WINTER IS HERE: HEAVENLY, NORTHSTAR BEGIN SNOWMAKING

Skiers and Snowboarders Can Expect Best Early-Season Conditions Thanks to Lake Tahoe’s Largest Snowmaking Systems

South Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Calif. – October 26, 2011 – Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort began making snow last night, a sure sign that winter is upon us and sweet music to the ears of skiers and snowboarders everywhere. Signaling that the Lake Tahoe snowsports season is just days away if temperatures continue to cooperate, Lake Tahoe’s two largest snowmaking systems give the resorts’ guests confidence that they will be skiing and snowboarding on the best snow surfaces at Lake Tahoe on opening day, scheduled at both resorts for Friday, November 18, 2011, weather and conditions permitting.

Under optimum conditions, the West Coast’s largest snowmaking operation can cover 73 percent of Heavenly’s trails in machine-made snow. In more visual terms, Heavenly can produce three-and-a-half feet of snow over one acre in an hour. That’s enough snow to blanket a football field with eight-and-a-half feet during an average three-hour game.

“Snowmaking is such a critical service that really improves the overall ski and snowboard experience,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “It’s another element that differentiates Vail Resorts’ Tahoe properties from the other resorts around the Lake.”

Heavenly has begun making snow at the top of the Gondola and on California Trail.

With the ability to open limited terrain with just 48 hours of snowmaking if cold temperatures and low humidity continue, Northstar features the largest snowmaking system on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, and can cover 50 percent of its trails in machine-made snow.

“It’s always exciting when temperatures cooperate and we’re able to fire up the snowmaking system for the first time of the season,” said Bill Rock, vice president and chief operating officer of Northstar California Resort. “In addition to offering guests $30 million in improvements this season, we’ll also offer the best early season snow conditions in North Lake Tahoe.”

Northstar has begun making snow on trails including Main Street, Lower Pioneer, Pinball, Lumberjack, in the Big Easy beginner learning area, and on Cat’s Face where Shaun White’s signature 22’ halfpipe will be built.

Photo and Video Assets

Available by noon PT at https://public.me.com/vail.resorts under the “Public” and “Heavenly” folders, or upon request.

Heavenly and Northstar Are Making Snow and Offering Early Season Deals to Celebrate!

It's official, Heavenly has turned on the West Coast's largest snowmaking system in preparation for the 2011-12 ski and snowboard season! To celebrate we’re offering a screaming early-season deal; spend three nights and ski or ride two days at Heavenly starting as low as $255 per person!

Guests interested in experiencing Northstar are invited to Stay & Ski FREE™ starting at just $105 per person, per night. Some restrictions apply. For reservations or more information, visit NorthstarCalifornia.com or call 1.800.GO.NORTH.

The 2011-2012 winter season is scheduled to run from November 18, 2011 to April 15, 2012, weather and conditions permitting. Season passes are now on sale, starting at just $389 for the Tahoe Value Pass, which provides seven-day-per-week access to Heavenly Mountain Resort and six-day-per-week access to Northstar California Resort. Some restrictions apply. Other pass options are available, including the Epic Pass, priced at just $669. The Epic Pass offers unrestricted access all season long to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, and both Heavenly and Northstar California Resort at Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.

About Heavenly Mountain Resort

Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind combination of scenic beauty and exhilarating on-snow experience. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. One of the largest resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features more than 94 trails for every level of skier or snowboader. For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.

About Northstar California Resort

One of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America, Northstar is host to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, movie theaters, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 97 ski trails spread across 3,170 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and more.

Northstar is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and in the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

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