History of Vail & Montaneros

Montaneros was constructed in the early days of Lionshead. 

Opening its doors in 1974, Montaneros right away embraced its reputation as a family boutique condominium property.  Some of the original or very early owners are still owners today.  Montaneros has endured the test of time and technology, and over the years owners have kept up with changing unit styles by renovating their units when necessary. 

In 1999, an extensive pool and elevator replacement was completed to emphasize one of the nicest pool areas in the Town of Vail. 

In 2005, with Vail’s “New Dawn” just taking shape Montaneros jumped to the forefront and completed a multimillion dollar exterior renovation. 

In 2007, they completed a lobby remodel, that completely changed the look and feel in the lobby.  Montaneros has truly stood the test of  the last 34+ years and is ready to take on the next 34+ years.

Vail History

Vail was founded by Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton in 1962, between the town of Eagle, Colorado and Vail Pass, which was named after Charles Vail, designer of the highway that passed through the valley. Seibert joined the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division during World War II, which trained at Camp Hale, just southeast of Vail. During Seiberts' and Eatons' time with the 10th, they trained at several resorts around the Vail area, such as Loveland, Keystone and Aspen. While roaming the area mountains, Seibert and Eaton discovered a peak that had the perfect location and base area for a resort, they named this peak "No-name Mountain", but it would eventually become Vail. Construction of the Vail resort began in 1962 in a valley devoid of civilization. It opened just 6 months later on December 15th. There were 3 lifts upon opening, one gondola that ran from the frontside base to the peak, a lift from mid-mountain to the peak, and a lift that brought skiers back up from the back bowls. In just 7 years, Vail had grown to become the most popular ski resort in Colorado, and a village had started forming at the base, near the gondola, which had been replaced since its opening. Also at that time, the construction of the infamous I-70 highway had begun.

During the 1970s, Vail had blossomed into a Super-resort, and skiers and vacationers had started paying Euro-trip prices for a Colorado vacation. Subsequently, Vail's Euro-esque village began construction and expansion.

In 1972, Vail and Beaver Creek were slated to host the Skiing portions of the 1976 Winter Olympic Games. However, the voters of Colorado shot down the idea, and the 1976 Winter Games went to Innsbruck, Austria.

On March 26th, 1976, Vail’s success was tainted by a gondola accident at Lionshead. A carrying cable snagged on a support tower and caused two cabins to snag and derail off the high towers, killing four and injuring eight. The gondola closed the remainder of the season until the Von Roll Lift Company installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system, preventing any further accidents.

In 1982, Vail had another chance to be the center of attention of the international skiing community when it hosted, to incredible hype and success, the Alpine Skiing World Cup. The Cup was held in Vail again a decade later, to even bigger fanfare.

In 1985, Vail opened 5 high-speed detachable quad lifts on the mountain, the second mountain in the country to use them, after Breckenridge.

1996 marked a huge change for the Vail Valley area ski resorts, as Vail Associates bought Vail Breckenridge Ski Resort and Heavenly Ski Resort. The parent company allowed skiers to buy an all-mountain pass that granted admission to all of their resorts.

In 1998, the Earth Liberation Front set fire to the resorts' Two Elk Lodge, Camp one, Ski Patrol HQ, and 2 lifts, causing US$12,000,000 in damage. A new Two Elk Lodge was built in place of the old one, as well as a new Camp one and ski patrol HQ, Poma Ski Lifts Co. was brought in to replace the 2 destroyed lifts with high speed quads.

In 2000, Vail unleashed Pete Seiberts ideal skiing vision, the Blue Sky Basin, an intermediate-expert backcountry area which offers mogul, gladed and tree skiing, and glorious cliffs and ridges. It has been heralded as one of the best skiing experiences in the world.

Vail has been declared the #1 Ski resort in the US 14 times over the last 17 years. 

According to a press release on August 1, 2006, Vail began offsetting all of its power usage by purchasing wind power. They were the 2nd largest corporation in the United States to do so as well.

In summer 2007, Vail replaced the Highline double chair with a high-speed quad.

RESORT STATISTICS

ELEVATION

    * Base: 8,120 ft (2,475 m)
    * Summit: 11,570 ft (3,527 m)
    * Vertical Rise: 3,450 ft (1,052 m)


AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 346 inches (8.8 m)

TRAILS

•   Skiable area: 5,289 acres (21 km²)
•   Trails: 193 total (18% beginner, 29% intermediate, 53% advanced/expert)
•   Longest run: Riva Ridge - 4 miles (6.4 km)
•   Terrain Parks: 4
•   1 Superpipe

BOWLS: 10 (7 official)

•   Sun Down Bowl
•   Sun Up Bowl
•   China Bowl
•   Siberia Bowl
•   Tea Cup Bowl
•   Inner Mongolia Bowl
•   Outer Mongolia Bowl
•   Pete's Bowl
•   Earl's Bowl
•   Game Creek Bowl

LIFTS: 34 total

•   1 Gondola (12 person)
•   16 High-Speed Quads
•   1 Fixed Grip Quad
•   2 Triple Chairs
•   5 Double Chairs
•   10 Surface Lifts