Vail Continues Expansion at Minnesota's Afton Alps

Skier"We're thrilled that Afton Alps is now a part of our family of resorts,” said Kirsten Lynch, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts after the recent acquisition of the Minnesota ski mountain. In the upcoming months Vail Resorts will invest nearly $10 million into Afton Alps, effectively raising it to the standards of the resorts’ other eight locations out west.


Vail Resorts plans to renovate to the base area and surrounding facilities to give them a more modern feel. Additional enhancements include the installment of state-of-the-art terrain parks with new features and rope tows, as well as Vail Resorts’ signature EpicMix and EpicMix Racing technology. Also high on the agenda are plans for improving the mountain’s ability to make snow. This will allow for Afton Alps to open earlier, extend the winter sports season in the future, and provide a more consistent, high-quality snow surface.


In addition to changes being made at Afton Alps, Vail Resorts presents Minnesota skiers and riders with the opportunity to experience Vail Resorts’ other locations at a good price through the purchase of their “Epic Season Pass” for the 2013-2014 winter season. The pass offers unlimited and unrestricted access to a total of nine ski resorts, including Afton Alps in Minnesota, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, as well as Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. Snow sports enthusiasts who prefer to spend most of their time in Minnesota may prefer to purchase of the “Epic Local Pass.” This option provides unlimited and unrestricted skiing at Afton Alps and various other locations, as well as skiing with some restrictions at the remaining ones.


Purchasing next season’s passes by April 14 guarantees the lowest price, and offers skiers and riders the option of making a $49 down payment now with the remainder due in the fall.
Visit www.epicpass.com.