How Did Vail Get Its Name?

As the chief engineer for the State of Colorado in the 1930's, Charles Vail developed hundreds of miles of roads, connecting a great number of Colorado's mountain communities. Vail Pass received his name in honor of the work he accomplished.

In the early 1960's when Vail's founders debated what to name the resort, some favored “Shining Mountain,” which the native Ute's had called the area. Pete Seibert, one of the town's creators and a native of New England, felt sensitive to the notion that “Shining Mountain Resort” might suggest icy slopes, so the name became Vail ~ short, easy, pleasant, and taken from the identity of the pass to the east.

More interesting facts on Vail Mountain and the naming of the runs can be found at http://vail.snow.com/winter/gl.aboutvail.trailhistory.asp