Vail Resorts Introduces "Epic Summer, A Colorado Family Adventure" Vacation Experience in Colorado's Rocky Mountains

All-Inclusive Four- and Seven-Day Trips Feature Best of Colorado from Rocky Mountain National Park to Whitewater Rafting to Scenic Mountaintop Picnics at Attractive Prices

BROOMFIELD, Colo. - March 11, 2009 - Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN) today announced a new all-inclusive summer family vacation experience in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, "Epic Summer, A Colorado Family Adventure." Vail Resorts is combining the best of its Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek mountain resorts in Colorado with classic Rocky Mountain summer adventures for locally guided, all-inclusive family vacation experiences in four- and seven-day itineraries. Vail Resorts will begin taking reservations for the Epic Summer trips beginning April 1, 2009. 

"In these challenging times, we're seeing a return to the basics of a classic family vacation with 'luxury' now defined as companies providing a good value and people spending quality time with friends and loved ones. Our 'Epic Summer' vacation will have the best that Colorado's Rocky Mountains have to offer with everything included at one very attractive price," said Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "Right now, there is no better place to visit than the majestic national parks and forests of the West, and our new Epic Summer vacation will take guests on a guided tour through these spectacular mountain settings for a memorable outdoors summer adventure."

What makes Epic Summer trips memorable, besides the carefully selected activities, are Vail Resorts' experienced local guides who will lead guests through the entire itinerary from the moment they arrive until it's time to say farewell. The Epic Summer guides have been hand-picked because of their knowledge of and passion for Colorado and the mountains. They are experts in the history, culture and ecology of the areas that families will visit and have already taken care of all of the logistical planning so families can relax and make the most of their vacation experience.

Seven-Day Epic Summer Itinerary

On the six-night, seven-day itinerary, families will experience all of the following included activities:

-       The wonder of standing at the top of the Continental Divide in a trip to world-renowned Rocky Mountain National Park.

-       The thrill of whitewater rafting down a scenic Colorado river.

-       The serenity of horseback riding through groves of aspens, pines and fields dotted by wildflowers on Beaver Creek Mountain.

-       The awe of a gondola ride to the summits of Vail and Keystone mountains, followed by family-friendly naturalist hikes and mountaintop picnics.

-       The delight of an historical walking tour through the old Victorian mining town of Breckenridge, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

-       The excitement of an authentic gold mine tour and hands-on gold panning.

-        The reward of a Wild West cowboy campfire dinner, complete with wagon rides and storytelling.

The itinerary also allows plenty of time to explore the unique shops and boutiques in the towns of Estes Park, Vail and Breckenridge, along with other optional activities such as outdoor ice skating, orienteering and bicycling. 

All of the meals are included and carefully planned to reflect the character and flavor of the Rocky Mountain West. Three of the lunches are mountaintop picnics where guests enjoy magnificent sweeping views of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, while another is enjoyed on the banks of a river during the rafting excursion. Dinners take place in iconic Colorado restaurants as well as an outdoor cowboy campfire dinner.

Four-Day Epic Summer Itinerary

Families looking for a weekend escape can enjoy an abbreviated version of the seven-day guided trip featuring white water rafting, a scenic gondola ride to an easy guided hike and mountaintop picnic, horseback riding and time for shopping in the towns of Vail and Breckenridge.

Environmental Education & Carbon Offset

To round out the guest experience and engage family members of all ages in the unique natural settings of the Epic Summer adventure, key messages about local flora and fauna, geology, geography and history of the region will be artfully integrated into guest activities. As a further complement to the experience and in keeping with Vail Resorts' commitment to environmental stewardship, the carbon impacts associated with the lodging and transportation portion of each guest's trip will be offset to support development of renewable energy throughout the country.

All-Inclusive Pricing

The Epic Summer trips run from June 26, 2009 through Sept. 6, 2009. Both packages include experienced guides, accommodations in well-appointed condominiums or lodge rooms in Keystone or Breckenridge resorts, all featured activities, transportation to and from all activities, ground transfers to/from Denver International Airport and all meals. Airfare is not included. The Epic Summer trips are recommended for children ages 6 and older.

The six-night, seven-day all-inclusive package is priced at $1,195 for adults and $895 for children (ages 12 and under). It begins on Sunday evenings with a welcome reception and dinner in Keystone Resort and ends after breakfast on Saturdays.

The three-night, four-day package is $695 for adults and $545 for children (ages 12 and under). It begins on Thursday evenings with a welcome reception and dinner in Keystone Resort and ends after breakfast on Sundays.

For more information and reservations, call 888-538-EPIC (3742) or visit wwwepicsummer.com. Vail Resorts will begin taking reservations for the Epic Summer trips on April 1, 2009.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, the Heavenly Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN).  The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com[Back to Press Releases Main]