"Winter is wonderful but summer is why we live here" was the saying that was posted in the old gondola building in Lionshead, as you stepped inside, and saw the topo model of Vail Mountain. That was long before the development of China Bowl and the now notorious Blue Sky Basin. Well, that old gondola building was torn down nearly three summers ago and has been replaced by the New Arrabelle at Vail Square, a Rock Resorts Hotel, with 67 luxury condominium residences, new restaurants, a surplus of retail experiences and an inviting outdoor ice rink/amphitheatre. I was invited to attend their Grand Opening the end of December and, I must say, it is a magnificent addition to Lionshead and the Vail Valley!!! Vail Resorts was incredibly successful with the sell-out of the Gore Creek Place, four and five bedroom duplexes along Gore Creek, as well as nearly 600 reservations, all backed by $100,000 deposits, for only 52 condomimiuns in the Arrabelle! I guess "incredible" is an under statement!!!

With The Arrabelle creating a brand new look for Lionshead (there are some resales available and closings started the end of January 2008) and Vail's New Dawn well underway in Vail Village(no, unfortunately, that doesn't provide a direct link to me), we had another record breaking summer and fall! The excitement has been in Vail Village this past year with a number of new projects changing the look of Vail's "skyline". We now have the Vail Plaza Lodge and One Willow Bridge complete and open for business. The Willows and Vail Mountain View Residences (Apollo Park) have blossomed out of the ground and are rapidly coming along. One would think there is a convention for construction cranes with them towering over the Four Seasons and the Lodge at Vail Chalets (also a sell-out). With the redevelopment of Manor Vail well underway and the hole in the ground for Solaris where Crossroads used to be, Vail Village will never look the same! The Ritz Carlton Residences in Lionshead are more than 50% sold out. But, that's not all! The brand new Timberline Lodge was just released the third week in January ('08). These are one and two bedroom condo hotel residences starting at $510,000! There are still some great choices available. The new Westin Riverfront Resort in Avon is more than 50% sold out and ahead of schedule. The brand new Gondola, located directly adjacent to the project, experienced its debut run December 27, 2007, and was a huge success! This will change Avon forever and create an amazingly fabulous new addition!! Historically, those who purchase real estate in pre-construction phases usually benefit from substantial appreciation as we've seen occur numerous times throughout the Vail Valley.

With all the excitement about Vail and Lionshead, don't forget about Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Arrowhead, Cordillera, Red Sky Ranch and Eagle Ranch. There are some amazing opportunities for new property as well as existing property and in all price ranges!

If your time frame to own real estate in Vail is in the next couple of years or your preference is to do something now with low interest rates and anticipation of what's to come, there are some excellent opportunities. Please contact me if you would like more information on this or any other real estate in the Vail Valley. I would love to help!