The Best Season Passes in the Ski Industry Just Got Better for the 2012-2013 Ski and Snowboard Season with the Addition of Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe and More Perks for Pass Holders

BROOMFIELD, Colo., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) begins selling its popular ski and snowboard season passes today for the 2012-2013 winter season with the best prices in the industry. Ski or snowboard eight world-class resorts across three states and 24,980 acres, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in California/Nevada, more than five to six days in one season and all of the passes pay for themselves.  

"With the addition of Kirkwood, this year's season pass lineup offers our guests an epic value with access to the best resorts in Colorado and Lake Tahoe," said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. "The Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic 7-Day, Summit Value Pass, Tahoe Local Pass and Tahoe Value Pass are designed to provide our guests the flexibility to choose the best pass option for them and the opportunity to experience eight truly iconic resorts next ski and snowboard season."

Following is a guide to help skiers and snowboarders choose the best season pass options for them, based on where they live and how much they plan to ski and ride. All passes are available for purchase at www.epicpass.com.

• The Epic Pass™, the best season pass deal in the ski industry offering unlimited, unrestricted skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Arapahoe Basin is available for $659. It pays for itself in less than six days.
• Epic 7-Day™ pays for itself in less than five days and is ideal for people who don't plan to ski more than seven days. The Epic 7-Day gives skiers and snowboarders a total of seven unrestricted days of skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Northstar, plus Arapahoe Basin anytime during the season for a price of $509.
• The Epic Local Pass™, for $509, pays for itself in less than five days and is perfect for locals who can navigate a few more restrictions. The Epic Local Pass offers unlimited and unrestricted skiing or riding at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with limited holiday restrictions at Heavenly and Northstar. It also includes a total of 10 days at Vail or Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. $50 pass holder tickets are also available for purchase during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.
• Summit Value Pass™ pays for itself in less than four days and is a great option for people who only plan to ski Summit County. The Summit Value Pass is available for $419 and provides unlimited and unrestricted lift access to Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, as well as access to Breckenridge with limited holiday restrictions. Pass holders can purchase access to Breckenridge on restricted days for $50 per day.
• New for 2012-2013, the Tahoe Local Pass™ offers skiing and riding seven days a week to Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood resorts. It includes access on Saturdays at all three resorts with limited holidays restrictions. $50 pass holder tickets are also available for purchase during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood all for $419. The Tahoe Local Pass pays for itself in just over four days.
• Tahoe Value Pass™, available for $379, pays for itself in less than four days and is ideal for people who plan to ski or ride seven days a week at Heavenly and six days a week at Northstar and Kirkwood. The Tahoe Value Pass has holiday restrictions to Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood with Saturdays excluded at Northstar and Kirkwood. Pass holders can purchase access to Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood Resorts on restricted days for $50 per day.

Skiers and riders should purchase their pass for next year now as these prices and spring benefits are only guaranteed through April 15, 2012. Vail Resorts is giving guests the option to lock in these prices with a $49 down payment now and the remainder of the balance due in mid-September 2012. All passes are available for purchase on www.epicpass.com starting today, March 12, 2012.

Season Pass Insurance Option: Protect Your Pass Investment in the Event of an Unexpected Circumstance
Vail Resorts encourages its guests to purchase pass insurance. All of its pass products are non-refundable. However, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Pass insurance is $20 for adults and $10 for children (ages 5-12). Coverage applies for all season passes and the Epic 7-Day valid for the 2012-2013 ski and snowboard season. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.

New This Year: Season Pass Auto Renewal Program
The Vail Resorts Season Pass Auto Renewal Program is the most convenient way to automatically renew your season pass every year, while guaranteeing next season's lowest price. Valid on all Vail Resorts season passes excluding college and certain senior passes. The program automatically charges $49 down to a credit card each spring, with the remainder charged in the fall for the same product pass holders purchased when initially enrolling in the Auto Renewal Program. Customers must opt-in to the Auto Renewal program and they may cancel their enrollment at any time, prior to the following spring when the $49 down payment is charged. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.

Special Pass holder Benefits
The Epic Season Pass, Epic 7-Day, Epic Local Pass, Summit Value Pass, Tahoe Local Pass and Tahoe Value Pass purchasers will receive exclusive offers and promotions on lodging, dining, ski rentals, equipment, ski school and special events for the 2012-2013 ski and snowboard season.

Summer 2012 Benefits
Skiers and snowboarders who purchase their passes this spring will also receive special benefits for this summer 2012, including access for sightseeing and gondola rides. All season pass products are non-transferable and non-refundable.

For more information about Vail Resorts season passes or to purchase a pass online, visit www.epicpass.com.

For more information, visit www.epicpass.com or visit www.snow.com to book your trip to visit this spring.

For broadcast-quality video footage and more photos, visit: http://public.me.com/vail.resorts. Please credit Vail Resorts for the photos and video.

About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly and Northstar in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc.