Wyoming — Did you know that Vail Resorts is also a concession operator at a national park? The universally beloved company has ventures outside of ski resorts, including running hotels, operating a retail chain, and serving as a concessionaire for one of America’s most popular national parks.
Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that Vail Resorts is planning to apply for an extension for its contract with the National Park Service. The 15-year contract is expected to cost $1 billion.
Vail Resorts operates the Grand Teton Lodge Company, which manages various businesses within the national park. This includes the Jackson Lake Lodge hotel, the Jenny Lake Lodge (a cabin lodging property), and Colter Lake Village (home to campsites, RV park, and log cabins). These concessions typically operate from mid-May to the end of September. Overall, the Grand Teton Lodge Company operates more than 400 buildings in the park, which is around 40% of the total at Grand Teton.
“We’re really proud of what we’re doing here and would love to continue doing it,” said Alex Klein, the VP and General Manager of the Grand Teton Lodge Company.
Outside the national park, they operate Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club and Flagg Ranch, which are situated between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
A requirement of this new contract will be an initial investment of $72 million. Projects tied to investment will include deferred maintenance, facility renovations, and buying new tour boats. Other required projects will include a new employee housing facility, electric hookups at campgrounds, upgrades to the firefighting systems, and the addition of new food and drink outlets.
Vail Resorts’ contract with the National Park Service is set to expire in 2026, meaning the new contract would commence in 2027.
Who Could The Other Applicants Be?
Reportedly, seven parties (including Vail) attended a site visit in 2023, meaning it will be a competitive process. We don’t really know at this point who’s interested, so take what we’re saying here with a grain of salt.
However, there are a few interesting names that could apply. Xanterra, which is the largest national park concessionaire, is one potential suitor. They currently run concessions in Yellowstone National Park, so expanding into Grand Teton would make sense. POWDR is another intriguing option. The ski resort and outdoor recreation company has been expanding its presence in the national park scene, including taking over concessions in Zion National Park this year.
Other potential applicants could include Aramark (although they should be focusing on fixing Yosemite) and Delaware North. However, with Vail Resorts’ financial power and interest in extending its contract, it seems likely they will remain the concessionaire for Grand Teton National Park.
Image Credits: Nate Foong, Grand Teton National Park (USGS)
