Vail Is the Colorado Ski Town Old Money Never Traded In

Vail exists because two men, Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, decided in the late 1950s that a ranching valley in Colorado's Gore Range had the terrain for a ski resort, and by 1962 they had built one modelled loosely on the Tyrolean villages Seibert had seen while serving in Europe during the Second World War. That founding choice, a compact, car-free village of alpine-style buildings rather than a purely functional base area, is a large part of why Vail still reads as old-money rather than nouveau-riche, even as it grew into one of the largest single ski resorts in North America.

A president's town, on the record

Vail's old-money credentials are unusually well documented, largely because of Gerald Ford. The former US president skied and kept a home in Vail for decades after leaving office, and the town's amphitheatre, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, and its adjoining alpine garden still carry his name. That long, public association helped cement Vail's reputation as a discreet retreat for people who did not need the resort to prove anything about them.

View on Google Maps →

Second homes, not headlines

Unlike resorts built around nightlife, Vail's wealthier residents have historically favoured privately held homes along Gore Creek and in the hills above the village over hotel stays, a pattern that keeps the resort's actual social life largely out of view. Nearby Beaver Creek, developed later by the same resort company specifically as a gated, more secluded alternative, absorbed much of the demand for an even quieter version of the same setting.

What the terrain actually offers

Vail Mountain's back bowls, a series of wide-open, ungroomed basins on the mountain's far side, are a genuine draw for strong skiers, not just a backdrop; the resort's sheer scale, one of the largest single-mountain ski areas in the country, is part of why it has kept its reputation among serious skiers as well as second-home owners.

Traveller tips

• Vail has no major airport of its own; most visitors fly into Eagle County Regional Airport nearby or Denver International, roughly two hours away by road.
• The back bowls are ungroomed and best suited to confident, advanced skiers; check conditions before heading over.
• Vail Village is pedestrian-only at its centre, so plan for a short walk or a free in-town shuttle from most hotels and parking areas.
• Restaurant and lift-ticket demand peaks around the Christmas and February half-term weeks; book well ahead for those dates.