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On-mountain summer adventure features “learn through play” activities in the National Forest
Epic Discovery to debut at Heavenly this June
South Lake Tahoe, CA. – May 4, 2016 – Do you want to soar like an eagle? Travel through the forest canopy at high speeds like a goshawk? Find out if you’re as strong as a bear or as nimble as a bat? This summer, Vail Resorts will create a new adventure known as Epic Discovery, which debuts at Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe. Epic Discovery provides a unique, connected, on-mountain summer experience, immersing guests in activities that provide big-time thrills, allowing them to challenge themselves physically, guiding them to explore and better understand their natural surroundings, and ultimately create lifelong memories.
“With Lake Tahoe being a premier summer destination, Epic Discovery will provide an avenue for our
summer guests to experience our spectacular alpine setting in a more connected way; similar to what
our ski and snowboard guests experience in the winter,” said Pete Sonntag, vice president and chief
operating officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort. “This unique experience offers families the opportunity
to explore and learn about our magnificent National Forests in a way that is unparalleled around the
Lake Tahoe Basin.”
This first-of-its-kind comprehensive on-mountain summer adventure will feature many different elements such as zip lines, canopy tours, an alpine coaster, aerial challenge courses, wildlife trail exploration, and interactive, “learn-through-play” activities, which will debut at Heavenly Mountain Resort in June.
“Epic Discovery at Heavenly is going to give families the opportunity to experience our special alpine
environment together, resulting in a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors,” Sonntag continued.
Heavenly’s Epic Discovery project, which received final approval from the U.S. Forest Service on May 14, 2015, has already seen the implementation of several new on-mountain adventures, including a permanent rock climbing wall, summer tubing, kids ropes course and zip line, all located at Adventure Peak at the top of the Heavenly Gondola.
Opening in June, Heavenly’s Epic Discovery will also debut the following new activities:
• Canopy Tour: Set amongst the pines surrounding the mid-station observation deck of Heavenly’s Gondola, this guided tour will immerse guests in the forest habitat with an array of zip-lines and aerial bridges featuring an unfiltered view of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains.
• Alpine Coaster: The gravity-based alpine coaster allows guests on individual sleds to descend on a raised track through the forest and natural rock formations, with incredible scenic views of Lake Tahoe. Located near the existing summer tubing hill, the alpine coaster will utilize gravity for the descent while giving riders full control of their speed.
• Guided 4×4 Mountain Tours: Guests will enjoy Heavenly’s stunning views and unique stories while riding in an all-mountain touring vehicle. The tours offer the best of an alpine summer with views of Lake Tahoe, the Carson Valley and Desolation Wilderness.
• Interpretive Learning: Epic Discovery will integrate a robust environmental interpretive learning program using topics and stories created in collaboration with the Forest Service, the League to Save Lake Tahoe and The Nature Conservancy. Full details on all the Epic Discovery activities at Heavenly, as well as online ticket purchasing will be available soon online at www.skiheavenly.com.
About Epic Discovery:
A Summer Mountain Adventure Summer in the mountains is taking on a whole new feel thanks to legislation passed in 2011, the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act, and Vail Resorts is once again leading the ski industry by being the first to submit and implement a comprehensive new summer activities plan to the U.S. Forest Service. Vail Resorts’ Epic Discovery program encourages “learn through play,” promoting environmental education and forest stewardship with numerous fun experiential activities across three different mountain resorts, Vail Mountain, Breckenridge and Heavenly. The Epic Discovery experience will incorporate extensive environmental and interpretive programming that offers guests a unique opportunity to try new outdoor activities, challenge themselves physically, discover an appreciation for nature and create lasting family memories. Each of these new activities will capitalize on the existing summer visitation at each resort and leverage existing infrastructure, creating the opportunity for high-impact and high-return projects. Through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy – the leading conservation non-profit organization – Epic Discovery will complement the eco-discovery experiences across the mountain with scientific content. Subsequently, Vail Resorts will utilize its new “1% For The Forest” program as a means to contribute one percent of all summer lift ticket and activity revenue to The Nature Conservancy for forest restoration projects on national forest lands. To learn more about Epic Discovery, visit www.epicdiscovery.com.
About Heavenly Mountain Resort
High above the sapphire-blue waters of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort is one of the most unique mountain resorts on the planet. Combining 4,800 acres of off-the-grid terrain and incredible views of Lake Tahoe with high-octane, non-stop nightlife, Heavenly offers a high-energy resort experience like no other. Visitors to Heavenly come prepared to go “all-in” because Heavenly is for those who are up for first chair and are still going strong after last call. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. Visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY to learn more.
