Vail Resorts have added a seventh resort to their growing family of world class resorts, Kirkwood is their third in the Lake Tahoe region of California, joining most recent previous purchase Northstar as well as Heavenly at the south end of the lake.
The company's original four resorts are Beaver Creek, Keystone , Breckenridge and of course Vail itself.
"We are thrilled to welcome Kirkwood into our family as our seventh world-class mountain resort. Kirkwood offers some of the most extraordinary ski terrain found anywhere in North America with high alpine trails and the most annual average snowfall in Lake Tahoe. Kirkwood represents skiing and riding at its purest, something we intend to retain and protect long into the future," said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts.
"When combined with Heavenly and Northstar, we will be able to offer our guests and pass holders unparalleled value with the very best that Lake Tahoe has to offer. We are excited to be able to offer Kirkwood to our pass holders right away – it's like opening day to a whole new season."
The move means that five Tahoe resorts are now opened by two companies, following the merged operations of Alpine meadows and Squaw Valley announced earlier this season.
Vail Resorts say they have no plans to change Kirkwood's ticket structures or prices and in fact Kirkwood pass holders now have access at no extra cost to skiing at Heavenly and Northstar.
The company expects to close on the acquisition of Kirkwood Mountain Resort within the next month.