Vail, CO – Vail Resorts on Thursday submitted a proposal to the U.S. Forest Service for a comprehensive summer activities plan at Vail Mountain, the largest ski resort in the nation. The plan marks the first proposal of its kind in the U.S. following passage last fall of the Ski Area Recreational Opportunities Enhancement Act, championed by U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D) of Colorado.
Vail’s summer activity effort, named Epic Discovery, a Summer Mountain Adventure, will encourage “learn through play” by featuring extensive environmental educational elements interspersed between numerous new activities located in already developed areas of the mountain. Vail Resorts will work with The Nature Conservancy to bring scientific content to the eco-discovery experiences and will be contributing one percent of all summer lift ticket and activity revenue to The Nature Conservancy for forest restoration projects.
Epic Discovery is designed to connect kids and families with our national forests in an active, fun and engaging way. The proposal includes a number of new activities, including zip lines, ropes courses, mountain excursions and mountain coasters with extensive environmental and interpretive programming.
“Epic Discovery will allow our mountains to truly provide guests from across the country and around the world an experience of a lifetime in the summer. Epic Discovery will make the national forests accessible and engaging to people of all ages and abilities and will help educate them on the unique ecosystem and wildlife on our mountains,” said Rob Katz, chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts. “Our proposal could not be possible without the recent passage of new legislation, but with Epic Discovery, our company has raised the bar even further as we teach our kids about the spectacular natural environment that serves as backdrops to our resorts.”
“When Vail Resorts, approached us with an incredible project such as this, we at The Nature Conservancy seized on the opportunity to not only help bring more families into the national forests, but to inspire them through nature education,” said Tim Sullivan, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. “Then to further be able to raise funds to support forest restoration projects at such a critical time, this is exciting and important work we’ll be doing with Vail Resorts and their guests.”
If approved by the Forest Service, Vail Resorts hopes to begin construction on Epic Discovery activities in the summer or fall of 2013, with a possible debut to the public in 2014. Company officials and Udall both indicate that their proposal will generate new jobs related to both the construction of the new facilities and the long-term operation, and will help support a much healthier year-round economy for the local resort community.
“As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and instructor, I am thrilled that the ‘Ski Area Recreational Opportunities Enhancement Act,’ which I authored, will enable mountain resorts such as Vail to introduce Colorado’s breathtaking forests to a wider group of visitors,” Senator Udall said. “The creation of additional educational and recreational attractions during the summer months will create jobs in our mountain communities, help boost local economies and add to the amazing quality of life Coloradans already enjoy.”
Planned facilities and activities would be constructed across Vail Mountain from Adventure Ridge into Game Creek Bowl and down to the mid-Vail area, accessed by gondolas in Lionshead and Vail Village.
“Home to the majestic Rocky Mountains, Colorado is already known as a year-round destination for amazing outdoor experiences. Vail’s new iconic summer experience will be an important addition to the state’s diverse tourism offerings. The activities and educational experiences Vail plans to offer in our national forests, all at nearly 12,000 feet, will be unlike anything else offered in the West. We look forward to the public input on this exciting opportunity,” said Al White, director of the Colorado Tourism Office.
The proposal calls for activities and environmental interpretive programming that will be designed to be compatible with the existing on-mountain infrastructure of lifts and trails, blending into the natural environment in an unobtrusive manner. In addition to the activities, U.S. Forest Service Rangers will be on site to provide eco-educational experiences for kids and families, helping them to learn more about their natural surroundings.
Under the proposed plan, three-hour guided Game Creek and Front Side Zip Line Tours would feature an array of zip lines and aerial bridges. Throughout the tour, guests will learn about the indigenous flora and fauna of the mountain ecosystem while working their way through each course’s challenges. A multi-stage tour combining zip lines, ropes swings, bridge components and other features will comprise the Adventure Ridge Challenge Tour, and the Family Forest Adventure Park would include a playground of rope challenges and bridges to introduce young children to the forest ecosystem.
Additional hiking and mountain biking trails would be constructed across Vail Mountain and descending into the villages below, with comprehensive interpretive and directional signage designed to encourage greater utilization. Micro-Interpretive Centers for Education would be integrated with trails and activities around the mountain to provide guests with hands-on information and activities about forest health, wildlife and the mountain geography of the White River National Forest.
A mountain coaster, dubbed a “Forest Flyer” by Vail Resorts, would run on raised rails and wind its way down the mountain following the natural contours of the landscape. A panoramic viewing balcony and deck would be installed at Game Creek, and guided Segway tours would be offered on varied terrain.
Vail Mountain has submitted its proposal to the U.S. Forest Service that includes these activities and vision for Epic Discovery. Following acceptance of the proposal, the agency will begin its comprehensive environmental review. Epic Discovery at Vail Mountain is the first installment of summer mountain adventure plans that Vail Resorts has for each of its seven ski resorts. Plans for Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone ski resorts in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in California, will be announced and submitted at later dates, officials with Vail Resorts indicate.