The Vail ski area has been given the nod to further develop year-round tourism with zip lines, biking trails and a family adventure park at Vail Mountain.
Plans for ‘Epic Discovery’ have been passed by the US Forest Service without objection following more than two years under environmental review.
Epic Discovery will hope to draw visitors to the resort during the quieter summer season with a host of sporting and educational activities.
Vail will construct ziplines and aerial bridges in Game Creek and develop more hiking and cross-country and mountain biking trails.
A family adventure park with an observation platform will be built at the summit of the ski area along with an alpine coaster and ‘micro-interpretive centers’ in the $25 million project.
Vail will partner with The Nature Conservancy to build scientific exhibits at the center.
Vail Mountain COO Chris Jarnot said work will start next summer and plans to be operational by summer 2016.
"We are grateful for our continued partnership with the US Forest Service leading to this positive change that will benefit our economy and our mountains," Jarnot said.
This is the first major summer development project planned under the 2011 Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act, which relaxed rules on creating summer facilities in areas dependent on winter sports tourism.
