In case you somehow missed the huge construction project on the corner of Willow Bridge Road and Meadow Drive in Vail Village, go take a look because it is massive and for lack of a better work, impressive. The Solaris project is going to change Vail that I am sure of; it is all coming together and expected to open on the 4^th of July 2010.

Solaris is going to feature 78 whole ownership condominium units, retail shops, art galleries, dining, three movie theatres, a bowling alley and an ice skating rink that becomes a pop jet fountain in the summer. The site has 310 underground parking spaces, 200 of which will be for public parking. While Solaris amenities will be a huge attraction for owners it is also a facility that is focused on being a center that the entire community can enjoy. The mastermind behind the project, Craig Cohn had a vision to give Vail a town center, a vital piece of the community that has been missing up until now and with that vision Solaris was designed with a ½ acre open plaza that can be utilized by locals of Vail Valley, Solaris owners, and visitors alike.

“I want to change the way people live in Vail Village. I want to create effortless mountain living with metropolitan convenience, unsurpassed quality, amenities and service. Most importantly, I want to do it in a way that enhances Vail’s pristine beauty and feels worlds apart for sterile urban environments.” Pete Knobel

The whole ownership aspect of Solaris strays away from the traditional fractional and hotel options that have been the standard in Vail until now. Solaris offers all of the amenities a five star hotel would including a 24 hour concierge, valet parking, room service, housekeeping, etc but because it is full ownership it will be a home for residents. It combines the easy of the mountain lifestyle with the convenience of city life. The units vary in size and prices ranch from 1.4 million to 19 million and every unit was created with a family oriented design with spacious, open floor plans and vaulted ceilings that never drop below 9 ft. Craig Cohn and his team wanted to use materials that represent the pristine and unique nature of Vail but also integrate a “fresh look at Alpine design” with current technology and a more contemporary style. By using natural woods and stones that are indigenous to Vail Valley and bay windows to enjoy a multitude of views the rooms are bright and cheery while setting the standard for luxurious living.

Cohn said that 65% of the available commercial spaces in Solaris have been spoken and two thirds of the condominiums have already sold but he is not yet ready to release any information about which retailers or restaurants will be situated in the new town center but anticipation is high. It’s no doubt that Solaris is going to define what may be the future of Vail Ski Resort but it is my hope that if the future brings glitz and glamour the humble heart of Vail will never be lost.

For more information on Solaris visit www.solarisvail.com or visit the sales office at 1 Willow Bridge Rd open daily from 10-8

Wine, grape stomps, and an outdoor event in the shadow of the Vail Valley’s fall colors, who wouldn’t want to go to the Churchill Wine Cellars Harvest Crush this weekend? Churchill Wine Cellars will be hosting the Harvest Crush this weekend at 4 Eagle Ranch to celebrate the 2009 harvest.

Churchill Wine Cellars has been making wine in the valley for 18 years from good old California grapes and with old world care. The Harvest Crush event is focused around giving wine club members and their families a memorable and exciting experience. It is an all day event from 9 am to 2 pm and includes a grape stomping competition, grape spinning, grape tossing and even a grape peeling competition. The event is truly geared around a fun, family friendly environment.

At the end of the event wine club members are invited to assist in feeding grapes through the grape press, bottling and corking their own wine to take home. The team at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals will be attending and everyone is extremely excited. We hope to see you there.

What: Churchill Wine Cellars Harvest Crush
Where: 4 Eagle Ranch, Wolcott
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday from and Saturday

It’s that time of year again, to have some fun and show your goodwill by showing up for Wild West Days on Sunday, September 27. This year will be the 19^th anniversary of the Wild West fundraiser which is dedicated to the nine Eagle County School District’s nine elementary schools. It’s no secret that asking for huge donations this year is not so easy but Wild West Days offers fun and interaction with students and parents so you know where your donations are going.

Last year about 4,000 people showed up to 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, a very impressive turn out and everyone had a blast. The cost is only $5 a person and kids 2 and under are free, a very affordable price for a day full of fun activities that inspire the neighbor helping neighbor attitude the west was built upon.

Thanks to the local businesses and residents of Eagle County who have made generous donations for a cause they believe in Wild West Days is possible. Not to mention the volunteers who have put in hours of work to make sure the event is planned down to every detail and packed with memorable experiences that will keep the community involved year after year. The event is broken into four main pieces that will raise money and keep everyone having a good time.

The Raffle, raffle tickets will be sold by the elementary school kid’s and at the end of the event there will be a drawing for raffle prizes.

The Silent Auction is one of the biggest auctions to take place in Eagle County every year and with more than $100,000 worth of goodies it is sure to be a highlight of the days. Everything from lodging packages and spa treatments to dinners and services will be available.

Entertainment is spread throughout the entire event and is the driving force behind Wild West Days. There will be live stage entertainment, carnival games, wagon rides, craft booths, a bake sale and even a down home ranch cooked meal for lunch.

The 1^st ever online auction opened on September 1^st and is a great chance to get the entire community involved and reaches out to those who can’t make it out on Sunday. If you are interested in bidding on the online auction or doing some pre- shopping before the big auction visit http://auctions.readysetauction.com/wildwestday/home

The Wild West Days event is sure to be a success this year and if you have the time try and make it out for some good old fun and support the kids of the community.

Event Schedule:

2009 Event Schedule

I don’t want to sound like a broken record here but it’s important not to deny the current economic state and its implications, more importantly it’s important we know what is being done about it so we can be sure to learn from the mistakes of our past.

An important part of the tourism in Colorado, a huge driving industry for the state itself is international travel. In 2008, international traveling spent $100 billion in the United States and in 2007 the tourism industry, alone brought in $13.7 billion in revenue for the state and employed 150,000 locals. The fact is internationally travelers spend on average three times more than domestic travelers on lodging, dining, and restaurants which is a vital part of state and national revenue.

Beyond the dollar amounts that tourists bring in is the priceless experiences they take with them that shape their perception of America and Colorado. When travelers have an unforgettable experience they are likely to come back and share our culture with their own societies and the perceptions will trickle out worldwide.

Declines in visitation have been on a downhill slope since 9/11 and have left a $182 billion shortfall in new visitor spending and without those dollars the potential of 245,000 jobs have not been created. In 2009 the number of overseas visitor dropped another 10 percent from 2008. The numbers of decline across Colorado have been similar, Summit County saw a 15 percent tax revenue declines on average between 2008 and 2009.

Lodging sales in Colorado dropped about 15.8 percent from the previous year, occupancy rates went down by 12.4 percent and the average room rate dropped 7.4 percent. The sings for the year to come seem to be slightly looking up but nobody has a crystal ball and we all have to prepare for another tight year.

We all know things have been on a downhill slope however, let’s focus on how we are moving out of this situation. A bill recently passed by the U.S. Senate, The Tourism Promotion Act of 2009 is meant to boost travel in tourism by helping market the U.S. to overseas tourist, create jobs related to the hospitality industry and in the end increase international travel to United States destinations including Colorado.

The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 would market travel in the United States to overseas tourists – including regions of the country that aren’t well-known destinations. The bill would:
• Establish the Corporation for Travel Promotion, an independent, non-profit corporation governed by an 11-member board of directors appointed by the Secretary of Commerce;
• Create an Office of Travel Promotion in the Department of Commerce to develop programs to increase the number of international visitors to the United States; and
• Set up a Travel Promotion Fund, financed by a public-private matching program. Much of the cost would be borne by international travelers, who would pay a $10 fee collected through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

“Colorado’s tourism industry is an economic engine we must keep strong,” said Colorado Senator Mark Udall, who co-sponsored the bill. “The Travel Promotion Act will help us market our ski slopes, rivers and parks overseas, boosting an industry that means jobs and prosperity for thousands of Coloradans.”

Supporters of the Travel Promotion Act estimate it will generate $4 billion in spending without any cost to taxpayers because the program is designed to pay for itself. While there have been some criticism and worry that the $10 fee will deter visitors, the response has been good and it is expected to see results.

Overall, the message is positive and there is a light at the end of this recession tunnel. We are moving forward, adjusting well, and it’s important to all come together and keep the integrity of Colorado what it has always been.

Call 970.477.1777 to book your fall getaway in Vail Colorado today!

Fall is upon us in the Valley and the mountainsides are on blazing with gold, orange, red and green. Fall in the Rockies is absolutely breathtaking and often an overlooked time for travelers to visit. Fall is the perfect season to vacation in Vail, not only because the aspens are on fire but resorts are offering unbeatable deals.

The Cascade Resort and Spa released its fall specials this week and they are too tantalizing to say no to. Starting in September, the Cascade is offering a “Fall for Vail” special with rooms going for a tempting $99 per night. The rates are applicable for most of the autumn season and into late November.

The Vail Cascade is Vail’s only ski in/ ski out AAA Four Diamond Resort, seated at the base of Vail Mountain it is the perfect time of enjoy the scattered Aspens and the fall recreation Gore Creek and Vail Valley have to offer. Guests at Vail Cascade will be able to enjoy the 78,000 square foot Aria Spa & Club where they can receive personalized instruction or group fitness classes. Guests are also in the center of nature’s Rocky Mountain playground where they can use a number of concierge services to plan any activity one can dream up. After hard days of playing in the crisp, fall, mountain air be sure to check out one of their three restaurants included Chap’s Grill & Chophouse, Colorado’s only Four- Diamond chophouse.

The Vail Cascade is a 292 room property, offering 27 suits, 80 must see condominiums and a plethora of private homes to accommodate larger groups. Not only are the rooms luxurious and a fine example of Vail’s hospitality but they just wrapped up a $30 million renovation featuring: a redesign of the creek side decks and patios which includes an infinity edge pool and hot tub, a glass wall that allows you to feel as if you are spilling into beautiful Gore Creek, three outdoor fire pits and it is all seated in the shadow of Vail Mountain where the sounds of the creek will wash away your worries. The renovation also included a new restaurant, Atwater on Gore Creek which features American cuisine, two menus to choose from, and a gorgeously crafted new design. They also updated porte cochere: a café that serves grab and go meals, an updated Fireside Bar is part of the renovation along with remodeled spa locker rooms, updated furnishing and additional meeting space which brings the resort’s total square footage to over 45,000 square feet.

There is no property better for a better deal but you better hurry these rooms will book fast. On behalf of those in the Vail Valley and at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals thank you Cascade.

For more information about Vail Cascade or Aria Spa, visit www.vailcascade.com or call 970.477.1777

I spent this Saturday on the Eagle River and would have rather been fishing but I opted to join a team of about 50 volunteers to help pick up garbage so residents and visitors the Valley can continue to fish and enjoy the Eagle for years to come. I joined about five guides from Alpine River Outfitters to do our part and honestly, seeing how careless we can be with the gifts of Mother Nature will never cease to amaze me.

There were tennis and golf balls galore, a lot of cigarette butts, tires, old railroad nails, and plenty of rusted car frames and axels. I picked up superman sheets and a full gallon of milk, someone found a full bottle of rum, plungers were fished out of the river, and we found a great pair of heart shaped white sunglasses. It’s interesting to consider how every piece of garbage found its way down to the Eagle, everything has a story, but before you throw your beer cans on the bank it’s important to consider the Eagle River, too, has a story and purpose all its own. 

The Eagle River is not the most known River in Colorado and is easily overlooked as it sits in the shadow of the legendary Frying Pan but never the less it is an extremely important part to the livelihood of those in the Vail Valley. The snow that blankets the Rocky Mountains in the winter does not only give us unforgettable powder days but also, a trout fishery that provides us with good fishing all year-round.

The Eagle River was named by the local Ute Indians who thought the river had as many tributaries as there are feathers in an eagle’s tail. The river was hit hard by the mining boom in Colorado and much of its history is marked by circumstances similar to the Gilman Site.

The Gilman Mine site is a little southwest of Minturn and is currently a ghost town and strictly off limits to the public. In 1886, during the Colorado Silver Boom, Gilman was the center of lead and zinc mining in Colorado and concentrated around the now-flooded Eagle Mine. The Eagle Mine was abandoned in 1984 by order of the EPA because of the high levels of toxic pollutants and contamination of ground water. During these days the mines poured orange sludge into to the river and by the 1970’s the abuse of the river virtually killed the ecosystem that once existed.

In the 1990’s the government understood it was a serious issue and took Jurassic measures to revive the river back to a healthy state. Currently, the river is well on it’s way to making a full recovery and the trout that attract fisherman from all over are a great indication of the restoration of the Eagle.

We have come a long way when it comes to thinking about our environment but from my experience on Saturday it’s clear we have still not done all we can.