Vail’s commitment to operating the mountain bike parks at their resorts has been called into question numerous times in recent years. Here at Unofficial Networks, we covered the less-than-stoked reaction when Vail announced that they were closing the Steven’s Pass Bike Park for a second consecutive year. To summarize, riders in the PNW were unhappy.
In 2018, we discussed how many of the Vail-owned mountain bike parks were suffering from a lack of maintenance. It is no secret that Northstar Mountain Bike Park had put in a lackluster effort in terms of trail maintenance and updates in recent years. Breaking bumps so deep they could swallow a Fiat and decrepit wooden features were among the chief complaints. Perhaps the most powerful criticism has been the whispers that Whistler Mountain Bike Park has seen reduced amounts of trail improvements and updates in recent years.
In 2021, Vail has reduced the Northstar Bike Park to a Thursday-Sunday schedule. Previously the bike park had been operating seven days per week in the peak summer season. Oh yeah, lift ticket prices have also climbed to an all-time high of $70/day.
The reduced days of operation begs the question: Will Vail close the Northstar Bike Park in the near future? Will this gem on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe go the way of Steven’s Pass?
Only time will tell.
Images from: Northstar Resort Facebook Page
