Vail, Colorado is a beautiful alpine resort town sitting at 8,150 feet of elevation in the Rocky Mountains and surrounded by the White River National Forest.

The area was once the summer home of the Ute tribe who were displaced when gold was discovered in the area in 1859. Miners and merchants moved in and were soon followed by ranchers and pioneer farmers. This alpine valley remained isolated in the Rockies for many years until 1940 when Colorado Highway 6 made its way through the mountains and Charles Vail, the highway's chief engineer, lent his name to the tiny town.

During World War II the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division founded Camp Hale southeast of Vail, as a survival training camp. Pete Siebert and Earl Eaton, veterans from the camp, saw Vail's potential as a ski resort town and returned to the area after the war to get their dream started.

By the 1970's, Vail, Colorado was the most popular ski resort destination in the United States. The town's small population works in the tourism and outdoor recreation industries. Vail is all about the alpine ski experience with ski chalets, luxury resorts, trendy shops and restaurants that cater to every taste.

This Rockies village experiences remarkably mild temperatures with January highs near 45 degrees and July highs near 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

ADDITIONAL COLORADO CITY PAGES:

• Aspen
• Boulder
• Colorado Springs
• Denver
• Durango

• Although pioneers settled the area in the mid 1800's, Vail, Colorado was not incorporated until 1966.
• The Vail Valley's first skiers were Colorado mail carriers who traveled up to 40 miles per day to reach remote mountain locations.
• The mountains surrounding Vail are not owned by private corporations; they are public Colorado lands rented to the area ski resorts.
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• Vail Mountain
  
  Vail Mountain is one of the most popular ski resorts in the United States and enthusiasts from all corners of the globe come to experience its pristine slopes.
  
  Vail Mountain features three distinct terrain areas and seven bowls on its 5,289 acres of skiing elbow room. This family ski resort has it all: alpine dog sledding, five star dining on the mountain top, dance clubs, night time skiing and awesome snow board areas.
  
  
• Vail Cascade Resort & Spa
  
  The Vail Cascade is one of the finest resorts in the valley. This upscale resort features two heated outdoor pools, hot tubs, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, squash and racquetball facilities, the largest fitness center in Vail and a bike path running along Gore Creek.
  
  The resort is home to the renowned Aria Spa sanctuary dedicated to the achievement of total wellness. The luxury spa is the most extensive facility in Vail, Colorado and provides body and skin treatments to soothe, relax, invigorate and rejuvenate. Many types of massage, body scrubs and wraps, facials and a degree of pampering you never knew existed are all available.
  
  
• Adventure Ridge
  
  Vail's Adventure Ridge sits at the top the mountain and offers activities for every member of the family. Ski bikes, half bike and half skis, are fun for all ages. Slippery, rip-roaring snow tubing lanes, a kids snowmobile track, a huge trampoline and snowshoeing are just a few of the activities available.
  
  Nature at Night offers discussions under the Colorado stars about mountain wildlife, astronomy, conservation and more.

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Lionshead Village...
by Richard Cummins
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Vail...
by Michael S. Lewis
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