Vail Ski Resort
Vail Ski Resort is a ski resort in the western United States, located near the town of Vail in Eagle County, Colorado. At 5,289 acres (8.3 sq mi; 21.4 km2), it is the third-largest single-mountain ski resort in the U.S., behind Big Sky and Park City, featuring seven bowls and intermediate gladed terrain in Blue Sky Basin.
| Vail Ski Resort | |
|---|---|
Front side of Vail Resort in 2005 | |
Vail Ski Resort Location in Colorado Vail Ski Resort Location in the United States | |
| Location | Vail, Eagle County, Colorado, United States |
| Nearest major city | Vail Denver – 100 miles (160 km) (via Interstate 70) |
| Coordinates | 39.639°N 106.374°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Owner | Vail Resorts |
| Vertical | 3,450 ft (1,052 m) |
| Top elevation | 11,570 ft (3,527 m) |
| Base elevation | 8,120 ft (2,475 m) |
| Skiable area | 5,317 acres (8.3 sq mi; 21.5 km2) |
| Trails | 195 total 18% beginner 29% intermediate 53% advanced |
| Longest run | Riva Ridge – 4 miles (6.5 km) |
| Lift system | 31 total (2 gondolas (12 and 10 person), 4 high speed six's, 14 high speed quads, 1 fixed grip quad, 2 fixed grip triples, 9 surface lifts) |
| Terrain parks | Yes, 2, 1 Super-Pipe |
| Snowfall | 354 in (29.5 ft; 9.0 m) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | No |
| Website | Vail.com |
Opened in late 1962, Vail is one of 37 mountain resorts owned and operated by Vail Resorts, which also operates three other nearby ski resorts (Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone).
Vail Mountain has three sections: The Front-Side, Blue Sky Basin, and the Back Bowls. Most of the resort is wide open terrain with all types of trails. There are cruising runs accessible from most front side and Blue Sky Basin lifts, as well as the wide open Back Bowls, glades, and chutes.
Vail has the fourth-largest area of skiable terrain in North America after Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain Resort, and Big Sky.
Vail Village is modeled on Bavarian village styles, with pedestrian streets. Unlike other Colorado ski towns such as Aspen, Breckenridge, or Steamboat Springs, which existed as 19th century mining towns prior to the establishment of their ski resorts, the Vail village was built when the resort opened.