Nestled at the base of Vail Mountain, in the heart of Vail Village, The Lodge at Vail is an old-world ski lodge, much like those you see in such movies as “North by Northwest” and even “White Christmas. They say it “combines the ideal location with world-class services and award-winning dining,” and indeed it does. To the side, the Lodge looks very much like an old coaching house, to the front it opens onto a view you could find only in Colorado – see the image at right. The Lodge at Vail is an up-scale ski resort; a lodge with access directly to slopes behind it. But what about gold? The Lodge is a member of the RockResorts group, and thus its guests have full access to the RockResorts Golf Trail – six world-class, championship golf courses designed by some of the biggest names in the industry: Norman, Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Jr., etc. Five of them are within a 20-minute drive of the Lodge.
The golf season in Vail is a short one (mid-May through the second week in October), but don’t let that put you off, the courses are spectacular:
- The River Course at Keystone (Hurdzan-Fry)
- Keystone Ranch Golf Course (Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Beaver Creek Golf Course (Robert Trent Jones Jr.)
- Red Sky Golf Club (Tom Fazio Course)
- Red Sky Golf Club (Greg Norman Course)
- Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr.)
The Resort: A combination of luxury and old-world charm, The Lodge at Vail boasts is a AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning hotel. While the emphasis is to retain the charm of an alpine inn, there’s denying the upscale elegance of the resort. An intimate alpine resort that prides itself on a location unlike any other, even in Vail, The Lodge at the base of Vail Mountain, in the very heart of Vail Village, is within a few steps of its main ski lift; and the boutiques, shops, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in Vail's pedestrian village are right outside the front door.
The Accommodations: Rarely will you come across a resort that offers such a diversity of guest accommodations as does The Lodge at Vail. Thirteen styles of room or suite are available. They range from the standard Lodge Room (there’s very little about it that could be classed as “standard”) to the ultimate in luxury: the Three Bedroom Penthouse:
Recent Awards:
- AAA Four Diamond Award, 2007 - Lodging
- AAA Four Diamond Award, 2007 - Dining (The Wildflower)
- Listed as one of the 500 Greatest Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure for 2004-2005.
- Listed as the highest rated Ski Resort Hotel in North America by
- Condé Nast Traveler for 2004-2005.
- On Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List, 2004-2005
- Highest Rated Ski Resort in North America, 2004-2005 in DEPARTURES Magazine
- Designated North America's Number One Resort by SKI Magazine
History of The Lodge at Vail:
“In March of 1957, two former members of the 10th Mountain Division, Peter Seibert and Earl Eaton, crested the summit of what was later to become known as Vail Mountain. On this day, after seven hours with skis strapped to their backs, the dream of Vail began. “Over the next five years, the town of Vail, named after Vail Pass at the eastern end of the valley, began to take shape. Boosted by the founding of the Vail Corporation and the purchase of a 500-acre ranch at the base of the mountain, the dream was quickly on its way to becoming a reality.
“At that time, the U.S. Forest Service, which administers the mountain land, stipulated that there be at least 30 sleeping rooms included in the development if the project were to proceed. Determined to let nothing stand in its way, The Lodge at Vail came to be.
“When Vail Mountain opened on December 15, 1962, with one gondola, two chair lifts, eight ski instructors, and a $5 lift ticket, The Lodge at Vail had been open for just one month. However, built to replicate the time-honored Lodge at Sun Valley, The Lodge at Vail soon became the cornerstone property of what would eventually become the Vail Village.
“From its humble beginnings, Vail's founders could never have dreamed that their vision, with its gondola ride, breakfast, dinner, and lodging (priced at just $10 in 1963), would some day turn out to be North America's premier ski resort. Nor could they have imagined that the rustic 65-room chalet-style inn just steps from Chair 1 would one day transform into a world-renowned hotel.”
- Compare Prices on nights for the Lodge at Vail Square
How to Get There:
The best option, in my opinion, is to fly into Denver International Airport, then rent a car and drive over to Vail. It should take no more than a couple of hours and the scenery along the way is spectacular.
Look for the best airline and car rental deals with these two aggregators, which provide travelers with the most up-to-date search tool to compare prices on airfares and car rentals of all ratings:
Back to My Review of Rock Resorts Golf TrailContact:
The Lodge at Vail174 East Gore Creek Drive
Vail, CO 81657
970-476-5011
