Vail, which as well as being a famous ski resort in Colorado actually owns four other famous ski resorts in Colorado and California, has announced it is spending up to 85 million dollars on “enhancing the guest experience” at its ski areas ahead of next winter. “Now that the 2009–2010 ski season is over, we are already looking ahead to next ski season and starting work on projects that continue to enhance the world-class experience at Vail Resorts for all of our guests,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer for Vail Resorts.

Perhaps the most immediately visible result of the new investment will be seen by regular visitors to Vail itself who will see another high speed quad lift installed, this time upgrading the older Mountain High Noon Lift (Chair 5) that takes skiers and boarders up to the ski area’s Sun Up Bowl and Sun Down Bowl. It should improve access to the famous Back Bowls and enhance ‘skier circulation’ around the whole of Vail Mountain.

The new lift will cut the ride up time in half, down from 12 minutes to six and has an uphill capacity of 2,400 people per hour.

Money will also be spent at Vail’s tubing hill at Adventure Ridge which will also be improved with more tubing lames and a covered conveyor lift.
At Vail’s other resorts visitors will find a big new 14,750-square-foot restaurant at Heavenly Mountain Resort, located at the top of the Heavenly Gondola.

This centrally-located new restaurant will be designed in keeping with the surrounding mountain scenery and will significantly increases the amount of indoor restaurant seating at the resort .

At a third resort, Keystone, Vail Resorts will be spending on upgrading Keystone Lodge, with renovations including installing flat screen TVs.

The company will also be spending on improved grooming and snowmaking equipment at all five of its resorts (the other two are Beaver Creek and Breckenridge), where they operate a total of over 130 snowcats.