Vail Area History

: Sandy Fuller Historic Collage Collection - no. 4; These featured Vail images are elements of the Sandy Fuller Historic Collage Collection. This facet features (upper center and clockwise): 1) the Colorado Card 2) Pepi and Sheika Gramshammer reading Moon Loon, a children's title written and illustrated by Sandy Ferguson Fuller 3) siblings Scott and Kim Fuller (children of Sandy Fuller and Jim Fuller) skiing at Arrowhead near Edwards CO 4) Susie Ferguson (fuller), Pepi Gramshammer, and Sandy Ferguson (Fuller) depicted at 1964 groundbreaking of the Gastof Gramshammer. Behind them is the Gastof's iconic shield, which was created by Sandy Ferguson (Fuller) and her father, John Ferguson. 5) 1962 Vail gondola commemorative poster., This facet of the Sandy Fuller Historic Collage Collection is no. 4 of 5 images.

: Sandy Fuller Historic Collage Collection - no. 5; These featured Vail images are elements of the Sandy Fuller Historic Collage Collection. This facet features (upper left and clockwise): 1) Sandy Fuller holds daughter, Kim Fuller, in front of Edelweiss circa Jan 1987. 2) John and Widge Ferguson at Arrowhead Ski Area near Edwards CO. John Ferguson and Pepi Gramshammer were involved in the establishment of Arrowhead. 3) (left to right) Sandy Ferguson (Fuller), Sheika Gramshammer, Susie Ferguson (Fuller) and Pepi Gramshammer inside the Gastof Gramshammer. Sheika holds the Gramshammer shield that was created by Sandy Ferguson and her father, John Ferguson., This facet of the Sandy Fuller Historic Collage Collection is no. 5 of 5 images.

: Sandy Rivera and Vail Public Library: Gold Level Certification Award; In October of 2019, Vail Public Library (VPL) achieved a Gold Level Certification from the State of Colorado in the Environmental Leadership Program for their concerted efforts in sustainability and recycling. The program is now entitled the Colorado Green Business Network. Sandy Rivera (on right) received the State of Colorado award from Lynette Myers (on left), who was the Environmental Leadership Program Coordinator in 2019. Sandy Rivera is the VPL Library Associate II who oversees VPL's sustainability and recycling efforts. Rivera also coordinates the library's adult programs, enewsletter publications, social media communications, and foreign language resources. She also offers a weekly bilingual storytime.

: Santa Claus aka Dan Allard at Vail Public Library; Artist and longtime local, Dan Allard, is a perfect Santa Claus. (His wonderful beard and mustache are real!) Santa visited Vail Public Library (VPL) during the library's "Family Fireside Holiday Party" on 12 December 2023. The photo was captured by Laurin Megna-Davis, VPL Children's Library Associate.

: Ski Trooper Bronze Sculpture - 2023 Photograph; "The Ski Trooper" bronze sculpture concept was inspired by 10th Mountain Division veteran Donald E. Traynor. Based upon the bronze sculpture by Victor Issa, “The Ski Trooper” was created by Colorado artist Scott Stearman. The 12 ½ feet tall, 7000-pound Ski Trooper sculpture is found near the Covered Bridge in the Slifer Plaza located at the heart of Vail Village. The artwork is curated by the Town of Vail's Art in Public Places collection coordinator Molly Eppard. The sculpture honors World War II troops from the 10th Mountain Division who trained in winter warfare at Camp Hale in Eagle County, Colorado. Several 10th Mountain Division veterans were instrumental in shaping skiing history and ski area development of North America. This image was captured by Ricki Shaw Sherlin, Regent of the Vail-based 10th Mountain Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). Placing holiday wreaths on veteran's memorials or gravestones is one of this chapter’s service activities.

: Summervail Art Workshop - "The A-Frame" and Raku Kiln; Summervail Art Workshop (SAW) held many programs in "The A-Frame," a former Town of Vail Public Works facility. Debbie Bolon-Feeney reports that the structure in the left-front is a raku kiln.

: Summervail Art Workshop - "The A-Frame" in Winter; During the 1960s and into the 1970s, the Town of Vail had a Public Works building that was called "The A-Frame." From 1973 to 1978, "The A-Frame" was the primary site of Summervail Art Workshop (SAW). Randy Milhoan, Dan Telleen and Jim Cotter were the founders of Summervail Art Workshop. The program ran from 1971 to 1984 and became one of the most prestigious art workshops in the United States. In June 2021, SAW celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding. This image was shared by Ramsey Cotter, who is the daughter of SAW founder and artist Jim Cotter, and the nonprofit entity Summervail Art Workshop Legacy Project (SAWLP).

: Terry Minger - Outlaw Trail photo; This 1975 image of Vail's first Town Manager, Terry Minger, was captured by Jonathan Blair during a horse-packing trip along the historic Outlaw Trail. Minger was invited to participate by Robert Redford. The two were close associates during the 1970s Vail Symposia. Sponsored by National Geographic, the trip traversed the American West from El Paso, Texas to northern Montana. The photograph is found on page 57 of the publication Redford wrote to commemorate the trip: Redford, Robert. The Outlaw Trail: A Journey Through Time. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1978.

: Two Elk Fires - Vail Mountain 1998; This poignant image was captured by Vail Fire Lieutenant, Mark Mobley, on 19 October 1998. The image is provided courtesy of Vail Fire Department and found in a Vail Daily article by Ed Stoner on 9 May 2007. John Duran was the Vail Fire Chief, while John Gulick served as Assistant Fire Chief. Also involved were Vail firefighters Mike Vaughan, Dave Eich and Craig Davis.

: Two Elk Fires - Vail Mountain 1998 (no. 2); This image of Two Elk Lodge was captured by Retired Vail Fire Lieutenant, Mark W. Mobley, on 19 October 1998.

: Two Elk Lodge 2009; The Two Elk Lodge and Restaurant atop Vail Mountain was destroyed by arson on 19 October 1998. The Lodge was subsequently rebuilt. This image is courtesy of the building's architectural firm Zehren and Associates., Zehren and Associates Office Manager, Tami Brown, facilitated Vail Public Library's request for a Two Elk Lodge image.

: Vail Players - 1966 "Curse You, Sterling Finesoul" Program Cover; This is the program front cover for the Vail Players 1966 melodrama entitled, "Curse You, Sterling Finesoul." The Vail Players theatre group operated between 1966 and 1971 with its season running between June and October. John Dobson wrote and directed the melodramas. Vail community members covered all aspects of the production. Vail Players productions were often sold out., This artifact is displayed courtesy of the Eagle County Historical Society in Eagle, Colorado.

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