Wyoming — Vail Resorts’ presence extends beyond skiing and riding. There are lodging options and activities at their properties beyond skiing, such as golf and mountain biking. Perhaps their most interesting business venture is in one of America’s most popular national parks.
Last week, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it has renewed its contract with the Grand Teton Lodge Company. Now you may be asking yourself, what does Vail Resorts have to do with this? Well, the concessionaire, Grand Teton Lodge Company, is run by Vail Resorts.
The ski resort conglomerate operates the hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and facilities inside the national park. Some of the most notable facilities include the Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, campgrounds, horseback riding trips, and rafting operations. As part of the new contract, the Lodge Company will take over Brinkerhoff Lodge. The facility, which hasn’t been open to the public in recent years, is planned to be refurbished for use during special events. Vail Resorts also operates the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club and Flagg Ranch, which are located nearby but outside Grand Teton National Park.
“This contract helps ensure that visitors continue to enjoy the memorable experiences that make Grand Teton National Park one of America’s most treasured destinations,” said Chip Jenkins, Superintednant of Grand Teton National Park.“As we approach the park’s centennial in 2029, this partnership will support high-quality visitor services, strengthen local communities through job opportunities and economic activity, and advance our commitment to protecting the extraordinary landscapes, wildlife and historic resources that define Grand Teton.”
As part of this more than $1 billion contract renewal, Vail Resorts will help out the NPS with various projects. According to the press release, this includes “construction of new employee housing, upgrades to fire protection systems, additional RV electric hookups at campgrounds, two new tour boats with improved accessibility, an expanded boat rental fleet, and bear spray rentals, among other visitor service enhancements.” The contract is among the biggest ever given by the National Park Service.
Concessions at National Parks
While the government owns these national parks, third parties running concession services at National Parks isn’t anything new. Various vendors, such as Aramark and Xanterra, have been in this business for decades. Another ski resort operator, POWDR, has expanded into the space by operating Stovepipe Wells at Death Valley National Park and the concessions at Zion National Park. While Vail Resorts does run one ski resort inside a national park (Boston Mills and Brandywine), this Grand Teton contract is their only national park concessionaire contract.
The new contract is set to begin on January 1, 2027. It’s expected to support around 1,000 jobs for the local communities. This fifteen-year contract will keep Vail Resorts in charge of these facilities until the end of 2041.
Image/Video Credits: James Ting, Grand Teton Lodge Company, National Park Service
