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SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., July 1, 2016 —Vail Mountain unveiled its new Epic Discovery summer mountain experience at a ribbon cutting ceremony June 28. Epic Discovery immerses guests in “learn-through-play” activities that provide big-time thrills, challenge guests physically, and guide them to explore and better understand their natural surroundings. Vail Mountain and Heavenly, Calif., are implementing the concept this summer, and in 2017, Breckenridge will follow.

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Vail began construction on Epic Discovery in summer 2014 with the addition of two rope challenge courses, summer tubing, a four-line Zip Flyer, as well as a kids' challenge course and kids' zip line. This summer's additions include the Game Creek Aerial Adventure seven-segment zip tour and Forest Flyer mountain coaster.

There's also an expanded trail system peppered with “story stakes” that each feature information about the local environment. The trails also offer a series of installations that demonstrate some abilities of native animals, such as vision, stride, agility and strength. Vail partnered with The Nature Conservancy, the USFS and Walking Mountains Science Center on these elements. In return, Vail will contribute one percent of all summer lift ticket and activity revenue to The Nature Conservancy for forest restoration projects.

Vail Resorts was the first resort Forest Service leaseholder to submit and implement a comprehensive new summer activities plan under the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act passed in 2011. Among the dozen or so politicians and government officials who attended the unveiling ceremony were Colorado Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, U.S. Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams, and USDA Deputy Undersecretary Leslie Jones—a strong indication of the importance of the Act.

In his remarks, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz noted that it took 10 years and an act of Congress to make Epic Discovery possible. “I think through a lot of thoughtful discussion and dialogue with all of these partners we were able to create a concept that will do wonders for all of our stakeholders,” he said. “We wanted to make this experience more than just an activity. We wanted to make sure we did something that was truly inspirational and that was truly something that would attract people to the environment.”

Fitzwilliams echoed those thoughts. “I think that this new adventure we are on is going to be something special for the community and for the people experiencing it in the end,” he said. “We want to do more than just activities up here, we want to connect people to their natural forest.”