Vail closes its ski resorts while others opt to remain open

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — As ski resorts across the United States grappled with how to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus without having to close, industry giant Vail Resorts decided Saturday it would shutter all of its North American resorts for at least one week.

After earlier in the day announcing their resorts would remain open with added measures to prevent the spread of the virus, Vail Resorts changed course and said it would shut down 34 resorts starting Sunday through March 22 before reassessing, according to the company's news release.

The company's ski areas include Vail, Keystone and Breckenridge in Colorado; Park City Mountain Resort in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Stowe Mountain in Vermont; and Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.

“This decision provides a pause for the entire ecosystem of our mountain resort communities," company CEO Rob Katz said in the online post. “It gives everyone the time to assess the situation, respond to ever-changing developments, and evaluate the approach for the rest of season, if we believe it is advisable or feasible to re-open.”

Katz apologized for the short notice and especially to guests already at the resorts or planning to come this week. He acknowleged it may seem confusing considering the company's earlier announcements but called it a fast-moving situation with new information coming by the hour.

Vail joined a few other small resorts that had already made the decision to close, including Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico, Jay Peak Resort in Vermont and Shanty Creek Resort in Michigan. Taos will close for the season starting March 22 while Jay Peak and Shanty are closing for the season starting this weekend.

Most resorts stay open until around mid-April each season depending on snow...