Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE VAIL DREAM
Long before two WWII vets who were hooked on powder hiked Vail Mountain to scout the possibility of a new
ski resort halfway between Denver and Aspen - the only resort of its kind at the time - the Gore Range was home
to Colorado's nomadic Ute Indians who used to trek from the arid rangeland into the alpine country to beat the
summer heat. However, white settlers thirsty for gold arrived and the Utes didn't last.
During WWII the army founded Camp Hale, a training center off present-day Hwy 24. This is where the fam-
ous 10th Mountain Division - America's only battalion on skis - lived and trained. These troops fought hard in
the Italian Alps, and when they came home, many became big players in the burgeoning ski industry.
Peter Seibert was one of them. He hooked onto the Aspen Ski Patrol then became the manager of the Loveland
Basin Ski Area - one of Colorado's oldest ski resorts. Together with his friend Earl Eaton, who was a lifelong ski-
er and ski-industry veteran, Siebert climbed Vail Mountain in the winter of 1957, and after one long look at those
luscious back bowls, these men knew they'd struck gold.
At the time Vail Mountain was owned by the forest service and local ranchers. Seibert and Eaton recruited a
series of investors and lawyers and eventually got a permit from the forest service and convinced nearly all of the
local ranchers to sell. Much of the construction budget was raised by convincing investors to chip in $10,000 for
a condo unit and a lifetime season pass.
Opening day was on December 15, 1962. Conditions were marginal, but the dream was alive. And if you'd
skied there that day you would have paid $5 for a day pass and explored nine runs, accessed by two chairs and
one gondola.
Entertainment
Cinebistro
( 970-476-3344;
www.cobbcinebistro.com
;
141 E Meadow Dr; adult/child $15/12; noon-8pm; )
Located
in the Solaris complex is Vail's slick contemporary cinema, with three premium theaters
outfitted with cushy seats and a flash bar and restaurant serving serious cuisine in the
lobby. On the big screens it plays first-rate Hollywood fare.
CINEMA
Ford Amphitheater
( 970-476-5612;
www.vvf.org
; 530 S Frontage Rd E)
This picturesque outdoor amphitheater with
lawn seating is the site of numerous summer concerts, many of which are free. It's a
10-minute walk east of Vail Village.
CONCERT VENUE
Shopping
Kemo Sabe
CLOTHING
