Vail Whitewater Park
Vail, CO - website - aw - contact: ian@visitvailvalley.com
Gore Creek

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• Cost $130,000
• Designed by RiverRestoration.org
• Drew an estimated $1.4 million in extra spending during 5 day competition

Vail, Colorado, is no stranger to whitewater, but until 2002 whitewater events such as the Teva Mountain Games were held on the Eagle River outside of town. Tourism is the lifeblood of Vail's ski-town economy, and town planners recognized the value of positioning an outdoor-sports event in the downtown business district, particularly one that can draw visitors long after the snow melts from the ski slopes.

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Early in 2002, the Vail Valley Chamber and Tourism Bureau proposed modifying Gore Creek so that freestyle paddling events could take place in the heart of Vail Village. They commissioned a design that provided high-quality whitewater without looking man-made. With the backing of tourism bureau, the $130,000 project was completed in a matter of months. The park has since played host to the most aggressively promoted annual freestyle competition in the country, part of the Teva Mountain Games.

The Vail Whitewater Park has had a dramatic effect on an otherwise winter-based town. Vail's investment has paid for itself by pumping millions of dollars into the local economy. During a five-day competition this spring, the city drew an estimated $1.4 million in extra spending due partly to crowds that gathered to watch whitewater rodeo events.

Often kayaking takes place in remote wilderness areas, but this Whitewater Park allows Vail to showcase the fastest growing aspect of whitewater sports right in downtown Vail.

The project, which is located in the pedestrian village in downtown Vail, included creative park and bank improvements and featured natural boulder drop structures.

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