EPIC PASS!
The Epic Pass is back! For a limited time only, an unrestricted ski pass for Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Heavenly Valley is just $579 for adults and $279 for children. For just $49, you can lock in on these prices, but time is limited and prices may be increased at any time. Visit www.EPICPASS.com for more information.
VAIL VALLEY BEATEN DOWN IN MARCH
The month of March from a business standpoint in the Vail Valley can be best described as dreadful, as March was the first month that the Vail Valley really felt the full impact of the recession. While business in December, January and February was down, the overall occupancy numbers and skiers days decline were not nearly what we witnessed in March. Some businesses have reported March sales down 50% or more. March is typically a more family-oriented month with longer average stays as compared with the earlier ski season months. However, the family/spring break business never really materialized and guests who normally would spend an entire week were instead opting for long weekends. Thanks to the calendar and Easter in April, the April business outlook is reasonable.
DEAD TREES TO BE REMOVED ON VAIL MOUNTAIN
Some of the most-skied areas of Vail’s front side might look a bit barer next season as the U.S. Forest Service plans to cut down more dead lodgepole pines along the Vista Bahn and Avanti lifts. As many as 3,000 trees could be removed and there are no plans to replant as the forest is going to be left to regenerate itself. As such, there could be some new tree skiing available to bushwhackers.
RED STORM HITS VAIL MOUNTAIN
A bizarre snow storm hit Vail and Beaver Creek leaving the slopes with about 5 inches of red-tinted snow. Message boards proclaimed that the red tint was caused by volcanic ash from the eruption of an Alaskan volcano. However, the National Weather Service has refuted that claim and said that the sediment was the result of a massive windstorm in desert areas to the west of Vail in Arizona, Utah and Colorado. So instead of “Alaskan Ash”, we were blessed with “Moab Muck”.
TWO YEARS OF GREAT FLUFF
They say that when “March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion” and nothing could be more accurate then that in the Vail Valley this year. In early March, snowpack was quickly dwindling from the near-record levels set in December and January as warm and dry weather was the trend. However, late March saw the return of winter as we have received nearly 60 inches of snow since March 24th and weather forecasts suggest much more is on the way. As of the writing of this Newsletter, Vail has had 416 inches of snow as compared with 463 last season, which was the second highest on record. However, we still have two more weeks to eclipse that figure. Beaver Creek has had 383 inches as compared with last year’s total of 426 inches which was a record year.
PLAN TO DEVELOP VAIL VILLAGE PARKING ABANDONED
In last month’s Newsletter, we described the plan to develop the berm of the Vail Village parking garage as “foolish” and blatant overdevelopment. It seems that others have agreed with us and got the word out. We have received notification from the Town that the applicant, who apparently had support of the Vail Planning Department, has withdrawn their application. To us, the plan made absolutely no sense and the only reason we can think of the Planning Department supporting it is that as development slows down, they need to preserve their positions and paychecks.
WHY DOES BEAVER CREEK CONTINUE TO HONOR A FELON?
It is a sad time in America when the corporate and business financial leaders that are best known by the average American are the corporate looters, embezzlers and criminals the likes of Bernie Madoff, Robert Stanford, Ken Lay (may he rot in hell) and here in Colorado Joseph Nacchio. While our system of American system has been ravaged by greed and the likes of this scum-of-the-earth, why does Beaver Creek, the Vail Valley Foundation, the sponsors and the entire Vail Valley tolerate having our prestigious performing arts center bearing the moniker of another scam artist, Alberto Vilar? The Vilar Performing Arts Center needs to remove the name of this convicted felon from such a distinguished facility. Some have argued that Vilar did donate a sizable sum; however, it is easy to be generous with other people’s money.
FOUR NEW SUMMER EVENTS FOR VAIL VALLEY
Raise a beer, eat a cupcake, smack a piñata and have your kids compete in a triathlon. You will be able to do this and much more this summer in Vail as the business community is bringing new events to the Valley this summer. South of the Border Fiesta will be held on June 20th followed by a BBQ Bonanza on June 21st. Sweet on Vail, a dessert festival, will be held on August 15th (the same day as a Vail Rugby Oldboys Fest). An Irish Festival will be August 20-23 including a Hurling Tournament. September 6th will feature the Ironkids Triathlon.
GREAT TIME TO REMODEL
With the economy in a tailspin and everyone seems to be tightening their belts, now is a great time to consider going against the trend by spending money on that kitchen or bath remodel for your Vail Valley property as contractors are hungry. If you have interest in having any work done, please let us know and we will help you shop for the best deal out there.
AIRPORT CLOSED FOR SUMMER, BUT COUNTY PONIES UP FOR FALL
Eagle County Airport will be closing on April 15th and will remain closed through the summer until August 31st to facilitate runway expansion and resurfacing. The renovated runway will be 1,000 ft. longer and will cost $22 million dollars, which is about $22,000 per foot. And we thought only Congress spends money like drunken sailors. The airport will reopen around September 1st for commercial traffic as Eagle County Commissioners plucked down $150,000 of guarantees to the airlines to assure that service will restart for the fall season.
OTHER NEWS HEADLINES:
Report Shows Vail Lift Ticket is Second Most Expensive after Deer Valley
Federal Stimulus Funds Trickle Down to Build Minturn Bike Path
|
