Vail Resorts appears to have its sights on further expansion in Europe.

In an interview with Squawk Box on CNBC, Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch discussed how the season is going so far, and their next planned geographical region for expansion.

While getting through a round of bizarre and meandering questions from Joe Kernen, she mentions that ski season is off to a solid start. Regarding where they want to grow next, Kirsten mentioned a desire to continue acquiring ski resorts in Europe. The reason why Vail Resorts wants to continue to expand in Europe is because the continent has three times the number of ski visits compared to North America. With Crans Montana and Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis now part of Vail’s portfolio, Vail will likely continue to acquire mountains to make the Epic Pass a tempting purchase for European snowsports enthusiasts.

For more information, check out the interview below.

Image/Video Credits: CNBC

ALL SUSPECTS ARE CONSIDERED INNOCENT UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW

Vail Police are seeking assistance from the public in the identification a suspect in the potential theft of a snowboard. According to a Facebook post made Thursday afternoon, a black and red 2017 Never Summer Proto Type Two snowboard was taken outside The Red Lion at 304 Bridge Street in Vail.

An individual was caught on camera allegedly taking the board and leaving the area, pictured in an orange Helly Hansen ski coat. If you know the individual or can assist in their search, the Vail Police Department is asking that you reach out to vailpolice@vail.gov or 970-479-2201.

Once again, all suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. If you believe you know this person, reach out to the Vail Police Department and the Vail Police Department alone to assist in the process.

I remember leaving my skis wherever I wanted while skiing growing up. We’d leave them outside overnight, in plenty crowded areas, and never have to worry about thieves. But that was at a much smaller resort than Vail, so maybe that’s just a downside to size and popularity.

It does seem entirely possible that the board could have been taken by accident. It’s always a fear of mine that someone will take my gear thinking it’s theirs, especially when we’re talking about fairly popular skis. If that’s the case, hopefully the person who allegedly took the snowboard sees the Vail Police Department’s request and reaches out.

If it was stolen, that’s just awful. I’m know ski and snowboard thieves exist, and that really pisses me off, as I’m sure it does you.

Related: Michigan Ski Area Finally Receives Power Line Upgrades After 15 Years Of Waiting

Image Credit: Vail Police Department via Facebook

Riverfront Village is one of the newest luxury residences in the town of Avon, Colorado. Sitting on the banks of the Eagle River, its condos and townhomes provide gorgeous views and is just a short distance from Beaver Creek and a short drive from Vail. It’s an ideal place for the lover of the luxurious ski and snowboard life. If it sound like something you’re interested in, you’ll only need to fork up $5.24 million.

According to Forbes, a townhome in One Riverfront recently set the 2023 record for prices in the Riverfront Village community after it sold for exactly that much, $5.24 million. Let’s be clear, this isn’t a dinky little townhome. It’s a brand-new, four-bedroom, three-floor townhome that includes views of Beaver Creek and a deck where the nearby river can easily be heard.

Oh, and residents of the Riverfront Village community can get access to amenities within the nearby Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, including a gondola to the mountain, year-round pools, a spa & fitness center, and much more. Beaver Creek itself is quite the luxury experience, too.

The average price per square foot in Riverfront Village has risen 9% over the past year, reaching a wild $1,500. Why have things gotten so much more expensive? Slifer, Smith & Frampton’s Eric Burgund told Forbes it’s because there’s just no more space, of course!

“The One Riverfront section is really the last great parcel in our market. There’s just no more land in the Vail Valley left to develop. There are areas and lots where there’s supposed to be development, but nothing is on the river, has all the amenities of the Westin and is brand-new construction.” -Eric Burgund

Images and virtual tours of the exact property don’t seem to be available on the Slifer, Smith & Frampton website, but this townhome, listed at $5.2 million, is located within the same community and features three floors and four bedrooms.

Related: FOR SALE: Historic Sugar Bowl Chalet ($4 Million)

Featured Image Credit: Westin Hotels & Resorts via YouTube

Dear Editor,

As a passionate skier hailing from New Jersey, I’m reaching out to express my opinion on a topic that seems to be consistently underrepresented in your coverage: the unparalleled excellence of Vail Ski Resort. Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Vail transcends the typical ski destination, embodying what I believe to be the zenith of skiing experiences.

Let’s talk terrain. Vail boasts a staggering 5,200 acres of skiable area, catering to all skill levels – from beginner-friendly groomers to the adrenaline-packed back bowls for the seasoned pros. This variety ensures that every skier, no matter their proficiency, finds their slice of heaven on these slopes.

The snow quality at Vail is another distinguishing feature. Its light, powdery snow offers a sublime skiing experience, a fact that your coverage seems to overlook. The resort’s diligent grooming and advanced snowmaking capabilities keep conditions near-perfect all season long, elevating every turn into a memorable experience.

Away from the slopes, Vail’s village is a wonder in itself. Its European-inspired architecture creates a vibrant atmosphere brimming with world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment. As someone who’s skied the Alps, I can attest that Vail’s village rivals the charm of Europe’s best.

Now, I must address some misleading portrayals on your platform. Contrary to what’s been shown, Vail’s lift system, including its high-speed gondolas and chairlifts, is a model of efficiency, minimizing wait times and maximizing mountain enjoyment – the crux of a great ski vacation.

Vail isn’t just a ski resort; it’s the realization of a skier’s dream. Its blend of diverse terrain, pristine snow, luxury amenities, and commitment to guest satisfaction and environmental stewardship firmly places it as the world’s top ski resort.

I urge you to consider this viewpoint for publication. As a New Jerseyan who’s explored slopes worldwide, I believe my perspective resonates with many in your readership, offering a more balanced and comprehensive view of what Vail truly offers.

Sincerely,

Sam from New Jersey

Update: Vail Resorts has appealed the ruling from the Eagle County District Court, prolonging the battle between the two sides.

Vail Daily reports that the Vail Town Council voted 5-2 this week to acquire the Booth Heights land parcel for $17.5 million. This plot of land was where Vail Resorts planned to build employee housing, which would have housed 165 employees. The new facility would have been fully paid for by the corporation.

The Vail Town Council opposed the plans due to it being in the Bighorn Sheep Severe Winter Range. The land was condemned by the Vail Town Council, which resulted in Vail Resorts suing, and it ended up in court. The Eagle County District Court sided with the Town of Vail and set the value of the land at $17,519,985. With the purchase, the land will likely become a public park.

Kevin Foley, who’s a Vail Town Council member, said the following about why he voted for purchasing the parcel:

“This town is the best place on the planet to live, work and play. And we need to keep it that way for all of us, including the natural wildlife that was here long before any of us humans mucked it up.” 

If you’re wondering how the fuck the Town of Vail is going to find $17.5 million, it seems like it’ll be coming from a variety of sources. A required $12 million deposit came from their real estate transfer tax fund. The additional money will initially come from the town’s General Fund, but it seems like they’re asking Eagle County for $3 million. In addition, the Town will need to pay “reasonable legal and transactional costs incurred by Vail Resorts.”

Jonathan Staufer, who’s on the Vail Town Council, said the following about the acquisition. I can’t believe this is a real quote:

“As much as I can’t stand giving those bastards in Broomfield one red cent, I’ll be voting in favor because I would rather do that than watch this herd starve to death. I want to preserve this herd for future generations and my daughter’s granddaughter.”

The fuss from the Town of Vail concerned protecting Bighorn Sheep. While bighorn sheep are pretty cool, it should be noted that they aren’t even close to being an endangered species. In fact, their conservation status is of the least concern. Meanwhile, the rich are allowed to build their homes around this condemned area without any issue.

Town Council member Pete Seibert, described why protecting bighorn sheep is so important:

“The size of the herd is in direct proportion to the size of the winter range. We can’t enlarge the winter range by removing homes. The decisions that were made then were made, the homes are there, but we do have what’s left out there in Booth Heights, and I think we’ve got to be able to protect that.” 

John Plack, who’s a spokesman for Vail Resorts, issued the following statement to Vail Daily:

“We appreciate the work of the court, and the panel of experts, in determining the value of the land in Vail Town Council’s condemnation case.  As we have said previously, we do not believe the Town’s plan to pay us money to condemn this land, and prevent the affordable housing project planned on it, is good for our community.”

Vail Resorts said in a statement that they plan to reinvest the money they receive from the land on other affordable housing projects.

It should be noted that the Town of Vail has done some work on employee and local housing, spending $140 million on the matter over the past couple of years. These projects have included a 72-unit worker housing facility (which just opened) and 284 deed-restricted housing units (possibly opening in November of 2025). In addition, Colorado Public Radio reported in June that the County will be offering homeowner’s money to house employees. With a projected need of 6000 housing units in Eagle County, this will probably be remembered as the one that got away.

The situation has me, who has had issues with Vail Resorts over the years, fully on their side. We look forward to pointing out how this could have been a great employee housing option for the town every time the word the Town of Vail and housing crisis are mentioned in the next couple of years.

Image Credits: Vail Resorts, Katie Musial, Jody Confer

Mountain lions aren’t the most uncommon animal in the world, but spotting one is still a pretty rare occurrence. In Colorado, their population sits somewhere around 3,000 to 7,000 (quite the range, I know) and the Front Range area of the state is pretty much perfect mountain lion habitat. But they’re rather elusive, and though sightings are certainly on the rise, they remain pretty hard to spot.

Vail 4×4 Tours managed to catch an even more rare sight on camera, a mountain lion crossing a flowing river, and shared it with the world. According to Fox 31, owner Ben Hilley reports that Vail 4×4 Tours spot wildlife all the time, including elk, black bears, and more, but mountain lions are only spotted on super rare occasions.

“Over the past 15 years and thousands of hours on trail, I’ve seen two. I even tell our guests, they are there but we won’t see them. This sighting was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” – Ben Hilley

Unlike their house pet counterparts, mountain lions are actually fairly strong swimmers. A recent study followed the GPS-collared cat M161, also known as Nolan, as he swam two thirds of a mile through Puget Sound, and other examples have shown them swimming over a mile for food and other resources.

So, yeah, they can swim pretty far, and they can certainly swim across a flowing river like this guy.

Mountain Lion Safety:

Mountain lion attacks are very rare, but it’s always important to remember safety tips provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife when hiking or moving in mountain lion territory. Travel in groups and make plenty of noise to make your presence known, as you definitely don’t want to startle a big cat. If you see one, do not approach and stay calm. Stop and back away slowly if possible. Running could trigger the animal’s attack instinct, and make sure the animal has a way to escape. Throw stones if the mountain lion begins to act aggressively and, in the rare case that it actually attacks, fight back.

Related: Oregon Dirt Biker Nearly Collides With Mountain Lion

Image Credit: Vail 4×4 Tours via Instagram

Is it just me, or does it feel like ski season really didn’t end that long ago? Maybe it’s because the last time I skied was actually just a couple of months ago, maybe it’s because Mammoth shut down it’s lifts literally just ten days ago, or maybe it’s because I’ve been in some sort of dream state where nothing feels quite real since ski season ended. Whatever the reason, it certainly doesn’t feel like the time to be announcing projected opening dates for ski resorts throughout the country.

Fortunately, for those of us who are sick of the heat and dream of the snow, and unfortunately for those of you who only ski to distract yourself from the winter, Vail Resorts has announced projected opening dates for multiple of its resorts.

Colorado

Colorado is quite often the first state to see spinning lifts and open ski runs, and if Vail’s projected dates say anything for the near future of the American ski season, that will remain true into 2023-24.

Keystone – Mid October (dependent on early season conditions)

Breckenridge – November 10

Vail Mountain – November 10

Beaver Creek – November 22

Crested Butte – November 22

California

Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood all had pretty remarkable seasons this past year (just like most of California). Heavenly stayed open for an additional three weeks, closing on May 7, while Northstar added two additional weekends and closed down on April 30. Kirkwood, on the other hand, kept things running into mid-May, with a final closing date of May 14. Let’s hope this upcoming season has even more to offer!

Heavenly – November 17

Northstar – November 17

Kirkwood – December 1

Utah, Washington, Canada

Sorry to lump these together, but they’re the miscellaneous three!

Park City Mountain (UT) – November 17

Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia) – November 23

Stevens Pass (WA) – December 1

There ya have it folks! Please keep in mind that these are only projected dates, and are all subject to change. It’s not quite time to sharpen those skis and start looking for brand new boots, but it’s certainly time to start those cardio routines and leg workouts. Ski season is coming gang, let’s goooooooooooo.

Related: Big Sky Announces Its Projected Opening Date

Featured Image Credit: Vail via Facebook

A new development will help ease Vail’s extensive housing crisis.

Vail Daily reports that the Vail Town Council finalized the agreement with Triumph Development on May 16th that will redevelop the Timber Ridge Village into a deed-restricted housing development. Currently, Timber Ridge has 96 affordable housing units, which will be demolished for this new build.

The development will feature seven buildings. There will be 284 housing units (567 bedrooms) and 284 parking spaces. These units are deed restricted for only year-round residents and seasonal employees. The amenities of each of the seven buildings will include elevators, a rooftop deck, a community room, and a bike storage room. The development is expected to open in November 2025. Timber Ridge is also a short walk away from public transit and the Cascade Village lift.

The $165 million project is a public-private partnership and allows local businesses to buy a stake in it. Travis Coggin, who is the Mayor Pro Tem of Vail, described why they went forward with this project:

“We always hear the business community saying how much they’re struggling with housing and how, if they could, they would step up. And they truly did step up in a big way. We don’t just have one business, it’s 165 units that are being taken down by nonprofits, for-profits, big, small, across the board and I think when we deliver this, it’s something that just is a big step forward. This is the first step of many, although we’ve taken a lot of steps to get here.”

The purchase price for the units is still pretty expensive, but this is Vail we’re talking about here. A studio costs $377,000, a one-bedroom costs $433,000, a two-bedroom costs $655,000, a three-bedroom is $868,000, and a four-bedroom costs $1,080,000. There will also be for-rent options. A lottery system will choose these units’ occupants four to six months before the project’s completion.

“Two-hundred and eighty-eight homes sounds like a lot, and it is, but we have a long way to go when it comes to housing,” said Travis Coggin.“We’re going to need a lot more money, so this money that’s coming back to the town of Vail through the sale of these homes is going to help us continue to achieve our housing goals going forward.”

The Town of Vail is also currently constructing a 72-unit worker housing facility, which is expected to open later this year. If only there were an employee housing development that the main job creator in Vail wanted to build…

Image Credits: Town Of Vail/Triumph Development

Vail Resorts is most likely in the clear from a lawsuit that’s been annoying them for the past three years. Colorado Politics reports the federal appeals court in Denver has ruled that the passholder plaintiffs can not sue Vail Resorts for refunds from their 2019-20 Epic Passes.

The plaintiffs argued in the lawsuit that the passes gave them unlimited access to the ski resorts included on the Epic Pass during the ski season. These passholders believed that the ski season was determined by the conditions at the ski resort, meaning that Vail Resorts violated the terms of their agreement. Vail Resorts did offer guests credits on their Epic Passes for the 2020-21 season if they had one during the 2019-20 season, but they did not give out cash refunds.

Here’s what Vail Resorts’ lawyers argued in the case:

“No law or principle of morality requires that the economic consequences of COVID-19 cannot affect these plaintiffs in the slightest.”

The court ruled that Vail Resorts clearly disclosed that there are no Epic Pass refunds, no matter what the circumstances were. This included shutting down their lifts in the middle of March, which they did to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Judge Carolyn B. McHugh wrote the following in her ruling:

“The plain meaning is to deny all refunds no matter the circumstances and Passholders cannot now seek the exact remedy they contracted away.”

Before the trial reached the federal appeals court, U.S. District Court Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson dismissed the case. This snippet from his ruling explained why:

“Vail did not fail to compensate passholders. It issued Epic Pass credits. The contracting parties may have reasonably expected adequate compensation in the event of an unexpected closure, but they could not have expected cash only.”

The major surprise from this ruling though is that the plaintiffs can refile their lawsuit. While they can no longer sue for refunds, they are allowed to refile a lawsuit that would seek another form of relief that doesn’t have to do with financial compensation. Here’s what Judge Carolyn B. McHugh wrote in her ruling:

“This, however, does not prevent Passholders from seeking some other type of relief from Vail if they establish Vail breached its contracts with Passholders by closing its resorts. [The plaintiffs] could seek future access to Vail’s resorts for the amount of time Vail closed its resorts prior to the end of the 2019–2020 ski season.”

It’ll be interesting to see if the plaintiffs try to refile the case, or if they just throw in the towel. At this point, it’s probably best to avoid the legal fees and just get your season pass for next winter, whether that be with Vail Resorts or someone else.

Image Credits: Vail Resorts

“Our employees are the driving force behind our Be Inclusive value, and we’re so thankful to Raquel, Ian and their friends for creating a welcoming place here at Vail Mountain. In honor of celebrating Pride and the LGBTQ+ community, Pride Express signs will now wear the Vail Mountain Pride logo! Hike up in the summer or ski by in the winter to celebrate Pride in Vail.”

Good on Vail Resorts for listening to their employees and getting behind their idea to celebrate inclusivity with an updated logo for the Pride trail sign. Looks sharp, great addition.