Unveiling a new Vail: Lionshead to shed '70s look.

• Author: Titus, Stephen

In August of 2000, a planner with the Town of Vail describing development possibilities in the valley said the core of Vail--including Lionshead and Vail Village--was fully built out, citing "significant geological barriers" to further development.

But the planner may have spoken too soon.

Creative thinking, along with economic forces, have overcome the geological barriers and opened up several new areas of development at Colorado's biggest ski resort.

Beginning with a new $3.4 million skier bridge across Gore Creek in Lionshead, Vail is undertaking a $500 million renovation of the Lionshead and Vail Village base areas that will reshape not only the look of the town but, company representatives hope, recast the base area's image.

"We're kind of embarrassed of the image we have here today," said Jack Hunn, vice president of design, construction and development for Vail Resorts Development Co. "If we continue to ignore our deficiencies, our reputation will be diminished."

Hunn, a 25-year veteran of the company, is speaking most specifically about Lionshead, though significant changes are in the works for Vail Village, too. He said that Lionshead has been out of date almost since it was first built in the 1970s, and has borne the image of a red-headed stepchild to Vail's glitz and prestige. Though access to the mountain via Lionshead is equal to that from Vail Village, and in many ways better, property values in Lionshead have always been significantly lower.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

While still demanding an impressive $600 to $750 per square foot for older residential property, and $1,000 per square foot for remodeled units, those rates around Vail's westernmost base area are dwarfed by Vail Village prices. "These same products in Vail Village would be $2,000 per square foot," Hunn said. "The penthouse in the Lodge at Vail sold for $2,400 per square foot."

It's big numbers like these, said Paul Witt, a spokesman for Vail Resort Development Corp., that has Vail executives looking for ways to erase the distinction between the three base villages: Vail Village, Lionshead and Golden Peak. The architectural mix of the three has been eclectic at best and sometimes funky, ranging from East Coast A-frame in Golden Peak, to Bavarian in The Village and '70s mod in Lionshead.

The redevelopment will create a more unified look with similar architecture, street layouts and landscaping. The remodel of Golden Peak's base area five years ago helped bring it...