Vail Area History

: Four Bull Moose in Winter - Piney Lake Drainage: DOW Bill Andree Photo; This remarkable image of four mature bull moose near Piney Lake was captured by Bill Andree during winter of 2018. Andree is a retired Colorado Division of Wildlife officer whose territory included Gore Creek Valley, Piney Lake and the Piney River Valley area.

: George Lamb and Rod Slifer; In this circa 2020 photograph, early residents of Vail, George Lamb and former Mayor Rod Slifer, pose with Ouzo, Rod's dog, in their Bridge Street office of Slifer, Smith and Frampton. They joked about wearing the office uniform shorts and shoes. The image is courtesy of George Lamb.

: Jebbie Browne - 2022 Vail Pioneer Celebration; Legendary Vail Children's Ski School instructor, Jebbie Browne, enjoyed visiting with friends during the 2022 Vail Pioneer weekend. Organized by Packy Walker, the event celebrated those who contributed to building the community of Vail during the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. This image of Jebbie Browne was captured by Vail Daily journalist, John LeConte, on 29 August 2022.

: Jebbie Browne: Golden Peak Ski Instructor on Vail Mountain; Jebbie Browne taught children's skiing on Vail Mountain for fifty years. She is pictured at the Golden Peak (aka Gold Peak), "the home to Vail Mountan's ski school." The Grand Traverse of the Gore Range is in the background. The image is from Jebbie Browne's Facebook page.

: Jerry Stevens - 1977 Vail Rugby Club; Jonny Stevens, son of Jerry Stevens and Nancy Richardson Stevens, wrote a charming paper on rugby for Mr. Tom Treat at Red Sandstone Elementary School in Vail. This image accompanied the essay. Young Jonny interviewed Bill "Brownie" Brown about playing rugby. Here is an excerpt that exemplified the good-natured ribbing among Vail Rugby Football Club players: Jonny: "Was it hard and did you score a lot?" Brownie: "It was hard work, bur I didn't score much. I didn't play an easy position like your Dad. We forwards did all the work so the backs could score and get the glory.", Image and narrative found on Jerry Stevens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=898348208964205&id=100063671012551&_rdr

: Jim "J.C." Clarke - Early Vail Resident; Jim "J.C." Clarke shares his Pete Seibert inscription from his copy of Vail: Triumph of a Dream by Peter W. Seibert, Sr.

: Jim "J.C." Clarke - Vail Ski Patroller 1963; Hired in 1963, J.C. Clarke was a member of the inaugural ski patrol on Vail mountain.

: John Faas - Ski Instructor, Mountain Host and Ravinos Member; John "The Wizard" Faas worked as a ski instructor and mountain host on Vail Mountain for over twenty years. He was also an active member of The Ravinos, an adventuresome group of highly-skilled extreme skiers who helped pioneer aerials and freestyle skiing. This image was provided by Al and Linda Faas.

: Kevin Foley at 2011 Vail Community Picnic; Vail Town Councilman, Kevin Foley, listens to a community member at the 2011 community picnic at Bighorn Park in East Vail. This photograph is provided courtesy of the Town of Vail. It was used in Ali Longwell's 25 November 2023 Vail Daily article that honored Kevin Foley's longstanding community service.

: Kim Fuller Collection - no. 1; Kim Fuller self-portrait in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Vail's sister-city., This image is no. 1 of 10.

: Kim Fuller Collection - no. 10: Sheika Gramshammer and Widge Ferguson; Depicted are longtime friends, Sheika Gramshammer and Alice "Widge" Ferguson. They are celebrating the 2021 Independence Day on Pepi's Deck at the Gastof Gramshammer in Vail. Widge Ferguson's husband, John Lord Ferguson, was Pepi and Sheika Gramshammer's first attorney in the 1960s. Pepi Gramshammer and John Ferguson were introduced by Endicott "Cotty" Davison and the three families continue to be very close. The photographer was Widge's granddaughter Kim Fuller., This image is no. 10 of 10.

: Kim Fuller Collection - no. 2: Kim Hugs Widge's Ridge Sign in Sun Down Bowl; Kim Fuller is depicted hugging the Widge's Ridge sign at Vail's Sun Down Bowl. Fuller's grandmother is Alice "Widge" Ferguson. Vail pioneer and first public relations director, Bob Parker, named the the ski run for Widge Ferguson. Ferguson had an uncanny knack for bringing snow with her. The photographer was Kim's husband, Bobby L'Heureux of West Vail.

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