Equipped with WiFi and furnished with plush upholstery, Vail’s new gondola feels more like a first-class airline cabin than a ski lift. That’s intentional: celebrating its 50th birthday, the Colorado resort is introducing upgraded services that showcase how Vail continues to improve with age.
Named One, the new 10-passenger gondola replaces the iconic Vista Bahn quad and delivers a quicker, more comfortable ascent. Traveling at 1,200 feet per minute, it is the fastest gondola of its kind and increases Vail’s uphill capacity by roughly 40 percent, reducing congestion and shortening lift lines. The cabins include heated seating for extra comfort between runs and onboard WiFi for convenience.
Vail is also enhancing the guest experience with EpicMix, a photography service that stations professional photographers around the mountain to capture skiers and riders in action. For a set fee of $30, guests can download unlimited photos, creating a simple way to preserve memories from the slopes.
Beyond the technology and amenities, Vail’s anniversary program includes a season-long lineup of events celebrating five decades of the resort. These activities are designed to engage visitors of all ages, from family-friendly programming to special happenings for longtime guests. The 50th-year events further underscore Vail’s commitment to offering a mix of modern comfort and classic mountain culture.
Overall, the combination of faster, more comfortable lift access, improved services like on-mountain photography, and a calendar of celebratory events positions Vail as a destination that honors its history while investing in the future. Whether returning for nostalgia or visiting for the first time, guests can expect smoother operations, added creature comforts, and opportunities to join the season-long celebration.