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The town of Vail, Colorado, was founded in 1966, four years after the opening of the ski resort bearing its name. Located in Eagle County between Eagle and Vail Pass, Vail is two hours west of Denver near Interstate 70, and is situated within White River National Forest.

Native Origins

Vail's earliest inhabitants were Utes, a Native American tribe. When European settlers began to show up in the 1800s, the Utes moved west. However, the present day town of Vail remained desolate and unincorporated until two friends, Peter Siebert and Earl Eaton, climbed Vail Mountain in the late 1950s and decided to build a ski resort on the land, tapping investor support from around the country to fund the emerging enterprise.

In late 1962, the Vail Resort opened, quickly becoming the largest ski resort in Colorado and eventually in the United States. Permanent residents began to settle at the base of the mountain, enraptured by the view, accessibility to Vail Mountain and, at that time, cheap property. Incorporation followed in 1966 and today some 4,500 people call Vail their home with another 5,000 people part-time residents who own vacation property in town.

A Town Grows

Vail grew steadily, but carefully as town leaders made sure that the emerging community balanced its biggest business--the ski resort--with smart land use including setting aside 30 percent of town-owned land as open space, representing 1,100 acres among the 350,000 acres of national forest. Today, Vail boasts the highest elevation botanical gardens in the world, an outdoor amphitheater, recreational paths and many special events held year 'round.

The town lays claim to having the largest free transportation system in the country and a European style shopping district prized for its restaurants, shops, upscale accommodations, and friendly people.

Beyond Skiing

The Vail community is, of course, reliant on its ski resort for sustenance, but skiing isn't the only thing taking place around the community. On Tuesdays throughout the summer, the town hosts weekly concerts at the Ford Amphitheater.

The Vail's Farmer's Market and Art Show is held on Sundays in the summer and street entertainment takes place in July and August on Friday in town. But even when the snow departs, gondola rides take visitors up the mountain and Adventure Ridge, located at Eagle's Nest on Vail Mountain, offers a climbing wall, disc golf, horseback rides, guided nature hikes and more.

A public golf course, nature center, ski museum and ice arena are among the other attractions found in this prized Eagle County community.

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