The Ute Indians first inhabited the Gore Creek Valley long before settlers moved west. The valley offered a summer home for the Utes, spending winters in the more arid lands of Western Colorado. The Utes called the majestic peaks of the Gore Range that overlook the valley “The Shining Mountains.” Settlers moved west into the Gore Creek Valley in the mid 1800's, turning the area into ranching and grazing land.
During World War II the United States Army created a training center south of the valley called Camp Hale. The 10th Mountain Division trained for alpine combat at Camp Hale. Made up of excellent skiers and mountaineers, the 10th fought in mountainous northern Italy and upon return, they became major players in the quickly growing ski industry founding or working at over 50 resorts in the US.
One veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, Pete Seibert, returned to Colorado after the war to return to
skiing and became a member of the Aspen Ski Patrol, Aspen Ski School and eventually the manager of Loveland Basin Ski Area. While at Loveland, Pete and Earl Eaton began looking to develop another ski area in the Rocky Mountain region.
Earl Eaton grew up in Colorado and began skiing at a young age. By 1940, Eaton was working for the CCC in Glenwood Springs and ski racing in Aspen where he met Pete Seibert. Seibert and Eaton first climbed
Vail Mountain during the winter of 1957. Both agreed that this would be the perfect ski area!
Vail Mountain was property of The United States Forest Service (USFS) and local ranchers owned the surrounding valley. To get the ski area rolling, Seibert and Eaton needed something that neither of them had, money. Seibert proved to be adept at securing investors, which was a good thing becuase in order to obtain a permit from the USFS Vail needed to have $1,000,000 in the bank. Initial investors paid
$10,000 for a condo unit and lifetime season pass!