The town of Vail was incorporated four years after the opening of its local ski resort, Vail Ski Resort, in 1962. The town was built as the base village to the resort, which is the largest single mountain ski resort in the United States (second in North America). Within the town's first few years, it had a ski shop, hotel, and restaurant.
Vail Ski Resort was founded by Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton. Vail Mountain contains three sections – the Front-Side, Blue Sky Basin, and the Back Bowls. Most of the mountain is wide open terrain, and its variety of ski runs makes it one of the most popular destinations in Colorado.
Vail maintains a variety of attractions including: