Vail resorts have announced plans to spend $75-$85m on resort improvements at its five ski centres ahead of next winter, although much of this investment appears to be going on new property developments.

On the mountain the money is going on a new high-speed quad chairlift at Vail itself and as yet unspecified upgrades to snowmaking and grooming at all five of the company’s ski areas which include Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado and Heavenly in California.,

Heavenly will also get a large new restaurant at the top of its gondola.

The new Vail Mountain High Noon Lift (Chair 5) high-speed quad lift will continue to serve Sun Up Bowl and Sun Down Bowl. The new lift cuts ride time in half from 12 minutes to six and has an uphill capacity of 2,400 people per hour. The new Chair 5 lift will significantly enhance the guest experience of Vail’s legendary Back Bowls by giving skiers and riders a faster lift that provides easier access to lap terrain in the area and also improves skier circulation across Vail Mountain.

Vail’s tubing hill will also be upgraded with more lanes and a new covered conveyor lift.

Image used courtesy of TheTruthAbout.