Since its incorporation in the 1960s, there’s been a rapid change in the alpine resort of Vail, Colorado. Growing tourism and increasing climate threats to snow-dependent destinations have led the community to strengthen protections for its residents, wildlife, and natural resources.
In this film, we see how Vail’s community is working together to reduce emissions, safeguard its species and waterways, and ensure tourism benefits the entire town.
Restoring Vail’s Wild Heart
Vail’s natural landscapes are central to its identity and appeal, drawing visitors from around the world while shaping the community’s character. At the center of Vail Village flows Gore Creek, a clear mountain stream and the ecological heart of the community. After 60 years of rapid development, the creek’s health has significantly declined. Through the “Restore the Gore” program, the town conducts annual water chemistry snapshots. These data points allow the community to mitigate the impacts of urban runoff and development, ensuring the watershed remains a life-sustaining ecosystem for the wildlife that rely on it and the visitors who find peace along its banks.
Conservation in Vail extends to the peaks, where controlled burns are used to improve grazing habitat for Bighorn Sheep. The Vail Bighorns are one of Colorado’s few remaining native herds, and their survival depends on protecting and restoring their limited habitat.
Shifting the Ride: Ambitious Mobility Goals
Like many mountain destinations, Vail is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Warmer temperatures, shifting snowfall patterns, and earlier snowmelt are affecting local ecosystems and the tourism economy, underscoring the need for climate leadership.
The region’s Climate Action Plan sets concrete targets for greenhouse gas reduction: 50% reduction by 2030 and 80% reduction by 2050.
Since transportation is a large contributor to local emissions, Vail is focusing on green mobility. The town is electrifying its entire bus fleet and has introduced an e-courier program, which uses small electric vehicles for last-mile deliveries to village businesses. To reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, the town promotes human-powered travel through the Shift E-Bike share program. a green commuting challenge. For local workers, a green commuting challenge encourages climate-friendly alternatives such as cycling, walking, transit, and carpooling.
Centering Equity: Ensuring Vail Works for Everyone
Like many resort destinations, rising housing costs have made it difficult for local workers and families to live where they work and remain in the community they call home. In a tourism-driven town like Vail, residents are the people who operate lifts, staff hotels, and keep the town spirit alive. As such, resident housing is treated as essential infrastructure, no different from roads, water, and sewer services.
In response, Vail has developed a dedicated effort to expand housing for local residents. These homes are reserved for people employed in the region and must be used as primary residences, with resale prices limited to keep them attainable over time. The Chamonix neighborhood is one example of this workforce-housing initiative, providing stable homes for hospitality workers, firefighters, and families.
This commitment to equity extends beyond housing. Vail recognizes that sustainability must be accessible to all. The E-bikes for Essentials program provides electric bicycles to income-qualified residents. By giving essential workers the tools to adopt zero-emission transportation during non-snow months, Vail ensures its green transition benefits the entire community.
Sustainable Travel: Where Next?
This film is part of Sustainable Travel International’s Where Next series, a documentary collection showcasing sustainable tourism examples and transformative solutions from destinations and companies worldwide, produced in partnership with Blackrook Media.
