Vail Mountain's 60th Anniversary

Frissell, Toni, 1907-1988, photographer of 1960’s Ice Bar.
Created / Published March, 1964 for Vogue.

We love a birthday week or even a birthday month, but Vail Mountain is doing us one better, celebrating a full birthday ski season. The resort will be celebrating 60 years of epic skiing and Après that make it famous – all season long.

From a special gondola cabin on Gondola One, to Ice Bars, two new chairlifts, and two limited edition 10th Mountain Whiskey Bourbons this season has a lot in store. Keep reading for details on what is in store this season!

Game Creek Express (#7) & Sun Down Express (#17)
Game Creek Express (#7), was replaced this summer with a high-speed six-person chairlift that improves uphill capacity by nearly 50 percent. Sun Down Express (#17) chairlift connects the bottom of Sun Down and Sun Up Bowls to Wildwood, improving the experience from Vail Mountain’s iconic Back Bowls.

Birthday Bash
A week-long celebration will take place throughout the week of December 15th ( the official birthday of Vail Mountain). The celebration will center around Vail Mountain’s Ice Bars with a focus on vintage après

Look Ma Mogul Challenge
Located on the classic mogul run, Look Ma, Vail will host an amateur mogul competition along with vintage themed contests and prizing

Vail Après Passport
A limited number of Vail Après Passports will be available throughout the season at special Passport Drops. Discover special après events and giveaways that will be open to passport holders!

Vintage Vail: Après & Ice Bars
Although the original Ice Bar, started by an entrepreneurial local in 1964, was shut down by Vail Associates, Forest Service , and the Health Department it is finally making a triumphant return. Two new Ice Bars return to Vail Mountain and will have locations at both Eagle’s Nest and Wildwood. This vintage Vail setting will feature music, food and signature cocktails. Rumor has it, you can reserve one of four Snow Bungalows located at the Igloo Village at the Eagle’s Nest Ice Bar.

10th Mountain Signature Spirits
Local distillery,10th Mountain Whiskey, has partnered with Vail Mountain on two exclusive spirits: the Vail Mountain 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Bourbon and Henry’s Legacy Bourbon. Offered exclusive on-mountain, and at the 10th Mountain Whiskey tasting room in Vail Village.

Vail 60th Anniversary Pale Ale
Local brewery, Vail Brewing Company, released a “Vail 60th Anniversary Pale Ale” limited-edition beer. ⁠They are offering a mixed 4-pack of the 60th Anniversary Ale at their VBC taprooms in Vail Village and Eagle-Vail. These beers are also being served exclusively at on-mountain lodges and at select locations within the village.

⁠In addition to developing and brewing the beer, Scahill also collaborated with a team at Vail to design and create four distinctive labels for the beer utilizing imagery from the early days of the mountain that provide a unique glimpse of Vail from 60 years ago.

Vail Mail
Free postcards featuring fine photography artwork from Gray Malin are available to send from 11,250 feet at the Legacy Hut and will be mailed from the highest mailbox in Vail. Be sure to grab a special edition pin while you are at the Legacy Hut!

60th Pop-up Shop
Mid Vail will feature a 60th Anniversary Pop-Up Shop. This store will sell merchandise focused on Vail’s 60th Anniversary Season!

Fine Art Experience Featuring Gray Malin
Legendary fine art photographer,Gray Malin, has partnered with Vail Mountain on a Fine Art Experience at Bistro 14 which will feature an updated cocktail menu.

Gondola Cabins
When Vail Mountain turned 50, Vail Resorts painted Cabin #50 on Gondola One Gold. This year in celebration of Vail Mountain’s 60th anniversary season, they are painting Cabin #60 a signature diamond white. You can get the chance to ride Vail’s newest signature cabin to celebrate the mountain’s latest milestone year. We’ve also been told to keep an eye out for gondola cabins featuring fine photography artwork, as well as a special luxury gondola cabin! We can’t think of a better way to access the 5,317 acres of skiable terrain.

Food & Beverage
Signature throwback food items will be available all across Vail Mountain. Updated menu items include the Cookshack Cobb at Mid Vail Chicken, Wild Rice Soup at Wildwood, and Pork Green Chile at Two Elk as well as offering a German Biergarten inspired menu at Express Lift and 60th themed cocktails at the Arrabelle.

This season is sure to include a few surprises we haven’t shared here, so make sure you let us know what 60th anniversary celebrations you are attending this season!