Clearly one of Colorado's most famous resorts, Vail started was has now become a signature of Colorado resorts – it was the first planned community that re-created a European Mountain Village. Located only 100 miles west of Denver, with easy access off of I-70, Vail’s timing was perfect. As the ski industry and real estate industries boomed in the 70’s, Vail saw spectacular success. At the time, the ski resort was unparalleled – both in size, and in the fantastically dry Colorado powder snow.
Even by today’s standards, the size of Vail Mountain is staggering – with 3,450 feet of vertical gain, and a whopping 5,289 acres of skiable terrain, most people’s reaction to their first experience at Vail is WOW! The unmatched size and scope of Vail Mountain certainly is a strong contributor to the fact that Vail is North America’s number one ski resort destination.
But the village of Vail itself contributes significantly to the appeal of the area. The town was patterned after the concept of small intimate European villages, and you can tell how well the planners did. Many Europeans retired to Vail, and comment on the genuine feeling of home there. Our award winning member to Colorado’s Finest Hotels, the Sonnealp Resort, has a distinctly European flair – including full goose down comforters, and wood beamed ceilings that make you feel you stepped into the Bavarian Alps. If you plan a trip to Vail in the fall, you simply can’t miss the Octoberfest celebration – with a ride up the Gondola to the top of the mountain and a chance to oompa and sample some fine German brews.
The main city center is divided into two areas, although they are adjoining – Vail Village and LionsHead. Gore Creek (a small river) runs through the middle of town, and is big enough to support a kayaking course in the heart of the Village. Aside from skiing and snow boarding, there are plenty of activities in Vail, including biking, hiking, horseback riding, golf, ballooning, jeeping, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and fishing to name a few. We’d recommend a stroll through the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, where you might catch a glimpse of someone famous or a young couple getting married and riding off in a carriage. You might also plan some time to relax and be pampered at one of Vail’s many spas, or consider lounging at one of the many fantastic outdoor restaurants sprinkled along the river path through the city.
The progress in Vail hasn’t stopped. Over the past ten years, Vail Resorts has invested over $125 million in improvements to Vail Mountain. Fairly soon, Vail Village and LionsHead will get more of the same attention. Plans call for additional expansions of almost everything including shopping, dining, lodging, a new ice skating rink, some new entertainment venues, as well as new skier services.
As a bit of interesting history, during World War II, the Army's now famous Tenth Mountain Division used the Vail area for survival training. Many of the men who trained there were drawn back to the area after the war ended. Three war vets developed a vision of a mountain ski community, and in 1954, they gathered to draw up a plan for a ski resort. Building started in 1962, and few people know that Vail had the first gondola in the US. In the mid 70’s President Gerald Ford often frequented his house in Vail, and drew international attention to the area.
