Shirley Welch

Vail: the First 50 Years (Images of America) Shirley Welch

Prior to 1962, sheep ranchers and homesteaders occupied Gore Creek Valley. A sleepy place studded with aspen and pine groves, the valley lay ripe for discovery. Two men, Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, had a dream to build the perfect ski area. Earl knew of a mountain, and they climbed No-Name Mountain in 1957. Although the mountain seemed unpretentious, when Pete reached the top and saw the treeless back bowls, he smiled at Earl. The men had found their mountain. That day, Vail was born. With the spirit of adventure, the dream shaped the mountain, the mountain shaped the village, and the village prospered. As American skiing grew, it became a sport and then a lifestyle, and Vail is now the largest ski resort in America. Winter is why people come and summer is why they stay. How this all happened in 50 years is a story of dreams, perseverance, creativity, and unforgettable people.