Blue Sky Basin
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One of the most debated and controversial ski area expansions in Colorado history, Blue Sky basin is the most recent expansion to Vail Ski Resort.
The parcel opened to skiers in 2000 despite controversy stemming from the question of whether the expansion would endanger the lynx, a mountain cat re-introduced into the Colorado wilds.
Authorities believe William C. Rodgers and other environmental activists planned this country's largest eco-terrorist attack, the 1998 torching of multiple Vail facilities, a $12 million incident that included the complete destruction of Vail's on-mountain Two Elk restaurant.
The FBI launched Operation Backfire, which eventually led to convictions of the arsonists. The incident, interestingly, created sympathy for the resort, if not necessarily for Blue Sky Basin or the corporate owner, Vail Resorts.
Blue Sky Basin opened in December 2000 with three high-speed quad chairlifts, an extra 525 acres (2.12 km²) to Vail's already enormous size-- over 5,000 acres (20 km²).
Today, the Basin is known for offering a more natural than usual ski experience with mostly meadows and glades-- rather than wide, clear-cut runs-- over its 1,900-foot (580 m) vertical drop.
