Time Machine: 30 years ago, proposals filed for Blue Sky Basin, downloadable Tea Cup lift for earlier openings on Vail Mountain
Vail Trail/Vail Daily archive
30 years ago
Feb. 25, 1994
Vail Associates submitted a proposal to the U.S. Forest Service requesting approval to develop the Category III area of Vail Mountain, the Vail Trail reported.
The Category III area was known locally as Pete’s and Super Bowls, but would go on to be called Blue Sky Basin.
“One high-speed chairlift would carry skiers above the ridge between the two bowls, while two other high-speed lifts would service the individual bowls,” the Vail Trail reported. “In a separate application to the Forest Service, a fourth high-speed quad chairlift is being proposed for Tea Cup Bowl, allowing skiers to download into the expansion area before the existing Back Bowls are open.”
Vail Associates senior vice president Chris Ryman said the area “will offer guests consistently good early- and late-season skiing opportunities,” the Vail Trail reported.
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“In addition, officials plan to implement promotional strategies to boost skier days during low-use periods while maintaining existing peak periods as they are,” the Vail Trail reported. “Strategies could include selling discounted multi-day ticket packages during early and late season.”
Ryman said the Category III terrain, during the 1993-94 season, could have allowed the mountain to be open by Nov. 7.
40 years ago
March 2, 1984
The Ravinos’ annual St. Paddy’s Day party would be held on Vail Pass, the Vail Trail reported.
Quoting “Red Bob” Nelson, vice grand marshall of the local chapter of the Ravinos, the Trail reported that the Vail Pass party would be “a homecoming of sorts” for many members of the club.
“It’s a good practice area where most of the members first got their wings,” Nelson said.
“Wings is the Ravinos’ vernacular for flying upside down on skis, as it were, via inverted aerials,” the Vail Trail continued. “Getting one’s wings is a prerequisite for wearing the club’s colors, similar in appearance to the Hell’s Angels famed jean jackets. But the Ravinos’ habit of daredevil aerial stunting was the main reason Vail Associates shut down the event. Liability problems were considered too risky. Two years ago the club moved to Meadow Mountain, where Minturn officials complained about parking problems at the Dowd Junction exit. Last year the club opted for a site near East Vail, but Vail officials complained about parking problems and cars blocking the road for emergency vehicles.”
50 years ago
March 1, 1974
The town of Minturn discussed improving old water lines and redrilling two wells near Cross Creek to increase the volume of water to the town.
“It will take a bond issue to pay these improvements off, and according to Ron McLaughlin, water engineer, it will be easier to get the bonds than it will to get the pipe needed,” the Vail Trail reported.
“There’s a shortage of pipe. You have to allow about three months for delivery of it,” McLaughlin said.
80 years ago
March 3, 1944
A letter from a Japanese prisoner of war who had friends in Eagle reached the Eagle Valley Enterprise newspaper.
Gilbert Adams wrote that he was doing well and working every day.
“I am really in fine health,” he said.
90 years ago
March 2, 1934
Don L. Carleton, who broke out of jail in Lake County in December of 1933, was arrested near Las Vegas, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.
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“Carleton is the man apprehended by Sheriff Wilson of Eagle County as the mastermind in the box car robberies which were so plentiful on the Rio Grande railroad between Leadville and Grand Junction last summer and fall,” the Enterprise reported.
110 years ago
Feb. 27, 1914
The Lady Belle mine in Eagle was set to expand its silver ore operation, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.
“The Lady Belle is expecting to put on an additional force of men the first of March and push the work,” the Enterprise reported. “They now have two teams hauling ore and these two teams are bringing in from ten to twelve tons of ore daily, which is being loaded for shipment to the smelter.”
