonder that Canyons was ranked the #4 resort in North America by Outside Magazine, and ranks in the Top 10 in SKI Magazine annual reader rankings. If our terrain isn’t enough, Canyons offers the only resort-based heli-skiing in Park City through Wasatch Powderbirds to access the deepest powder in the Wasatch Mountains.
Unbuckle at Tamarack
Unbuckle at Tamarack, rated as the No. 1 après ski party in North America by Forbes and confirmed by CNN Travel, is Lake Tahoe's highest elevation après ski party featuring music, drinking, dancing and the lovely Heavenly Angels – ripping skiers by day and go-go dancers when the sun dips below the Sierras. Après takes place daily from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. with half-priced drinks and food specials and, exclusively on, Fridays and Saturdays, a live DJ (including special guest DJs), the Heavenly Angels, giveaways and lots of dancing. So, unbuckle those ski boots and snowboard bindings and take your après game to the next level!
DJ Cat
Heavenly upped the ante in December 2013 by partnering with Aaron Hagar to retrofit a retired grooming machine into a custom-built mobile DJ station, complete with 52 high-output speakers, provided by Kicker Audio, and 1,200 watts of power. Three remote control actuators slowly open the walls and roof of the DJ cat to reveal lights, speakers, and a 52” LCD screen, all clustered around a state-of-the-art DJ podium. This DJ cat brings the party to skiers and riders on the mountain.
“Go All In” After Hours at Heavenly
Party and stay like a rock star at Tahoe’s newest property, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe. Scheduled to open during the 2014-2015 winter season, the world-famous Hard Rock will feature a 25,000 square foot casino with 539 rooms, multiple restaurants and bars and live entertainment both indoors and out. If relaxing on your private lakeside balcony is more aligned with how you go “all in,” head to The Landing Resort & Spa, Lake Tahoe’s only 5-star boutique lakeside resort. You’ll appreciate the new hotel's thoughtful amenities, lively personality, restorative spa packages and contemporary European design. In addition to the new world-class lodging options, a stunning new shopping area, The Chateau, is scheduled to open fall 2014. The center will feature boutique shops, restaurants and bars directly across the street from Heavenly Village.
t?st - Bubbles on the Slopes. Every Day.
New for winter 2014-2015, Northstar will host t?st, the celebratory culinary tradition that redefines the art of the daily toast. Celebrating the mountains, Lake Tahoe and the tradition of toasting to friends and family, Northstar invites guests to raise their flutes and sip bubbles each day on the mountain at 2 p.m. Luxurious, whimsical and an ode to fun in the mountains, t?st invites guests to enjoy the authentic atmosphere of “California laid-back luxury” found only at Northstar.
Club Access to the Best of Northstar’s Premier Services, Amenities, and Conveniences
Guests can enjoy the best of Northstar California’s signature laid-back luxury and casual elegance via the resort’s new club, which will be offered as memberships for any desired number of days. Members are treated to premier experiences, services, and conveniences on the mountain and in The Village – such as personal concierge, premier demo equipment, reserved dining on the mountain, personal EpicMix photographer, private ski and ride instructors and guides, platinum equipment storage, valet services, and more. Members will also enjoy the best of Northstar’s renowned après-ski atmosphere, which includes endless possibilities such as wine service, personalized gourmet S’mores, and access to the new family après snow play area in The Village at Northstar.
Expedition: Kirkwood
For the adventurous, thrill-seeker types, Expedition: Kirkwood provides a level of education and training that goes beyond the typical ski school experience. Expedition: Kirkwood, rated as Men’s Journal’s top black-diamond ski school program, provides avalanche certification courses, women’s specific programs, beacon training, powder cat tours, private guides, specialty ski and board clinics, a Junior Expedition Team program (JETS), and progression sessions in some of the most extreme in-bounds terrain in North America. Featuring the West Coast’s largest avalanche awareness and backcountry certification program, Expedition: Kirkwood provides expert skiers and riders with a unique backcountry experience while still upholding the highest standards of safety that Vail Resorts is known for.