BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that the Company has closed on the acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada. In celebration of closing, Vail Resorts is offering limited access for the 2016-17 winter season with full access to come for the 2017-18 ski season. All 2016-17 Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass holders will receive five days of skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb this winter season. In addition, Whistler Blackcomb Unlimited season pass holders will enjoy five days of skiing and snowboarding at any of Vail Resorts' U.S. resorts. The full season pass line-up with Whistler Blackcomb for 2017-18 will be announced when those passes go on sale in March 2017.

"We're thrilled to officially welcome Whistler Blackcomb to our collection of world-class mountain resorts and to be able to offer our Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass holders five ski days at Whistler Blackcomb for this 2016-17 winter season," said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. "With more than 200 trails, 8,100 acres of terrain and 16 alpine bowls, Whistler Blackcomb offers Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass holders even greater choices in skiing and riding this winter with the best of North America. We look forward to fully integrating Whistler Blackcomb into our Epic Pass and other season pass products for the 2017-18 winter season and will announce those plans in March 2017."

The five complimentary days of skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb with the Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass can take place any time during the 2016-17 winter season with the exception of the following restricted holiday dates: Nov. 25-26 and Dec. 26-31, 2016; and Jan. 14 and Feb. 18-19, 2017. The days do not have to be used consecutively.

All 2016-17 Whistler Blackcomb Unlimited Season Pass holders, including the Spirit and Sea to Sky Passes, will receive five complimentary days of skiing and snowboarding at any of Vail Resorts' U.S. mountain resorts this winter. The five complimentary days at Vail Resorts' U.S. resorts do not have to be used consecutively and have a handful of restricted holiday dates, including Nov. 25-26 and Dec. 26-31, 2016; and Jan. 14 and Feb. 18-19, 2017. For a limited time, through Oct. 30, Whistler Blackcomb is bringing the Unlimited Pass back on sale at the early bird rate for skiers and snowboarders who want to take advantage of this opportunity.


    --  The Epic Pass(TM): Ski unlimited and unrestricted from opening day to
        closing day for only US$849. The Epic Pass pays for itself in just over
        four days of skiing or snowboarding. Enjoy full access to Vail, Beaver
        Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City
        in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in
        Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; and
        Perisher in Australia for the 2017 season. The Epic Pass also grants
        limited access to Verbier and the 4 Vallees in Switzerland, Les 3
        Vallees in France, Arlberg in Austria, and Skirama Dolomiti Adamello
        Brenta in Italy. No restricted dates. Now with five free days at
        Whistler Blackcomb in 2016-17 with holiday restrictions. A child pass
        (ages five to 12) is US$439. The Epic Pass is on sale for a limited time
        only.
    --  Epic Local Pass(TM): Perfect for skiers and snowboarders who can
        navigate a pass with restrictions. For US$649, receive unlimited and
        unrestricted skiing or riding at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe
        Basin with limited restrictions at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar and
        Kirkwood, plus a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday
        restrictions. Now with five free days at Whistler Blackcomb in 2016-17
        with holiday restrictions. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just
        three days. A child pass (ages five to 12) is US$339. The Epic Local
        Pass is on sale for a limited time only.
    --  Whistler Blackcomb Unlimited Pass: Now with five free days at Vail,
        Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado;
        Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe, with
        holiday restrictions. Whistler Blackcomb season passes were on sale at
        the early bird rate of CAN$1,499 through October 10 and have been
        extended at the early bird offer through Oct. 30, 2016. Whistler
        Blackcomb season passes are available online at
        www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

Season Pass Insurance
Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase pass insurance. All of the Company's season pass products are non-refundable and non-transferable; however, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Find out more at www.epicpass.com. Pass insurance is not available for any of Whistler Blackcomb's season pass products.

About Whistler Blackcomb
North America's premier four-season mountain resort, located in the coastal mountains of British Columbia, Canada, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain are two side-by-side mountains connected by the world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which combined offer more than 200 trails, over 8,100 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers. The resort receives on average more than 461 inches (1,170 centimeters) of snow annually, and offers one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Whistler Blackcomb has been named the #1 ski resort in North America by SKI Magazine in four out of the past five years.

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts' subsidiaries operate 10 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; Perisher in Australia; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

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SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc.