With average rental costs for a 1 bedroom in places like Aspen coming in at $1,404./month, the ski bum is struggling to survive. Especially in traditional locales such as Jackson Hole, Whistler, and Aspen, the ski bum dream is a dying and for one reason– lack of affordable housing.
However, Vail is investing $30 million to make sure that dream doesn’t die. In a press release on Wednesday, Vail Resorts announced their commitment to keeping housing affordable for its employees on Tuesday with CEO and president Rob Katz saying, “The mission of Vail Resorts is to provide an experience of a lifetime to our guests and we make that happen by providing an experience of a lifetime to our employees,” adding “Having affordable and available housing options is a critical component of delivering on that mission.”
Related: Average Rent in 17 Ski Towns
Working in conjunction with surrounding towns and counties as well as utilizing their own real estate, Vail plans to add new housing and more beds in the coming years, which they hope unifies the Vail valley for years to come.
“The availability of affordable housing is critical for the sustainability and vitality of our resort communities and we firmly believe Vail Resorts should be an integral partner in expanding employee housing capacity”– Vail CEO and President Rob Katz
