Vail Stalls Convention Center Over Garage

VAIL, CO-Last November, voters in this ski town 100 miles west of Denver approved a $46 million, 50,000-sf conference center. But now, the Town Council is upset with Vail Resorts, charging it deceived the town.

The ski company offered to donate a $9 million parcel of land for the center if voters approved a 1.5% lodging tax increase and a 0.5% sales tax increase to pay for the facility at the far western edge of the town at Lionshead Mall.

However, Vail Resorts recently sent the town a letter saying in exchange for the land donation, it wants to control 85% of the approximate 350 parking spaces in a new $12.25 million parking garage during the ski season.

The town council now believes it was deceived by Vail Resorts, the owner and operator of Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Breckenridge ski areas.

The town doesn’t want to pony up the money for a garage that will be filled with skiers during the busiest season, instead of using the Vail Resorts land on South Frontage Road from Vail Resort’s Marriott hotel.

Now, some town officials want to move the garage to land the town owns.

Vail Resorts, in turn, says it was always upfront about the conditions of the parking lot.