The Ute Indians first inhabited the Gore Creek Valley long before white settlers moved west. The valley offered a cool summer retreat for Indians and during the harsh winters they moved to the arid lands of Western Colorado. The Utes nicknamed the Gore Range “The Shining Mountains.” By the mid 1800’s the first white settlers arrived in the Gore Valley, forcing the Indians to flee. The area became home to ranchers with grazing stock.
When World War II began, the United States Army created a training center south of the Gore Valley at Pando called Camp Hale. The 10th Mountain Division trained for alpine combat here. The 10th Mountain troops fought in northern Italy and upon return, they became major players in the quickly growing ski industry.
A veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, Peter Seibert, returned to Colorado after the war with injuries. Despite this, he was able to return to skiing and became a member of the Aspen Ski Patrol, Aspen Ski School and eventually the manager of Loveland Basin Ski Area by the late 1950’s. While at Loveland, Pete and Earl Eaton began looking to develop another ski area in the Rocky Mountain region. While looking for uranium, Earl discovered a possible area outside of Gore Valley.
With the USFS granting their operating permit, Vail’s opening day was set for December 15, 1962. During the summer of 1962, construction crews were busy erecting a Bell gondola from Vail Village to Mid Vail, two chairlifts, condos, and base facilities. Luckily, that fall Colorado experienced a late winter, allowing for most structures to near completion.
The first year, ticket prices were set at five dollars. The ski company consisted of one gondola, two chairs, eight ski instructors, and nine ski runs. One of Vail’s biggest assets was it was only half the driving distance from Denver to Aspen.
During the 1960’s, Vail Village was growing at an incredible rate. By 1968, Lionshead was developed. For the 1968-69 season, the Bell Gondola Company installed the Lionshead Gondola, a six-cabin tramway. That same year, President Gerald Ford first traveled to Vail Valley. The President was so impressed by the valley that he began to make annual trips, eventually purchasing property.
The 1970’s brought more construction to Vail. Vail Associates erected new trails and lifts, while the town constructed a transit system, library, ice arena, and parking structures.
By 1980, Vail’s sister resort Beaver Creek opened with several chairlifts and a temporary base lodge.
George Gillette Jr., an avid skier and homeowner in the valley was urged by his family to purchase Vail and Beaver Creek. Upon doing so in 1985, Gillette drastically changed the ski industry in Colorado. His main goal with the resort was customer service and on any typical day, Gillette was just as likely out skiing with his customers as being in a boardroom. During the summer of 1985, Gillette hired Doppelmayr USA to install four high-speed detachable quad chairs including the bubbled Vista Bahn, Mountain Top, Northwoods, and Game Creek lifts. Before 1985, only Breckenridge operated a high-speed lift in Colorado. Armed with the newest lifts, back bowls, and excellent customer service, skier visits soared.
For the 1988-89 season, Vail celebrated its 25th anniversary. The China Bowl opened this same year with a new quad chair, making Vail the largest ski area in North America. The next season, Vail hosted World Alpine Ski Championships, which placed the valley in the media’s spotlight.
By 1992, Gillette, under financial strains was forced to sell Vail Associates to the Apollo Partners of New York. Vail was awarded the World Alpine Ski Championships in 1995 for the 1999-00 ski season. In January of 1997, Vail Associates announced the purchase of Keystone and Breckenridge from Ralston Purina. With four ski areas, Vail Resorts became the largest single operator in Colorado’s ski industry. That same season the old Bell gondola at Lionshead was replaced with a new 12-passenger system.
Category III, or Blue Sky Basin, was Vail Resort’s next major project at the ski area, and despite extreme opposition from local and nationwide environmental groups, Vail Resorts obtained permission by the USFS to install three new high-speed quads for the 1999-00 season.