Fact Sheet

2014 Vail Mountain Summer Fast Facts

Location
Vail Mountain is located 100 miles (160 km) west of Denver, 140 miles (230 km) east of Grand Junction and is easily accessible via the Eagle Airport, located 35 miles (56 km) to the west, all along the Interstate 70 corridor.

Summer 2014 Gondola Dates & Hours*
 
Gondola One:
Weekend-Only Operations:

  • Fridays through Sundays: June 6-8, Sept. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28 and Oct. 3-5
  • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Daily Operations:

  • Friday, June 13 through Monday, Sept. 1
  • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Eagle Bahn Gondola:
Weekend-Only Operations:

  • Fridays through Sundays: June 6-8, Sept. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28 and Oct. 3-5
  • 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Daily Operations:

  • Friday, June 13 through Monday, Sept. 1
  • 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Extended Evening Operations:

  • Thursdays through Saturdays, June 26 through Aug. 30
  • 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

*All hours and days of operation are subject to change.
 
*Bikes will be allowed up Gondola One until 4 p.m. and the Eagle Bahn Gondola until 6 p.m.

On-Mountain Dining Dates & Hours

  • Talon’s Deck (Lionshead) & Sarge’s (Mid-Vail)
    • Daily summer operations begin Friday, June 13 through Monday, Sept. 1.
    • Sunday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Open weekends-only June 6-8, Sept. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28, and Oct. 3-5.
  • Bistro Fourteen
    • Summer operations begin Thursday, June 26 through Monday, Sept. 1.
    • Thursday’s & Sunday’s, 4 to 9 p.m.
    • Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Game Creek Restaurant
    • Regular summer operations begin Thursday, June 26 through Sunday, Aug. 31.
    • Thursday – Saturday dinner and après begins at 5:30 p.m.
    • Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The 10th
    • Regular summer operations begin Friday, July 4 through Sunday, Aug. 31
    • Friday – Sunday lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

By the Numbers

  • Vail Mountain Elevations:
    • Base Elevation 8,120 ft. /2,476 m
    • Mid-Elevation: 10,250 ft. /3,125 m
    • Peak Elevation 11,570 ft. /3,527 m
    • Vertical Rise 3,450 ft. /1,052 m
  • Freeride Biking Trails: 42 miles of trail
  • Hiking Trails: 23 miles of trail

Summer Climate

  • Average Daytime Temperature: 75 degrees
  • Average Nighttime Temperature: 45 degrees
  • Vail receives an average of 300 days of sunshine a year with little-to-no humidity, although weather can change in a matter of hours

Flora & Fauna

  • The earliest wildflowers bloom in April.
  • By July, wildflowers abound, sometimes waist deep in mountain meadows as in China Bowl on Vail Mountain.
  • By mid-September, leaves from the aspen trees that engulf the Vail Valley, turn a brilliant gold, lasting about three weeks.
  • Wildlife is often viewed in the backcountry and includes fox, deer, elk, marmots, beaver, coyotes, moose, black bears and bighorn sheep.

History

  • During the 1800s, Ute Indians and pioneer hunters roamed the peaceful valley that is present-day Vail.
  • In 1854-56, mountain explorers, Jim Bridger and Lord Gore, explored the area. The high mountain peaks surrounding Vail to the east were named the Gore Range by Bridger in honor of his friend.
  • In the 1940s, a group of ski enthusiasts from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division were exposed to the area's majestic mountains while training at Camp Hale near Leadville during World War II
  • Following the war, veteran 10th Mountain Division soldiers Pete Seibert, Bill "Sarge" Brown and Bob Parker returned to the Gore Valley with dreams of establishing a ski area in the beautiful mountain area. Through hard work and endless dreaming, Vail was established by the trio in 1962.

Vail Mountain Media Contacts
Liz Biebl, (970) 754-3001, ebiebl@vailresorts.com
Sara Lococo (970) 754-4528, slococo@vailresorts.com
Consumer Site: www.vail.com or Mobile Consumer Site: http://m.vail.com
 
General Vail Summer Media Contact
Kristin Yantis, Malen Yantis Public Relations, (775) 351-7904, kyantis@myprco.com