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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-20 Agenda and Supporting Documentation Town Council Evening Meeting1.Call to Order (6:00pm) 2.Public Participation (6:00pm) 2.1 Public Participation (10 min.) 3.Consent Agenda (6:10pm) 3.1 Contract Award to Drop Mobility for Shift Bike Electric Bike Share Program Authorize Town Manager to enter into an agreement, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, with Drop Mobility for Shift Bike, in an amount not to exceed $175,000. Presenter(s): Beth Markham Background: The purpose of this memo is to request the Vail Town Council award the regional electric bike share contract to Drop Mobility. 3.2 Contract Award to 3d Identity for Dobson Arena Signage Authorize the Town Manager to enter into an agreement, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, with 3d identity for Dobson Arena signage, in an amount not to exceed $250,000. Background: As a part of the Dobson Arena project town staff publicly advertised a RFP for the design, fabrication, and installation of a sign package for the Dobson Arena, including code required signage, internal wayfinding signage, and marquee signage. VAIL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Evening Session Agenda Vail Town Council Chambers and virtually by Zoom. Zoom meeting link: https://vail.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KepRPfi5TjC8t9fVtsXnpA 6:00 PM, January 20, 2026 Notes: Times of items are approximate, subject to change, and cannot be relied upon to determine what time Council will consider an item. Public comment will be taken on each agenda item. Public participation offers an opportunity for attendees to express opinions or ask questions regarding town services, policies or other matters of community concern that are not on the agenda. Please keep comments to three minutes; time limits established are to provide efficiency in the conduct of the meeting and to allow equal opportunity for everyone wishing to speak. Public Participation.pdf Shift Bike Regional E-Bike Share Contract Memo 012026.pdf Council Memo 1-20-26_DobsonSignageAward.docx 1 3.3 Contract Award to SEON Safe Fleet to Replace Transit Surveillance System Equipment Authorize the Town Manager to enter into a contract, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, with SEON Safe Fleet to replace transit surveillance system equipment, in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00. Background: Replacement of the Town of Vail transit surveillance system equipment and software upgrade. 4.DRB/PEC Update (6:10pm) 4.1 DRB/PEC Update (5 min.) 5.Information Update (6:15pm) 5.1 December 1, 2025 AIPP Meeting Minutes 5.2 Shift Bike Update 6.Matters from Mayor, Council, Town Manager, and Committee Reports (6:15pm) 6.1 Matters from Mayor, Council and Committees (15 min.) 6.2 Town Manager Report (5 min.) 6.3 Council Matters and Status Report 7.Action Item (6:35pm) 7.1 Ordinance No. 1, Series of 2026, An Emergency Ordinance Amending the Town of Vail's Health Insurance Fund Budget for 2025; Making Supplemental Appropriations Thereto; and Declaring an Emergency 5 min. Approve, approve with amendments, or deny Ordinance 1, Series of 2026. Presenter(s): Carlie Smith, Finance Director Background: Staff requests Council approval of this emergency ordinance to maintain compliance with state statutes and preserve the integrity of the Health Insurance Fund. 8.Adjournment 6:40pm (estimate) Council Memo-Bus Camera System.docx DRB Results 1-7-26.pdf PEC Results 1-12-26.pdf December 1, 2025 Minutes.pdf Shift Bike Regional E-Bike Share Info Update 012026.docx 260120 Matters.docx Future Topics.docx Supp 4 2025 Ordinaince 1 2026.pdf Ord #1 2026-Emerg HIF 2025 Supp 4.pdf Meeting agendas and materials can be accessed prior to meeting day on the Town of Vail website 2 www.vail.gov. All Town Council meetings will be streamed live by High Five Access Media and available for public viewing as the meeting is happening. The meeting videos are also posted to High Five Access Media website the week following meeting day, www.highfivemedia.org. Please call 970-479-2460 for additional information. Sign language interpretation is available upon request with 48 hour notification dial 711. 3 AGENDA ITEM NO. 2.1 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Citizen Participation AGENDA SECTION:Public Participation (6:00pm) SUBJECT:Public Participation (10 min.) SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: Public Participation.pdf 4 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:DAVID LAGRANGE To:Public Input Town Council Subject:VTC Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 8:04:17 AM Hi, My name is David and I just wanted to reach out about the transportation center. I've been using public transportation for over 20 years and I can't help but notice how terrible things look around the VTC. It's disgusting in some places like by the 2 garbage cans where it says Vail Transportation Center and the door on the western side. All around the building, including steps leading to and from the area are in disarray. I feel sometimes I'm in a big city and it looks trashy. I think everything needs a bath/pressure washed and the yellow paint around the edges needs a coat of fresh paint. Someone needs to sweep around the whole area and tidy up. I hate that Vail Transportation Center looks like this. It's somewhat embarrassing that people who visit have to see this. I hope that someone will take a look around and get this cleaned up. Thank you, Concerned citizen, David LaGrange Vail Health Sent from Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Get Outlook for Android 5 6 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sofia B To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Protect The Red Lion and Vail"s Community Character Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:57:10 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing regarding the upcoming vote on the proposed demolition of The Red Lion to convert the building into a designer retail storefront. The Red Lion means so much to the Vail community and to me personally. It is where I've met new people, shared food and drinks, and made some of my best memories in town. Spaces like The Red Lion are what make Vail uniquely Vail. They foster connection, local culture, and a sense of belonging that cannot be replicated by another luxury storefront. Replacing a longtime community gathering place with a designer retail space risks erasing an important piece of Vail's history and character. I urge you to consider not just the economic value of this decision, but its cultural and social impact on residents and visitors alike. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Best, Sofia Bobroff 7 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Hayes, Alexandra Elizabeth (Alex) To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Saving the Red Lion Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:11:28 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to reconsider the proposed destruction of the Red Lion Restaurant in favor of a luxury storefront. The Red Lion is more than a building—it is a long-standing part of Vail’s character, history, and local community. Replacing it with another high-end retail space risks eroding the unique identity that makes Vail special to residents and visitors alike. I respectfully ask the Council to prioritize preservation and community heritage over further commercialization, and to explore alternatives that protect this important local landmark. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Alexandra Hayes 8 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Greg Wilhelm To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:13:34 AM Hello, I am writing because I oppose the upcoming vote to demolish the Red Lion. It is an essential part of Vail’s culture to so many of our town’s inhabitants. By replacing it with a storefront, what are we doing but erasing what the true locals here are all about? What sets us apart from Aspen, Breckenridge, Beverly Hills? Save the Red Lion. Save Vail. 9 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Abigail Weidner To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:30:13 PM Dear Vail Town Council, I’m writing to ask that you reconsider any plan to demolish The Red Lion in favor of luxury retail development. The Red Lion has always felt like the heart of Vail to me. It’s a place where I've shared memories with friends and family, met people from all over, and experienced the kind of authentic local energy that makes Vail feel real and connected. Losing that would mean losing a piece of what makes this town special. I understand that communities evolve, but I hope we can evolve in a way that protects the character and history that brought people here in the first place. The Red Lion is part of that story, and replacing it with high-end storefronts would change the town in a way that money can’t reverse. Thank you for considering the community value and human impact of this decision. Sincerely, Abby Weidner 10 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Brown, Babe To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Bar Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 5:15:37 PM Vote to keep the Red Lion Bar. Vail does not need more corporate luxury......the town's sense of identity has already eroded enough. To quote Noah Kahan, "Vail bought the mountains and nothing was the same." Best, A concerned citizen. Get Outlook for iOS 11 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sebastian Perez To:Public Input Town Council Subject:In Support of The Red Lion Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 6:44:53 PM To The Vail Town Council, My name is Sebastian Perez. I am writing on behalf of The Red Lion, as I heard about the proposed destruction of the building and end of an era—Vail as we know it. While change is inevitable, it is important to preserve institutions like The Red Lion that have been foundational to the character of a place. Replacing it with retail space represents a step away from Vail’s unique identity and toward a universalized experience—one that can already be found in any city or over-commercialized town. I urge you to stand against baseless commercialization that is slowly eroding the towns we have come to know and love, and instead take a step toward preservation before a once-charming, character-filled town disappears behind brand names. Each piece of the puzzle—the Red Lion being one of them—that makes up the mosaic of a town is imperative to keep intact. Otherwise, Vail risks becoming disconnected and unidentifiable. I understand that it may not seem like one more restaurant, shop, or historic building will make a difference, and I do not fault anyone for that belief. However, it is already undeniable that towns like Vail are shifting, and it will not be long before Vail is no longer Vail. Best regards, Sebastian Perez Middlebury College, Class of 2026.5 12 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Andrewdsegal To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Protect the Red Zion Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:16:08 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I’m writing because I’m genuinely concerned about the possibility of the Red Lion closing. I’ve been going to the Red Lion since I was two years old. I’m thirty now. Some of my earliest memories of Vail involve being there: listening to Phil Long sing Michael McDonald with dollar bills stuffed in his mouth, surrounded by locals and regulars eating nachos and drinking beers who made the place feel alive and welcoming. It’s one of the few spots left in town that still feels like it belongs to the people who actually live here and return year after year. The idea that the Red Lion could be replaced by another high-end luxury retail store is really disheartening. Vail already has no shortage of expensive shops aimed at the ultra-wealthy. What it has far less of are places where people from different generations and walks of life can gather without it being about shopping or status. The Red Lion has been that place for decades. This matters to me personally. I go every time I visit my grandfather, who lives in Vail full time. I know I’m far from alone. The Red Lion means something to a lot of people, and once a place like that is gone, it’s gone for good. I don’t see this as a radical ask. It’s simply about keeping zoning protections in place so Vail remains a real town, not just a collection of luxury storefronts. Preserving the Red Lion helps preserve the character and community that made people fall in love with Vail in the first place. I hope you’ll consider protecting its zoning status and keeping the Red Lion part of Vail’s future. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Andrew Segal 13 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jim Pierce To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 7:19:46 AM Please don’t let this happen. The Red Lion, Pepis, it’s a very short list of what gives Vail its status in the mountains. There are myriad resorts which would welcome high end European storefront names. We should maintain our uniqueness. I played softball for the Red Lion in the mid 70’s. I’ve gone there ever since. Please, please, please vote for tradition over mercantile incentive. Jim Pierce 1148 Sandstone Jim Pierce 832-491-5670 14 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jeanne Macsata To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion! Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 8:28:07 AM In the days of "If we want something, tear it down," I truly believe in the Vermont adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" PLEASE keep the Red Lion! It was one of the first places by husband brought me to when we met, and he was trying to "sell" me on Colorado. A life-long Vermonter, I have now lived in Vail longer than Vermont. I can't imagine our town without the Red Lion! I still give people the recommendation to go to the Lion as a "True Vail Locals Hangout" where food is both inexpensive enough to afford and great to eat, the entertainment is terrific, and the location sublime! SAVE THE RED LION!!!!!!! Jeanne V. Macsata Front Desk Manager Former Teacher 40+ year Citizen Vail Mountain School 15 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kate D To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Redevelopment Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 8:35:01 AM Dear Vail Town Council, Good morning. My name is Kate Drescher, and I have been a member of the Vail community since childhood (attending elementary, middle, and high school in Vail and returning in 2006 as an adult). I am concerned about the potentially erosive impact on the community of redeveloping the Red Lion property. As an elected group of thoughtful citizens who are clearly invested in the well-being of the community, you have an important role in ensuring the town remains a "town" that has spaces and places that are welcoming to people representing all demographics. With the redevelopment of Los Amigos to make a luxury club for the ultra-wealthy, Vail lost a "locals' hangout." Losing the Red Lion would compound this loss and make those who live and work in Vail feel even more invisible in their town. Thank you for reading this. I appreciate all that you do for Vail. We are fortunate to have you in our community. Respectfully, Kate Drescher 16 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Michael Brooks To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 8:43:15 AM To whom it may concern, I am 43 years old and was born and raised in Denver. I began skiing at Vail when I was three years old in 1985. I have skied at Vail every season of my life since. As you know, the Red Lion at the top of Bridge St. has been in its place since 1963 and has been a part of the fabric of downtown Vail since its founding. The bar and restaurant hold a special place not only in my heart, but the heart of many. Having lunch and hot chocolate there as a kid, live music apres ski as an adult, many new year's eve celebrations, dinner with family and friends during the ski season and many 4th of July's watching the parade from the patio. My wife and I hosted our engagement party there in October of 2008. Now we have three young daughters of our own who have been lucky enough to spend time there and realize how special it is. They have said many times how they hope to share it with their children one day as they learn to ski. The Red Lion truly is a treasure, a landmark and part of the lore of Vail, Colorado. Whatever can be done to save this foundational element of the town of Vail, a true part of what makes Vail one of a kind - its original culture, must be done. It must be done. The town and those who have created many memories over a generation implore you. I appreciate your time and consideration. Respectfully, Michael Brooks Cell: 720-252-6948 17 From:Amy Gish To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep Vail special Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 8:53:07 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi there, Please do what you can to keep Vail uniquely Vail. The soul of our community is not about swanky shops but community and an opportunity to gather. If we can save Red lion that is one step towards keeping character. I appreciate your service to the community. Amy Gish Sent from my iPhone 18 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ross Sappenfield To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Support Locals to maintain appeal Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 9:00:22 AM Hello, There is a lot of talk and dismay within my local peer group about the potential loss of local businesses in town. I hope that the council will use its influence to help maintain a local vibe in our community and keep the money from our businesses in our town. Please use your vote to support any measures possible that will preserve and even grow opportunities for our residents to continue to bring character to our community. Vail will lose its appeal if visitors find mega-mall, cruise ship businesses on our streets when they visit. Please do your part to prevent this from happening. Ross 19 From:kelli bailey To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Request to Preserve the Historic Red Lion Restaurant and Bar Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 9:15:26 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Mayor and Members of the Town of Vail, I am writing as a long-time community member who is deeply concerned about the potential destruction of the Red Lion Restaurant and Bar. The Red Lion is not just another commercial space—it is a living piece of Vail’s history. For decades, it has served as a gathering place for locals, visitors, seasonal workers, and families. It represents the character, culture, and authenticity that originally defined Vail and that so many of us fear is slowly being lost. Historic places like the Red Lion cannot be recreated once they are gone. While buildings can be rebuilt, the sense of place, shared memories, and cultural continuity they hold cannot. Preserving establishments like the Red Lion is essential to maintaining Vail’s unique identity and distinguishing it from any other resort town. Beyond its cultural significance, the Red Lion contributes to the local economy by offering an accessible, welcoming venue that appeals to a broad cross-section of the community—not just luxury visitors. Its loss would further narrow the diversity of experiences available in town and accelerate the trend toward homogenization. I respectfully urge the Town of Vail to explore all available options to preserve the Red Lion, whether through historic designation, adaptive reuse, or development alternatives that allow this landmark to remain intact and operational. Thoughtful preservation and responsible growth do not have to be mutually exclusive. Please consider the long-term cultural cost of losing one of Vail’s most beloved and historic establishments. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to the future of Vail. Sincerely, Kelli Bailey Vail, Colorado Sent from my iPad 20 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Emma Birtwhistle To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Save the Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 9:23:31 AM Hi there, The Red Lion is a historic establishment that has brought people together for many, many years. To allow it to be replaced would be devastating. Vail is not Aspen and we don’t want to be. Please protect local small local businesses and keep Vail the incredible place we locals know and love. Thanks, Emma 21 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Katie McDonald To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserving a Piece of Vail"s History: The Red Lion and The Blu Cow Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:12:37 AM Dear Members of the Town Council, I am writing to respectfully ask that you take into consideration the historical and cultural importance of The Red Lion and The Blu Cow to the Town of Vail as discussions continue regarding its current lease situation. These establishments are more than just a business—they are both one of Vail’s original establishments and a cornerstone of the town’s identity. For decades, they’ve been a gathering place where locals, seasonal employees, and visitors alike have shared laughter, celebrated milestones, and created lasting memories. For many guests, a trip to Vail simply isn’t complete without a visit to The Red Lion or The Blu Cow. As one of the first establishments in Vail, these restaurants helped shape the character and charm that continue to draw people here year after year. They represents the spirit of early Vail: welcoming, unpretentious, and community-centered. Losing these businesses would mean losing a tangible connection to the town’s roots—something that cannot easily be replaced or recreated. I understand that development and change are inevitable in a growing town, but I strongly believe there is value in preserving places that tell Vail’s story. Once these landmarks are gone, the memories and sense of continuity they provide are gone with them. I respectfully encourage the Town Council to explore any possible options that would allow these businesses to remain part of Vail’s landscape, whether through lease reconsideration, mediation, or alternative solutions. Preserving them would be a powerful statement about honoring Vail’s history while thoughtfully planning for its future. Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued dedication to the Vail community. Sincerely, Katie McDonald General Manager Lodge at Lionshead 970-476-2700 22 Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast, a leader in email security and cyber resilience. Mimecast integrates email defenses with brand protection, security awareness training, web security, compliance and other essential capabilities. Mimecast helps protect large and small organizations from malicious activity, human error and technology failure; and to lead the movement toward building a more resilient world. To find out more, visit our website. 23 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Colby Wilson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion! Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:23:45 AM Hello, I hope this email finds you well! I'm reaching out about the Red Lion in Vail Village and its future. I grew up in the valley and, while I moved away for college, have moved back to my favorite place in the world about a year ago. One of the reasons that I love Vail is the culture and history and Red Lion is part of that. My mom worked there when she first moved here in the '90's and it's a restaurant that my family and friends still frequent! We know we will always see other friends there, enjoying the food and live music. If this location turns into another designer storefront we will be the same as Aspen. What has always made Vail special is the local businesses and the character and soul they lend to the valley. People can go buy a designer handbag anywhere but allowing small businesses to remain in Vail will continue to make this town a special and standout location, for locals and tourists alike, for years to come! Thank you so much for considering this viewpoint of an important cultural piece of our home! Kind regards, Colby Wilson 24 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tim Parker To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion and the future of Vail Village Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:44:23 AM To the Vail Town Council, I hope I am not alone in writing to express deep concern over the changes we are witnessing in Vail Village—particularly the steady erosion of our apres-ski culture and evening gathering places that have long defined the heart and soul of this community. I have been a resident of the Vail Valley since 1989, and the transformation of the Village over that time has been astonishing. The continued loss of approachable, welcoming bars and restaurants for both residents and guests has fundamentally changed the experience of Vail. The potential loss of the Red Lion—following the disappearance of long-standing establishments such as the Blu Cow, Los Amigos, Big Bear Bistro, and others—is alarming and, frankly, heartbreaking. These are not just businesses; they are social anchors. They have been places where locals and visitors alike gather to celebrate a great day on the mountain, connect with one another, and experience the authentic alpine spirit that made Vail special. What we are becoming feels far removed from the rustic, friendly village many of us chose to call home. Increasingly, Vail Village resembles a high-end retail corridor—more akin to Rodeo Drive—dominated by luxury brands that neither residents nor guests are coming here to shop for. I recognize that market forces and property ownership limit the Town’s control. However, I sincerely hope there are still tools, policies, or incentives available to help preserve and encourage the types of businesses that give Vail its character and vitality. This is not about resisting change for the sake of nostalgia; it is about protecting the social fabric and economic diversity that make a mountain town thrive. During COVID, when streets were opened to outdoor dining, music, and shared public space, it briefly felt as though something positive might emerge from a very difficult time. That spirit brought life back into the Village. Unfortunately, it now feels as though we are moving further in the opposite direction, with the remaining gathering places threatened—driven largely by development priorities rather than community need. Residents do not want more high-end retail, and neither do our guests. Those brands are readily available elsewhere. What cannot be replicated elsewhere is the sense of place, community, and shared experience that once defined Vail Village. I urge the Council to consider what is being lost, and what kind of Village we want to leave for future generations. I truly hope meaningful steps can be taken to preserve the spirit that made Vail extraordinary. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Tim Parker 25 Gore Creek Properties Real Estate Sales Vail, Velento Oceanfront Rentals Caye Caulker Belize, PO Box 1373, Vail, CO 26 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Anna Bonebrake To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:59:51 AM Hello! I have been visiting Vail since I was born, for the last 30 years. I can not imagine the village without Red Lion there. The live music, outdoor seating and patio, and the normal beer/pricing offerings are the highlights of my trips. I moved to Denver in 2013 to be able to go to Vail more often. I've had work dinners at Red Lion, reunions, celebrations of life, and see live music every night I'm in town. It is such a staple of the village and we do not need anymore designer clothing stores. We need Red Lion to stay as is, it is such a staple that makes Vail feel like Vail. Please consider voting against turning it into a designer clothing store and save the apres!! Thank you Anna Bonebrake 27 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alex Bergland To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion, Save Vail Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:06:03 AM Dear town council, I ask you to please consider culture, local creativity, community, and the well-being of Vail before profits. The heart of Vail is not designer stores, it is people. It is the business that we create for us. We do not want a Gucci, we do not want a Prada, we do not want designer spaces that cater to less than half of Vail tourists during only the winter season. There is enough of that already; we do not want more. I have worked in tourist hotspots around the world and am a small business owner myself. From Vegas NV, Ketchikan AK, Queenstown New Zealand, Amsterdam the Netherlands, Wilmington NC, and now Vail, which I am hoping to call home for some time to come, I have seen tourism grow and change. While I do not have a long history and many personal stories of the Red Lion, I do have a personal history seeing something local change into something corporate, designer, and undesired. When you cater to the designer brands and investors, you pierce the heart of culture and pull out the keystone of community. You turn a place locals love to go into an area where we avoid. In Ketchikan when the cruise ships leave, the street of Princess Jewelry and designer brands turns into a ghost town, and at the bars the old timers all talk about how it used to be a nice street with their favorite restaurants that their long-time friends owned. On the ship's way out of town the locals line up to flip off the boats. On the quiet days between rushes in Queenstown the make-up sellers hassle the locals walking to the last remaining hole in the wall and are scoffed at and avoided like the plague. Tourist destinations are a balancing act. They attract guests because of the location, activities, and local culture. There is a give and take to be sure. You can't be a tourist economy without catering to tourists. Bu that does not mean selling out. To be successful and be able to host guests, bigger restaurants need to be built, more hotels/condos/guesthouses need to be built to fit them. There has to be some sacrifice from the locals to support the local economy and there are always growing pains. But the scales have already been tipped. Any business owner, any hiring manager will know that it is harder and harder to hire quality people, it is harder still to hire people that already have a place to live in the valley, and it is hardest yet to retain good people. When a tourist town pushes out the people that built that town into what it is, that tourist 28 town builds its own coffin. People over profits. Locals over developers and investors. Talk to the people that helped build Vail when they were still giving away land to get people to come. Talk to people that have lived (not simply owned property) but lived within 15 minutes of vail for the last 30-40 years. I have. I can tell you, they do not like seeing Vail go in the direction we are going. It is changing, and not for the better. When you turn a place where local entrepreneurs have worked to their bones to turn it into a place people want to go, (all people not just fur coat wearing Instagram influencers with bi-weekly lip jobs) into streets of designer stores, you destroy community. When you build more and more (and more and more and more) multimillion dollar condos that none of us afford and push out local entrepreneurs to bring in yet another designer luxury brand, you push out more and more and more people that actually live here and want to be a part o the community. You push out the people that make Vail a place worth going to. I petition you to put heart and mind into your decisions. I petition you to care about the quality of life for your neighbors and your coworkers that are affected by what you decide is the future of Vail. With the cost of living already astronomical and unattainable for the people that live here and want to work here, we lose even more hope. It is hard to live here. It takes so much work every day to be able to call this place home. It is a sacrifice to live here but until recently (with all the planned destruction and development) at least we can say that Vail still has a heart. We can say that as a local entrepreneur we still have a chance to make something here that gives Vail personality and spirit and uniqueness like the Red Lion, like Lost Heaven, like the Little Diner, like Two Arrows, like the Big bear Bistro, like Golden Bear, like Sunshine massage studio, and so many other paces that are eyeing 90%-300% rent increases or demolition to force them out of business to make room for more of the same designer crap and far too expensive condos that no local and no person that values community actually wants. Let's look at this for what it is. It is a cash grab by out-of-town investors to turn Vail into a low budget Aspen that do not care about the spirit here. We are not Aspen. We are Vail. We still have a heart. We still have a spirit. We still have something unique. I ask you to please not further a precedent for the destruction of entrepreneurship in this village. I ask you to please not create a town that locals turn away from with disdain. I ask you to please consider culture and community before you consider profits. Vail is not a business; Vail is a town. A town that people, for now, still want to be a part of and create in. 29 Thank you for your time and consideration, Alex Bergland Assistant General manager Lodge at Lionshead https://lodgeatlionshead.com/ 970-476-2700 Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast, a leader in email security and cyber resilience. Mimecast integrates email defenses with brand protection, security awareness training, web security, compliance and other essential capabilities. Mimecast helps protect large and small organizations from malicious activity, human error and technology failure; and to lead the movement toward building a more resilient world. To find out more, visit our website. 30 From:Ana Domit To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red lion !!! Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:14:26 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, Ever since my family and I have been going to Vail Colorado the red lion has been there. My parents started going there since they were young in the 1970’s and this place means a lot to them. PLEASE don’t let this vail jewel and tradition be erased from our history. Do not gentrify vail, we are not Aspen. There is no need to get high fashion stores. Thank you, Ana Domit del Valle 31 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ryan Heinzerling To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep the Red Lion! Date:Tuesday, January 13, 2026 10:27:19 PM To whom it may concern, When I heard there was a vote to tear down the Red Lion, I couldn't believe it and was filled with rage. Almost every single memory I have of this special town can be related to the Red Lion and its illustrious history in some way. It has an irreplaceable place in my heart, and its future cannot be yet another boujee retail front that continues to suck the soul out of Vail. So much of this town has changed, and yet the Red Lion remains. It has stayed year after year, and to see it end in a fast tracked death is insulting to this town and its history. The Red Lion deserves better, and I'm positive whoever reads this has special memories at this place and knows it deserves better. Thank you for your time. Best, Ryan 32 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Pedro Merino To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Protect the Red Lion and the Character of Vail Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:17:32 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed plans that would lead to the closure of the Red Lion. The Red Lion is not just a restaurant. It is a cornerstone of Vail’s identity. It represents continuity, community, and the authentic character that makes this town feel alive rather than manufactured. Losing it would mean losing a piece of Vail’s history and replacing it with something that could exist anywhere. Many of us have personal memories tied to the Red Lion. It has been a place where locals and visitors connect, where the spirit of the valley is felt rather than marketed. Decisions that affect spaces like this should not be rushed, and they should reflect genuine community input. I urge you to take into serious consideration the cultural, historical, and social value the Red Lion brings to Vail. Preserving what makes Vail unique matters more than adding another retail storefront. Thank you for listening and for representing the people who care deeply about this town and its future. Sincerely, Pedro 33 From:Enrique Rojas Blasquez To:Public Input Town Council Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:19:11 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please keep the red lion as it is, the red lion is a very important part of Vail’s identity Thanks Sent from my iPhone 34 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mariana Rojas To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please preserve the heart of vail Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:25:04 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing as someone who has deep roots in this town and a deep love for what has made Vail feel like home for so many of us. I want to express my strong opposition to the destruction of long-standing establishments such as the Red Lion and the Blue Cow. These places are not just buildings or businesses. They are spaces where life has unfolded. They have housed friendships, celebrations, chance encounters, and memories across generations. My parents’ engagement party was held at the Red Lion, surrounded by friends and family who helped shape the community we still cherish today. Years later, I met my partner at the Blue Cow, a place that, like so many others, became a backdrop to something deeply personal and meaningful. To lose these establishments is to lose pieces of our collective story. When places like this are removed, Vail risks becoming unrecognizable, not evolving but hollowed out. Replacing community anchors with luxury goods stores sends a message that commerce matters more than character, and that profit outweighs belonging. Vail’s magic has always lived in its people and the places that bring them together. Once these institutions are gone, they cannot be recreated. I urge you to consider what is truly being lost in these decisions and to protect the spaces that have given this town its soul. Thank you for your time and for considering the voices of those who call Vail home. With sincerity, Mariana Rojas 35 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jim Donohue To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:33:48 AM As a 40 year skier who visited red lion my first day it’s a treasure for all skiers and character of Vail village and valley. Surely there’s some way and benefit to saving it 36 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Connor Williams To:Public Input Town Council Subject:First Blu Cow, Big Bear, the George and now...Red Lion? Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:38:54 AM Enough is enough. 37 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Grzyb, Sean To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:41:51 AM Hello, I hope this note finds you well - I've sent this note in support of the the Red Lion bar and grill, I recognize the establishemnt as a local staple of culture and economy in Vail. Thanks for your consideration, Sean Grzyb Patrol Director Middlebury Snowbowl / Rikert Outdoor Center 802-443-7613 38 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Matthew Jump To:Public Input Town Council Cc:ellavankempen22@gmail.com Subject:Please Protect The Red Lion – A Request to Slow Down the Approval Process Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 12:18:50 PM Dear Vail Town Council, We are writing to respectfully ask you to slow down and carefully consider the proposed renovation project that threatens The Red Lion before any vote takes place. We are a group of University of Michigan alumni who take an annual trip to Vail every year. The Red Lion is the heart of that trip. It's where we do shot skis after a long day on the mountain, where we've celebrated birthdays and reunions, and where we've made memories that have kept us coming back year after year. The Red Lion isn't just a bar—it's the soul of Vail. For decades, it has been the place where locals and visitors come together, where stories are told, friendships are made, and the unique spirit of this mountain town comes alive. Losing it would mean losing a piece of Vail's history and identity that can never be replaced. We urge the Council to take the time necessary to fully evaluate what this decision means for Vail's culture and community before rushing to approve changes that could eliminate this irreplaceable institution. The Red Lion must be preserved for generations to come. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Matthew Jump Ella Van Kempen Courtney Conrad Bree Baker Lauren Willian Annabelle Skye Lily McCormack -- Matthew Jump 312-513-3519 | mjump@umich.edu | Linkedin 39 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Simon Dixon To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION, BLUE COW & BIG BEAR BISTRO Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 12:23:26 PM To Vail Town Council, Following many discussions with friends, we are writing to express our deep concern over the changes we are witnessing in Vail Village; particularly the seemingly accelerating erosion of our traditional apres-ski culture and evening gathering places that have long defined the heart and soul of this community. We have been coming to the Vail Valley since 1996 and built a house in Minturn in 2008. In that time, the transformation of the Village has been astonishing and mainly for the worse, especially in the last 5 years. The continued loss of approachable, welcoming bars, cafes and restaurants for both residents and guests has fundamentally changed the experience of Vail. The potential loss of the Red Lion—following the forced disappearance of long-standing establishments such as the Blu Cow, Los Amigos, Big Bear Bistro, and others is extremely alarming. These are not just businesses; they are the heart of Vail. Places where locals and visitors mingle to celebrate a great day on the mountain and experience all that made Vail special. We fully recognize that the town must continue to evolve, but increasingly, Vail Village appears to be becoming dominated by luxury retail shops. Residents do not want more high-end retail and, neither we suspect, do most visitors as those brands are readily available elsewhere and/or online. What other ski towns tend to lack is the sense of place, community, and shared experience that once defined Vail. We recognize that market forces and property ownership limit the Town’s control. However, I sincerely hope there are policies/incentives available to help preserve and encourage the types of businesses (eg. the Red Lion, BBB and the Cow) that give Vail its character and vitality. This is not about resisting change for the sake of nostalgia; it is about protecting the social fabric and economic diversity that make a mountain town thrive. Do we really want to become like Aspen?!! Can we please urge the Council to consider what will be irrevocably lost and not let the town’s future be driven largely by development priorities rather than community. We truly hope that as a Council, you can take steps to preserve the places that fostered the spirit that made Vail so special. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours sincerely Simon and Julia Dixon 568 Taylor Avenue 40 PO Box 144 Minturn 81645 CO Simon Dixon e-mail: sidixonhome@gmail.com 41 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Hayley Bill To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION! Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 12:26:04 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, My name is Hayley Bill. I was born in Vail and grew up in the valley, attended Vail Mountain School, and spent most of my childhood on our home mountain. I’m writing because I truly hope you’ll consider what the Red Lion means to this town before making any decisions that would permanently change or remove it. The Red Lion isn’t just a restaurant. It’s part of Vail’s history and part of many people’s lives. For me, it was a meaningful part of my childhood, and a place tied to memories, traditions, and what made Vail feel like home. For so many others, it’s been a rare place where locals, families, workers, and visitors all come together naturally. Turning it into another high-end retail space risks losing something that makes Vail feel real and unique. Once places like the Red Lion are gone, they’re gone for good, and no amount of new development can replace that sense of community. I ask that you slow this process down, listen to the people who care deeply about this place, and fully consider the cultural and social impact of this decision. Growth is important, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of what gives Vail its character. Thank you for taking the time to consider this and for your continued service to our community. Sincerely, Hayley Bill 42 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Marguerite S. Willis To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 12:40:51 PM Dear Council Members, I write to urge this body to “save” The Red Lion. In a time of turmoil, there is comfort in the familiarity of places that feel like home. Places, like The Red Lion, define the heart of a town and reflect the spirit of its citizens. For years, The Red Lion has stood at the center of Vail and the base of the mountain. It has welcomed everyone—locals and visitors, all mixing together to experience the Vail tradition of food and drink and music. To say The Red Lion is an institution is perhaps the epitome of an understatement. I understand the proposal before this Council is to “replace” The Red Lion with “retail designer” space. As a woman who owns too many designer pocketbooks, I can tell you that “retail designer” stores are everywhere. Simply stated, I do not need to visit Vail to purchase a Louis Vuitton purse, but I do need to visit The Red Lion to experience the special comraderie of Vail. Thirty years ago, I owned a house in Teton Village, Wyoming near the base of the ski mountain. There were numerous shops in the village but the center of activity was The Mangy Moose, a restaurant and bar not unlike The Red Lion. Today, Teton Village has a Four Seasons resort and upscale shops but The Mangy Moose is still flourishing. Why?Because skiers and locals and visitors want to gather in an authentic atmosphere, not a designer showroom. In closing, let me share one story. Last July 4th, I sat on the patio of The Red Lion and clapped as the parade passed by. Everyone was dressed in red, white and blue and most of us were waving little American flags. The whole experience was a true “piece” of Americana—right there at The Red Lion, in the very heart of Vail. As a visitor, I will never forget that day. Your jobs as council members are not easy. But they are always guided by what is best for the community. And however you measure it, saving The Red Lion is best for Vail. Sincerely yours, Marguerite Willis Golden Sent from my iPhone Marguerite S. Willis ​​​​ 43 Senior Counsel | Antitrust/Complex Litigation P: (864) 232‑2848 MWillis@maynardnexsen.com 104 South Main Street Suite 900 Greenville , South Carolina 29601 Confidentiality Notice - The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments to it is intended only for the named recipient and may be legally privileged and include confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, distribution or copying of this e-mail or its attachments is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately of that fact by return e-mail and permanently delete the e-mail and any attachments to it. Thank you. 44 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sara Resnick To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please keep the Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 12:56:08 PM My husband and I met in Vail and have raised our family here for 35 years. We live in Vail. The Red Lion is part of the DNA of Vail - it is a gathering place, meeting point and sets the tone of the village. Keeping authenticity in the valley is critical. The Red Lion provides that for all the guests that come to the valley as well as locals. Whether it is 4th July, Bingo nights in the off season and high energy apres ski, the Red Lion is a staple for all who live and visit here. Please consider keeping the authenticity of Vail and the Red Lion as is exists today. We need it ? Thanks - Sara Resnick 45 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ximena Rojas To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Concern on Vail’s Historic Restaurants Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 1:20:09 PM Dear Vail Council, I am writing to express my concern regarding the possibility of the Red Lion closing in order to make way for a luxury retail store. I understand that towns evolve, but I believe this change would represent a significant loss to the character and identity of Vail. I am also aware that a similar situation is occurring with Blu Cow, which is equally concerning. These establishments are not just restaurants; they are part of the cultural fabric of the town. They are places filled with memories, traditions, and a sense of community that cannot be replaced by retail, no matter how upscale. I have been coming to Vail for 23 years, and one of the reasons I continue to return is because the town has preserved its charm and authenticity. The traditional restaurants, local gathering spots, and long-standing businesses are what make Vail feel unique and alive. They are what differentiate it from other luxury destinations. I would truly love to see Vail remain the town it has always been. One that values its history, its local institutions, and the experiences that generations of visitors and residents hold dear. I hope these considerations are taken into account when decisions about the future of the Red Lion, Blue Cow, and similar establishments are made. Thank you for your time and for listening to the voices of those who deeply care about Vail. Warm regards, Ximena Rojas Mina Sent from my iPhone 46 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Christina Wright To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Oppose redevelopment plan for the Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 2:10:35 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to oppose the redevelopment plan for the Red Lion. I respectfully ask you to carefully consider the role that the Red Lion has played and continues to play in the life, culture, and identity of Vail as you review the proposed redevelopment plans currently before you. The Red Lion is not simply a commercial tenant. It is one of Vail’s longest-standing and most beloved gathering places, woven into the personal histories of residents, seasonal workers, and visitors alike. For decades it has been a place where people connect, celebrate, grieve, mark milestones, and feel a part of something larger than themselves. That kind of cultural and social fabric cannot be recreated once it is removed. Decisions about land use and development are, of course, complex and require balancing many interests. But I urge you to weigh not only the economic and aesthetic considerations, but also the less tangible yet deeply important value of preserving the authentic character of Vail. The places that give a town its soul are often not the newest or most profitable ones, but the ones that carry memory, meaning, and continuity across generations. I hope you will slow this process enough to ensure that the voices of community members who care deeply connected to the Red Lion are truly heard and considered before any irreversible decisions are made. Whatever the future holds, I respectfully ask that it reflect not only market forces, but the values and lived experiences of the people who live, work, and play in the vail valley. Thank you for your time, your service, and for considering this perspective as you deliberate. Sincerely, Christina Wright Sent from my iPad 47 From:Curtis Bonebrake To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Closing Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 2:12:42 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi Vail Town Council, KEEP RED LION OPEN! Please help the people stop the closure of the beloved Red Lion. It has a ton of historical value and is extremely important in maintaining the culture of Vail that has been rapidly declining for many years. Los Amigos closure was already bad enough for the area, we need to keep the remaining restaurants/bars open and thriving for the people that have been going to Vail since they were born as well as the locals that spend time there year round. I have a lot of fond memories at Red Lion and I would like to continue making them in the future. If it gets closed and other local restaurants/bars that have been a vail staple for many years, Vail is going to continue losing life long customers and ruin the culture of the town. Thanks, Curtis Bonebrake 48 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kate Mitchell To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 2:17:49 PM To whom it may concern, My name is Kate Mitchell, and I am a lifelong resident of the Vail Valley. For the past 23 years, Vail Village has been my home - a place that shaped my childhood, my friendships, and my sense of belonging. It is a town rich in history, character, and culture, and few places embody that spirit more profoundly than the Red Lion. The Red Lion is not just a restaurant or a business... It is part of the heartbeat of Vail. It carries a magic that cannot be replicated or replaced. It is one of the rare places where locals, seasonal homeowners, and visitors come together as equals - sharing music, stories, laughter, and a sense of community that defines what makes Vail special. To even consider replacing it with a retail store is absolutely heartbreaking. This decision would be a devastating loss to the soul of Vail Village. The charm and authenticity that draw people here year after year are fragile, and once they are gone, they are gone forever. Replacing an iconic gathering place with retail strips away the very culture that makes Vail feel alive, welcoming, and human. The magic of this town will undeniably deteriorate if places like the Red Lion disappear. Some of my most cherished memories, memories that define my upbringing, were made at the Red Lion. After long ski days, listening to Phil Long and other live bands, sharing drinks with friends old and new, and connecting with people who all loved Vail for the same reason: the incomparable experience it offers. These moments are not trivial - they are the fabric of our community. Vail cannot afford to lose this. Once the culture and soul of Vail Village are compromised, they cannot be restored with new construction or commercial space. I strongly urge you to consider the lasting impact of this decision and to protect the places that give Vail its identity. The Red Lion is one of them, and without it, Vail Village will never feel the same. Thank you for the time and consideration. Respectfully, Kate Mitchell 49 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Marni Greenberg To:Public Input Town Council Subject:URGENT Public Comment: The Importance of the Red Lion to Vail Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 2:32:19 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to share my perspective on the proposed changes to the building that houses the Red Lion, and to express why this establishment matters deeply to me and to the character of Vail. I was born and raised in Colorado, and Vail has long been my second home. Over the years, the Red Lion has been a constant, a true Vail staple and a place where I have countless memories with family and friends. It is not just a restaurant or bar, but the heart of the village: a gathering place that brings together locals and visitors alike through its vibrant après scene, great food, live music, and welcoming, familiar staff. The Red Lion represents something increasingly rare: authenticity, continuity, and community. It embodies the spirit of Vail in a way that retail simply cannot replace. There is nowhere else quite like it, and its presence adds immeasurable value to the town’s culture, energy, and sense of place. Replacing a landmark like the Red Lion with retail would be a true loss, not just for those of us who hold personal memories there, but for Vail as a whole. Decisions of this magnitude deserve careful consideration of what makes Vail special, and the Red Lion is undeniably part of that fabric. I respectfully urge you to consider the Red Lion’s historic, cultural, and communal importance as you review these plans, and to ensure that the voices of those who love and value this place are meaningfully heard. Thank you for your time and for your service to the Vail community. Sincerely, Marni Greenberg 50 From:Zach Grado To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Do Not Remove Red Lion Vail! Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:10:56 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department You better not get rid of red lion Vail, or i will tell every Central&South American i know to move to Aspen instead of Vail. #IKONandIWill Thanks. Sent from my iPhone 51 From:Lauren Buchsbaum To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please don’t put another boring luxury store in Vail Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:16:54 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Don’t close Red Lion! That would be a complete travesty! Lauren Buchsbaum lbuchsbaum29@gmail.com Sent from my iPhone 52 From:Ryan To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep the Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:20:29 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Vail needs more places like this not less. Storefronts are already overdone and not for the people who live here. Ryan 53 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Charlotte Parker To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Concerns for the Culture of the Vail Valley Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:23:50 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to share my concerns about the proposal to replace the Red Lion with a designer retail storefront. I grew up in the Vail Valley, and like many longtime residents, I believe this decision has implications that go far beyond one business. The Red Lion is one of the few remaining places in Vail that still reflects the town’s original character. It has been a consistent gathering spot for locals and visitors alike for decades, and it represents the kind of authentic experience that people associate with Vail. While retail stores can exist anywhere, the atmosphere and culture that places like the Red Lion create are unique and cannot be replicated. Vail’s appeal has always been about more than shopping. People come here for a sense of community, history, and personality. Replacing one of the town’s most established and beloved institutions with another high-end storefront moves Vail further away from the qualities that made it special in the first place. I urge you to take the time to fully consider what would be lost with this change. The Red Lion has played an important role in Vail’s identity for generations, and many of us feel that the community deserves a meaningful voice before a decision like this is rushed through. Please take into account the value that the Red Lion adds to the character and culture of Vail as you review this proposal. Once places like this are gone, they are gone for good. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Charlotte Parker 54 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Derek Petak To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion and Vail"s soul Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:43:26 PM Enough is enough, please stop selling what soul Vail has left to major luxury hotels, brands, and galleries. My wife and I live here in Vail valley, and as affordable as the EPIC pass is everything else in Vail makes it hard to afford for our family. Parking is complete joke, nearly every other resort has affordable parking and free for 4+ to encourage carpooling. Not Vail, and now because you have a ridiculous budget we pay for summer parking now to save a crumbling parking structure. or 2. But let's save the red lion, you already permitted this private expensive club at the base of Gondola One and we lost Los Amigos. The red lion is part of Vail's history, its authentic and real. We don't want a disney land in Vail, we need rustic, wooden bars, not marble and granite. We want to drink draft beer and whiskey and coke's, not $22 dollar cocktails. A place that has weekly specials that locals and tourists alike can afford. I've had so many memories at the Red Lion from visiting in high school in 2000 and 2002, 4 years at boulder to living in the valley for 20+ years. It is making me sick to my stomach to see every authentic place in Vail taken down with fancy eateries and bars as the only option. More times than not now we come snowboard at 830am prompt, do 10 runs and leave because the Village and parking would make us broke. If you want to build something sustainable in Vail it isn't just catering for the 1%, we all know there is more than enough for those people here. Thank you for your consideration, and please put the people who live and work here first -Derek Petak -- Derek Petak / COO Mobile: (303)819-1313 / derek@redrock-interactive.com Red Rock Interactive Vail, CO www.redrock-interactive.com This e-mail message may contain confidential or legally privileged information and is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). Any unauthorized disclosure, dissemination, distribution, copying or the taking of any action in reliance on the information herein is prohibited. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, or contain viruses. Anyone who communicates with us by e-mail is deemed to have accepted these risks. Red Rock Interactive is not responsible for errors or omissions in this message and denies any responsibility for any damage arising from the use of e-mail. Any opinion and other statement contained 55 in this message and any attachment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. 56 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Nicole Hayes To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:53:40 PM Dear Town Council Members and Staff, I am writing to express my deep frustration and concern regarding the potential approval of the sale and redevelopment of one of Vail’s iconic bar and restaurant establishments. Let me be clear: decisions like this do not happen in a vacuum. Approving the sale or redevelopment of a long-standing, locally rooted business in favor of another high-end, interchangeable concept may look good on paper, but it actively erodes the soul, culture, and authenticity of this village. Vail’s identity was not built by investors chasing maximum returns. It was built by places like this, gathering spots where locals, employees, families, and visitors shared experiences year after year. Once these institutions are gone, they are gone forever. No amount of architectural guidelines or marketing language can replace that loss. Many of us are deeply concerned that the Town continues to prioritize short-term financial upside over long-term community character. This path turns Vail into something generic, hollow, and indistinguishable from every other luxury resort town that sold off its personality piece by piece. The question that needs to be answered is simple: Is the Town of Vail committed to preserving what actually makes this place special or is it willing to sacrifice its character for another checkmark on a development spreadsheet? I urge you to slow this process down, listen to the voices of residents and business owners who care deeply about this community, and seriously reconsider whether approving this sale aligns with the values you claim to uphold. Vail’s soul is not renewable. Once it’s gone, it cannot be bought back. DO NOT APPROVE IT! Respectfully but very firmly, Nicole Hayes 57 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:alivali@comcast.net To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Bar and Restaurant Vail Village Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 5:09:23 PM Importance:High Hello Vail Town Council, I write this email with major concern I have with the news about the Red Lion Restaurant bar being replaced by a designer retail store front. I am resident of Vail and Denver and have been coming to Red Lion since 1988. This establishment has brought many memories for me, my family, our kids, their friends and people from all over the world. When people talk about Vail, Red Lion always comes up in some way. So many quality values at this establishment. Great owner, staff, food, entertainment, etc. Please oppose the landlords desire to destroy a Vail landmark and to promote more fashion shops. We have so much retail in Vail Village as it stands. Please think about Red Lion’s contribution to Vail’s history, culture, future. It may affect the image of our community. From a world class ski resort town to a fashion mall. I appreciate your thoughts on this matter and hope you all decide to vote this one down or consider another location. We hear this landlord may have other locations to consider. Thank you, Ali Vali 58 From:charlottepbrooks@icloud.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 5:21:38 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern, You can’t close the Red Lion it’s such a special place. I have been coming and skiing in Vail since I was little and going to the Red Lion was always something fun that I looked forward going to when we went to vail. It’s such a special place and it would be devastating to see it close. It is an important part of Vail and I can’t imagine what it would be like if it wasn’t there anymore. The Red Lion can’t close. From, Charlotte Brooks 59 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tony Ryerson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion, Blu Cow, & Dancing Bear Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 5:25:24 PM Dear Town Council, The trend to transform Vail Village into some kind of Rodeo Drive is disgusting. If the Red Lion building along with Blu Cow, and Dancing Bear become high end retail shops, this town will lose much of the remaining soul it once was famous for. If all that remains are stores that sell overpriced handbags, watches, furs, real estate, and private clubs there will be a very sterile and unwelcoming experience for visitors, particularly young people. I hope you as Council realize the ripple effect this change brings to our town and figure out a way to preserve Vail's soul. Respectfully, Tony Ryerson Get Outlook for iOS 60 From:Ursula Madrazo To:Public Input Town Council Subject:KEEP RED LION Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 5:53:39 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I’ve been coming to vail since I was 3 years old. I have even lived in Vail for 2 years, so I know the history and importance of this establishment, not only for every individual but for the town as a whole. For instance, right after I turned 21 I ordered my first drinks and used my ID for the first time in the REDLION!!! This place is not only some restaurant but tons of memories for each one of us vail community and even the one time visitors. Please let this amazing place stay, for we know some others won’t be making it :( DONT TAKE THE MAGIC OUT OF VAIL!!! 61 From:Juan P Madrazo To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please keep the Red Lion alive Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 7:34:57 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, My oldest memory of the Red Lion is from a Christmas season in 1986, my father asking the band if he could join for a song and properly sing La Bamba in Spanish. The crowd went crazy. The shared joy, happiness, laughter, Christmas spirit, filled up the place. I will never forget that. We have been coming back ever since and for us, the Red Lion is a tradition. We would really love to keep on enjoying that magical place for years to come. Picture taken in the Red Lion this January 2. Kind regards, JP Madrazo 62 From:Silvia Rojas To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Concerns on future changes of Vail village Date:Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:48:15 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Town of Vail Members, I am writing to express my sadness and concern regarding the decision to replace Blu Cow and the Red Lion with retail businesses. One of the main reasons my family and I continue to return to Vail is because of the unique places that make our visits so memorable, meaningful, and special. I have been coming to Vail for over 50 years, and it has always been a familiar and deeply meaningful place for both me and my family. I strongly believe that closing these establishments will negatively affect the true essence of Vail and the experience of those of us who hold this town close to our hearts. I sincerely hope you can understand where our concerns come from and how deeply worried we are about the impact these decisions may have. While I understand that change can sometimes be positive, I do not believe this particular change is appropriate for our beautiful town of Vail. Preserving and respecting its true essence is what makes it so special. I write this message with the most respect, but also with sadness and concern about how these decisions may alter the future of our town. Kind regards, Silvia Blasquez Enviado desde mi iPhone 63 From:Manuel Madrazo To:Public Input Town Council Subject:We want nachos not Chanel! Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 4:09:51 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Members of Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to carefully consider the significance of the Red Lion before approving any plans that would permanently alter or eliminate it. The Red Lion is not just another commercial space. It is one of Vail’s oldest continuously operating establishments and a place deeply woven into the town’s history, culture, and sense of community. For decades, it has brought locals and visitors together and helped define the authentic character that makes Vail special. Decisions like this should not be rushed or evaluated solely through a redevelopment lens. Once a place like the Red Lion is gone, it cannot be replaced. Its value lies not only in economic terms, but in the shared memories, traditions, and identity it represents for so many people. I respectfully ask that you take the Red Lion’s cultural and historic contribution into full consideration and ensure that the voices of the community are meaningfully heard before moving forward. Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to preserving what makes Vail unique. Sincerely, Manuel Madrazo Homeowner and part-time resident since 2016 Frequent visitor since1986 64 From:Andrea Felix To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please leave the red lion as it is Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 7:56:02 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department 65 From:Callie Greenberg To:Public Input Town Council Subject:URGENT: Preserving the Red Lion as a Vital Part of Vail’s History and Community Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 8:55:19 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing as a native of Vail and as someone who grew up with the Red Lion as a constant, familiar presence in the heart of our town. For many natives and longtime locals, the Red Lion is far more than a building or a business , it is a cultural landmark that holds decades of shared memories, traditions, and community connection. The Red Lion has been a place where locals gathered after long ski days, where friendships were formed, celebrations were held, and generations crossed paths. It represents a version of Vail that is increasingly rare authentic, welcoming, and rooted in community rather than exclusivity. For those of us who grew up here, it is woven into the story of what made Vail feel like home. The proposed transformation of the Red Lion into yet another luxury retail storefront would erase something irreplaceable. While luxury brands certainly have their place, Vail already has no shortage of them. What is becoming harder and harder to find are the historic spaces that give this town its soul. Removing the Red Lion would not simply change the streetscape, it would remove a piece of Vail’s identity. Vail has always prided itself on balancing growth with character, progress with preservation. Losing an iconic institution like the Red Lion in favor of another high-end retail space would feel like a step away from that balance. To many locals, it would be a disgrace to allow such a meaningful landmark to disappear when it continues to serve as a living reminder of Vail’s roots. I respectfully urge the Town Council to consider the long-term cultural impact of this decision and to recognize the Red Lion as an essential part of Vail’s history and community fabric. Preserving spaces like this is how we ensure that Vail remains not just a destination, but a town with heart, memory, and authenticity. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your continued service to our community. Sincerely, Callie Greenberg Callie Greenberg 303.906.5146 Calimay4@gmail.com 66 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:andres rassam To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Leave the red lion alone! Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 9:45:10 AM One winter night at the Red Lion, the power went out. No music, no lights, no screens , just people. Instead of leaving, no one moved. Someone started singing, another person clapped along, and before long the whole room was laughing and sharing stories with strangers who felt like old friends. When the lights finally came back on, nobody rushed to go home. That’s what the Red Lion has always been, not just a restaurant, but a place where Vail comes together in the most honest, human way. Places like that can’t be replaced. 67 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:rodrigo braun To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion-Blu Cow-Big Bear Bistro...etc Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 10:10:45 AM Dear Vail Town Council Members, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed redevelopment that would eliminate The Red Lion and turn this space into yet another luxury retail storefront. Vail has already lost too many of the original businesses that gave the town its soul. We’ve watched it happen again and again: Crossroads became Solaris, The Rucksack became Loro Piana, Los Amigos became a private club, and now we are hearing the Evergreen Lodge may become a “Solaris 2.” The Red Lion is not just a restaurant. It’s one of the last authentic, community-driven establishments that represent the real Vail. It’s also important to note that the Red Lion building includes Big Bear Bistro and Blu Cow, which would also be displaced and replaced by more soulless storefront businesses. Vail should not be treated like a 5th Avenue-style high street, full of “loss leader” marketing storefronts that don’t serve a real community. Where will locals eat? Where will ski lovers who are not millionaires dine and shop? At what point do we say enough? What’s next: Vendetta’s, Lancelot, Pazzo’s? I respectfully urge you to vote against any proposal that eliminates The Red Lion and further erodes the character and accessibility of Vail. Sincerely, Rodrigo Braun 68 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Norvell, Haily To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION AND SEND THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SHOP TO ASPEN!!!!! Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 11:01:15 AM To whom this may concern: The LAST thing Vail needs is luxury retail…. C’mon people this is a ski town for crying out loud, not a luxury shopping destination. It’s pathetic to see local establishments be turned into ski lockers and CHAIN retail establishments for a profit. Apres is a big component of what makes people fall in love with and keep coming back to Vail; and the Red Lion is the face of Apres in the village. I’m not trying to argue that the Red Lion needs as much space as it does… you can easily get rid of the restaurant portion and turn that into retail while maintaining the iconic bar and patio. The Red Lion is ONE OF FEW restaurant/bars that has succeeded & thrived over decades. I can go to Zuma, Makoto, Matsu in cities all around the world but there is no replica of the Red Lion. As someone who grew up in the valley, the local feel and iconic establishments keep me coming back and make me excited to bring visitors to Vail for years to come. If the entire village is catered to people who are NOT skiers and would prefer to shop at Gucci, Prada, etc all day… you’ve lost the whole point of an iconic ski resort destination. I live in Manhattan and can easily shop luxury retail any day of the week, however, I (as many others do) visit Vail to get away from that. Most of your out of town visitors who can afford to pay $360 / day for a lift ticket in Vail already live in / have access to places with designer retail. And if not, I’m sure they can afford a round trip ticket to New York / LA / Miami for their luxury shopping needs. Hell, let them go to Aspen. Vail is special because of the SKIING – NOT the shopping. I can’t believe I even have to spend time writing this email… you know what is right and I encourage you to do it. Vail Resorts is a very poorly run public company only focusing on bottom line and has zero regard for the ACTUAL SKIING EXPERIENCE. Call with any questions. Haily Norvell C: (970) 390-9333 hnorvell@owslp.com This message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the designated recipient(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby 69 notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. This communication is for information purposes only and should not be regarded as an offer to sell or as a solicitation of an offer to buy any financial product, an official confirmation of any transaction, or as an official statement of One William Street Capital Management, L.P. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free. Therefore, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All information is subject to change without notice. 70 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Peter Wurzburger To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 11:17:16 AM § 12-7B-20 VAIL VILLAGE URBAN DESIGN GUIDE PLAN. (A) Adoption. The Vail Village Urban Design Guide Plan and Design Considerations are adopted for the purposes of maintaining and preserving the character and vitality of the Vail Village (CC1) I would say clearly that another luxury dry goods store does NOTHING to preserve the "character and vitality of the Vail Village" Quite the opposite, it removes a facility that services multitudes of visitors, young & old, affluent and not so much, a gathering spot for locals and tourists. And replaces it with a retail facility that caters to a select few of wealth. NO One will discuss with friends how they met or hung out at Dior / Gucci etc , vs the tremendous good will, memories and stories of friends and experiences shared at the Red Lion.......fond memories keep people returning Lion's demise also means the loss of jobs for 80? folks !! Long time visitor to Vail Peter Wurzburger 71 From:Keoni Kabza To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 11:22:28 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern. It has been brought to my attention that the historic Red Lion and surrounding shops in the Vail village are at risk of being destroyed. Not everything needs to be "Updated and Boujee" to be attractive. The Red Lion and its employees have been a staple for my family and I who despite being Denverites, have made countless memories over the past 26 years of going to Red Lion for Lunch between skiing laps or dinner & drinks after a long day on our favorite mountain. Vail is a better place with the Red Lion. Vail is a better place with the hardworking people of the Red Lion. Save the Red Lion, don't let Vail become another boring, overly expensive, stupid shops everywhere.. Aspen vibe. Keep Vail, Vail! Keep the Red Lion!!! Keoni Kabza 72 From:Carolyn Ye To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE RED LION! Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 11:30:29 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department This bar is beloved to my family and friends!! 73 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Michele Evans To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please work to Preserve the Historic Red Lion Restaurant and Bar Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 12:38:40 PM Attachments:image.png Dear Mayor and Members of the Town of Vail, I am writing as a long-time community member who is deeply concerned about the potential destruction of the Red Lion Restaurant and Bar. The Red Lion is not just another commercial space—it is a living piece of Vail’s history. For decades, it has served as a gathering place for locals, visitors, seasonal workers, and families. It represents the character, culture, and authenticity that originally defined Vail and that so many of us fear is slowly being lost. Historic places like the Red Lion cannot be recreated once they are gone. While buildings can be rebuilt, the sense of place, shared memories, and cultural continuity they hold cannot. Preserving establishments like the Red Lion is essential to maintaining Vail’s unique identity and distinguishing it from any other resort town. Beyond its cultural significance, the Red Lion contributes to the local economy by offering an accessible, welcoming venue that appeals to a broad cross-section of the community—not just luxury visitors. Its loss would further narrow the diversity of experiences available in town and accelerate the trend toward homogenization. I respectfully urge the Town of Vail to explore all available options to preserve the Red Lion, whether through historic designation, adaptive reuse, or development alternatives that allow this landmark to remain intact and operational. Thoughtful preservation and responsible growth do not have to be mutually exclusive. Please consider the long-term cultural cost of losing one of Vail’s most beloved and historic establishments. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to the future of Vail. Sincerely, Michele Evans 74 75 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:catherine cluter To:Russell Forrest; Public Input Town Council Subject:Vail Village Redevelopment Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 12:46:29 PM Let us not turn a blind eye towards the fact that Russell Forrest was the town manager of Snowmass Village when it filed BK. He lived in Gunnison following the bankruptcy and should be deemed unfit to review or approve any redevelopment in Vail Village. His only experience in a ski town is quite literally driving it into the ground. I don’t want to see that happen to Vail. Keep the red lion around & get this clown away from our town! 76 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:hunter bailey To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Born and raised in Vail, would hate to see the red lion go Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 3:39:18 PM Hello, My name is Hunter Bailey. I was born in Vail and lived there for the first 23 years of my life. Vail is many things to many people — a town, a resort, a mountain — but at its best, it has always been a community with a distinct culture and character. That character feels increasingly fragile. The Red Lion is one of the last remaining places in the village that genuinely reflects Vail’s history and social fabric — a place to gather, connect, and experience something that isn’t interchangeable with any other resort town. Losing it would feel like another step toward Vail becoming less of a town and more of a mall. Letting the Red Lion go would be a short-sighted decision, and one that risks eroding the cultural and communal heart of the village. I strongly urge you to consider preserving this space, not just as a business, but as a vital part of what makes Vail feel like Vail. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Hunter Bailey 77 From:Sarah Klingelheber To:Stephanie Kauffman; Russell Forrest; CommDev; PLANNING@VAILGOV.COM; Matt Gennett; Public Input Town Council; Council Dist List; DRB; Dave Chapin; Kim Langmaid; Jonathan Staufer; Barry Davis; Reid Phillips; Sam Biszantz; Kevin Foley Subject:Public comment concerning Red Lion Building DRB25-0470 Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 3:48:52 PM Attachments:Letter to ToV.pdf 78 To: Town of Vail Design Review Board and Vail Town Council sbibbens@vailgov.com; RForrest@vail.gov; commdev@vailgov.com;PLANNING@V AILGOV.COM; mgennett@vailgov.com;publicinput.vailtowncouncil@vailgov.com; Council Distribution List (TownCouncil@vailgov.com) DRB@vailgov.com, dchapin@vail.gov, klangmaid@vail.gov, jstaufer@vail.gov, bdavis@vail.gov, rphillips@vail.gov, sbiszantz@vail.gov, kfoley@vail.gov From: Sarah Klingelheber 291 Bridge Street, Vail, CO Re: Public Comment on Red Lion Building DRB25-0470 Date: January 16, 2026 To Whom It May Concern: I have been a part-time resident at 291 Bridge Street in the Vail core since 1993. In November 2025, I was given Public Notice by the Town of Vail for the review of a major exterior alteration by Applicant Red Lion Building LLC. I was unable to attend the notice’s December 8th Planning and Environmental Commission meeting. However, I now have been able to review the Applicant’s materials, and the meeting minutes and associated materials from the December 8th, 22nd and January 12th Planning and Environmental Commission meetings. As a homeowner on Bridge Street (directly across from/west of the Red Lion Building), I would like to share my thoughts and concerns with you. I appreciate your reading of this lengthy letter, for there is a lot of information to read thru and to understand as a Vail resident and member of the public. Believe me when I say I know and can fully imagine the costs, both money and time, of renovating a building that was originally built in 1962 and has gone thru multiple additions and renovations since. I know how grateful the Town of Vail and the public are when investments are made to update buildings and re-imagine spaces for the public to enjoy. This is to say, I appreciate all parties’ investments in this matter. Considering Applicant’s goals and “plan”: I think it is worthwhile to take a moment to consider what the Applicant’s current plans say in regards to the primary goal of their major exterior renovation (as one of the two most major renovations in the recent history of CC1 District, I would argue). My understanding of the Applicant’s main goal is to “add 3,000 square feet” of below grade space in order to develop the “largest entertainment venue in Vail” (Applicant Narrative). This subterranean space would be excavated from under the current Red Lion Bar patio, and the two new (~5,247 sq. ft.) commercial spaces will be 79 placed on top of this new subterranean space (replacing the current Red Lion Bar). However, confusingly, in the Red Lion Inn Condo Association’s last meeting minutes from June 2025 (Applicant Narrative p. 58), it sounds like the Applicant (also Association President) could vacate the subterranean expansion idea, but wants the “Town’s approval first before we start refining plans” (Applicant Narrative p. 58). With this in mind, in my view, the Applicant’s plans feel more like a sketch of ideas, or even options, without specific design details in place. I will regard the “plan” in quotes moving forward. Altogether, it seems obvious that the “plan” is not for renovating current spaces for current uses by current tenants since again in the Association’s meeting minutes the Applicant partner and Board Manager surmises “There is no way to know what type of tenants will be in the spaces or exactly what the spaces will look like until we get further down the approval process with the town” (Applicant Narrative p.58). Moving forward, I will not use current businesses names (because there is no guarantee that they will be there) and instead will refer to the spaces as C-1, C-2, C- 3, C-4, and C-5. While the PEC has thus far approved the plans to be meeting zoning regulations, Resolution 50, Vail Village urban design planning and design considerations, work- force housing, etc., I have some concerns to the contrary. And, also, I would like to say that I am not opposed to renovations and innovations and investments in the Vail Core or CC1 District, and, for that matter, on the street where I have residence, but each plan has their own specific merits, or not. And this particular project is a large undertaking in the heart of Bridge Street, and so it warrants detailed consideration. I appreciate the time the Applicant and their associates have spent on this project thus far, and I appreciate the time Town of Vail staff has given to the review, thus far, of this application. I hope my perspective will be taken into consideration in regards to the detailed review of the “plans” moving forward. Here are my top 10 concerns that need to be addressed before approval is granted: 1) Concerns of the building residential owners need to be addressed and completed before permit approval In the 2025.12.1 letter to the Town of Vail Planning Department from J+A Architects and Planners, the majority residential ownership of the Red Lion HOA defined a list of 13 objections to the Application. I would like to highlight their concerns that the Application needs to follow correct HOA guidelines for approval and altercations. Furthermore, the HOA wants the “plans” to demonstrate structural integrity, show noise vibrations/mitigations to/for the residential and street, clearly identify the exhaust for the two new kitchen locations, take into account residential decks and residential view corridors, etc. Why I am concerned: As a neighboring residential owner who also has ownership stake in a residential/commercial building, it is imperative that these rules are followed to ensure all property owners have trust in the Town of Vail’s 80 considerations that HOA agreements are followed in good faith by all parties. Also, the majority residential owners want answers to very important details that need to be shown in the “plans” before the Town of Vail grants a permit. 2) Concerns about the massing of the two (combined 5,247 sq. ft.) commercial spaces on Bridge Street, C-3 and C-4. The Applicant states in “4. Street Enclosure. Applicant’s Response: The Red Lion Building renovation creates a ‘comfortable’ enclosure for the street. The bulk, scale, massing, and wall heights of the renovation stay within the recommended general design parameters, ensuring visual interest and a pleasant pedestrian experience. The resulting spaces are neither ‘unenclosed’ nor ‘canyon-like’.” Why I think this is false: On the West Elevation rendering (Attachment D Plan Set 2) the roof lines of the commercial units rise halfway up the current residential sliding windows. I do not see the height difference indicated from the current roofline of the enclosed (C-3/Red Lion Bar) patio compared to the proposed roofline, but it looks significant. Not only is the height greater, but the bulk or massing of these structures is a significant change, as well, when compared to the current enclosed patio in this location. These buildings (C-3 and C-4) look to produce more shading onto Bridge Street as indicated in the shading diagrams on the “plan”. 3) Concerns regarding the no net loss of current number of outdoor patios and seats. Concerns regarding no net loss of eating and drinking establishment square footage. My understanding is that Vail Town Planning code and Resolution 50 require no net loss of outdoor patios and eating and drinking establishments when approving of major renovation permits. My understanding is that PEC has found this Application has no net loss of outdoor patios and seats and no net loss of eating and drinking establishments. Why I consider the outdoor patio number as false: In my #2 concern above, I noted the roofline of the enclosed patio of the current C-3/Red Lion Bar. This enclosed patio (awning was approved by the Town in the 1980s I believe) has full floor to ceiling openings to Bridge Street and has an estimated capacity of ~250 people. However, in the Applicant’s and the PEC calculations this enclosed patio was not considered. I believe the Town of Vail is losing 1 patio and 250 patio seats, at arguably one of the most popular and patronized patios in the Town of Vail. In my view, the loss of this patio square footage was never discussed at the PEC meetings and need to be discussed moving forward. Why I think the eating and drinking establishment number is not a fair comparison: Although the code/law calls for square footage no net loss, I would argue that the eating and drinking establishments present and planned are not fair comparisons. The current C-7, C-6 and C-3 are eating and drinking establishments that will be replaced with C-5 and C-1 (3 eating establishments will be turned into 2). Whereas C-7 and C-6 are currently counter ordering establishments, C-1 will presumably be “the largest music venue in Vail” which will require ticketed entry. 81 C-3 will be demolished. C-5 will be created which has a 70-seat capacity, much smaller than even C-3’s current enclosed patio. 4) Because of the above stated loss of the enclosed patio space, I have concerns regarding adherence to Vail’s Streetscape and Master Plans’ statements: Streetscape: “that Vail’s ambiance—defined by its distinctive architecture, dramatic views, and extensive pedestrian environment—is among the Town’s most significant assets. Outdoor patios contribute meaningfully to this streetscape character and support the broader objectives of creating an inviting, pedestrian-oriented environment” Vail Village Master Plan 1990: “Given it’s prominent location at the top of Bridge Street in Vail Village, the Red Lion Building plays a crucial role in ensuring that Vail Village remains a pedestrian-friendly environment with a distinct sense of place and purpose…To further promote activity and vibrancy at the street level, existing outdoor dining patio areas should be maintained and, if deemed appropriate, expanded.” Why I am concerned: The enclosed patio of C-3 brings acoustic music, singing, lively chatter, not to mention excited viewers of the Town’s 4th of July Parade, directly on to Bridge Street. This ambience, street activity and vibrancy will no longer be present with the creation of the new C-3 and C-4 commercial spaces and the smaller capacity of the new C-5 with its small patios. 5) Concerns regarding maintaining the historic nature of the Red Lion Building that began with the initial construction of the Red Lion Bar and Restaurant that opened in 1963, the very first bar and restaurant in Vail. The Vail Master Plan states: - “Objective 1.4: Recognize the “historic” importance of the architecture, structures, landmarks, plazas and features in preserving the character of Vail Village.” - “Objective 2.5: Encourage the continued upgrading, renovation and maintenance of existing lodging and commercial facilities to better serve the needs of our guests.” - “4.3. The ambiance of the Village is important to the identity of Vail and should be preserved. (Scale, alpine character, small town feeling, mountains, natural settings, intimate size, cosmopolitan feeling, environmental quality.)” Why I am concerned: The Red Lion Bar and Restaurant is a “historic landmark” of Vail Village. I would argue that the public thinks of Vail and The Red Lion as synonymous. It is the historic heart of the town in which everything grew. This plan will demolish it, keeping only the doorway and partial view of the fireplace. I did not see the PEC ask if the current Red Lion Bar and Restaurant owners, who I presume own the rights to the establishment’s name, if they have worked with the developer on the new C-5 space insuring it will remain “The Red Lion” and so I assume this location will no longer be “The Red Lion” and we will lose the heart from which Vail grew. 82 6) Concerns regarding “Kitchen” spaces, emergency fire egress and ADA elevator compliance The “plan” is calling for two new kitchens to be constructed in the basement of the Red Lion Building. Why I am concerned: I am concerned that the C-1 and C-5 kitchen “plans” do not adequately address mechanical, ventilation and emergency fire egress. I saw no mention by the Vail Fire Department about these concerns (so far they have given comments on fire truck/equipment right of way in the street/pedestrian zone). Regarding ADA compliance, currently there are no elevators in the commercial area of the Red Lion Building and I could not verify if elevator access was present in the “plans”. I would like to see ADA and fire egress compliance specifically and clearly indicated. I am further concerned that the C-5 street level restaurant and bar has their kitchen in the basement causing operational concerns for the commercial tenet. Additionally, I do not see where it has been confirmed that C-2’s street level commercial will be an eating establishment since there are no kitchen plans for C-2. 7) Concerns regarding loading and unloading of entertainment/band equipment The Applicants say: “service and delivery will be managed through the designated loading and delivery dock at Vail’s Front Door” and “The development review application will not negatively affect traffic in terms of congestion, vehicle and pedestrian safety, convenience, traffic flow and control, access, maneuverability, or snow removal from streets and parking areas.” Why I am concerned: If the Application is for Vail’s largest music venue that means that national touring acts will have large buses with equipment that needs to be loaded and unloaded each night. In the PEC meeting minutes, I saw no detailed mention of how this activity will be performed. In a recent Vail Daily article, the Town Manager equated the proposed space to Aspen’s Belly Up in a recent Vail Daily Article, however the Belly Up in Aspen faces street space with Aspen’s Transportation Center which provides ample room for these large vehicles: not so on Bridge Street and Hanson Ranch Road. 8) Concerns regarding entertainment volume and increased trash Why I am concerned: As a residential owner on Bridge Street I would like to see clear and detailed plans on sound mitigation and trash from Vail’s largest music venue. 9) Construction concerns Why I am concerned: As a residential owner on Bridge Street I would like PEC’s ask “#10. A detailed construction management and staging plan will also be required prior to the issuance of any building permit. This includes impacts to TOV infrastructure such as lighting/electrical and snowmelt system (no splicing of snowmelt tubing allowed)” to include how and when excavation would be transported and managed; and the same for large structural components; and the estimated length of time for construction. 83 10) Design Review Board concerns: I would like to ask Architect Kit Austin of Pierce Austin Architects who is part author of these “plans” to perform his Town of Vail Design Review Board duties in good faith. Thank you again for reading through my outline of concerns and I do hope you will take them all into consideration regarding the major renovations of the historic Red Lion Building in the heart of Vail. Along with other CC1 District homeowners I am at a loss to understand the urgency of getting this done without further detailed review. All my best, Sarah Klingelheber 84 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Charlie Kauffman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Saving the Red Lion Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 4:27:20 PM To whom it may concern, I cannot be emphatic enough in my disapproval of the plans to demolish the legendary Red Lion and replace it with a retail storefront. I am not from Vail, but I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, and was thoroughly impressed with the town and the community. I understand that there is a huge difference between Vail Resorts and Vail, the town. Like many skiers, I detest Vail Resorts. I am from Stowe, VT and cannot overstate my disappointment with the overcrowding and significant decline in operational quality of the ski area since Vail Resorts took over in 2016. That said, the town of Stowe has mostly retained its unique character, despite efforts to bring in larger retailers at the expense of small businesses. Vail, the town, has character, and places like the Red Lion are integral parts of that. Approving the fast- tracked demolition of the Red Lion to make way for a Louis Vuitton would be an enormous step in the wrong direction. It’s a place filled with history and community, and destroying that would make the town of Vail just like Vail Resorts. The town of Vail is epic; don’t make it Epic. Sincerely, Charlie 85 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Presley Turner To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Concern Regarding the Possible Closure of the Red Lion Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 8:32:06 PM Dear Vail town council, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the possible closure of the Red Lion in Vail and the potential replacement of this space with a luxury retail tenant such as Louis Vuitton. I have been coming to Vail my entire life, and the Red Lion has always been an essential part of that experience. It is not just a restaurant or bar. It is a place where generations gather, where locals and visitors intersect, and where the character of Vail is felt most honestly. Some of my earliest memories in Vail are tied to that space, and I know I am far from alone in that sentiment. Vail’s charm has never come from luxury retail alone. It comes from places like the Red Lion. Spaces that feel lived in, welcoming, and rooted in community. Replacing an iconic local institution with another high end brand risks further eroding the culture that made Vail special in the first place. Luxury retail exists in countless destinations. The Red Lion exists only here. The loss of this establishment would mark more than just a change in tenancy. It would represent a shift away from the authentic, communal spirit that defines Vail. As the town continues to evolve, I urge you to consider what makes Vail irreplaceable and worth returning to year after year. Once spaces like this are gone, they cannot be recreated. I respectfully ask that you take into account the cultural, historical, and emotional significance of the Red Lion to the Vail community before allowing such a change to move forward. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Presley Hopkins 86 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Peyton Corey To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please keep Red Lion Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 8:33:07 PM Hello Vail Town Council, I’m writing to ask you to please reconsider any plans that would remove The Red Lion as it exists today. The Red Lion is a huge part of what makes Vail feel like Vail. It’s one of the oldest and most loved places in town, and it has always been somewhere that brings people together. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s part of the town’s history, culture, and identity. Losing it to turn the space into another retail storefront would be a real loss for our community. I hope you’ll take the time to truly consider what The Red Lion means to locals and visitors before making a decision. Thank you for listening and for representing our community, Peyton Corey 87 From:ashley raynor To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 8:34:05 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi All, I am reaching out to share my upmost concern over the upcoming town council vote regarding the removal of the Red Lion. As a quintessential Vail restaurant, rooted in history and a sense of family that has been welcoming their doors longer than the far majority of others, this is an immovable and irreplaceable part of the town. When I hear about long ski days at the mountain, 99% of the time it ends in a cozy dinner and drink at the Red Lion. My aunt, a visitor who frequents Vail due to her partner’s place there, without even an ounce of hesitation ends her days at the Red Lion. I am urging you to maintain the ski town as it is, without the influx of designer and high end boutiques, that can find their homes in a variety of towns and cities across Colorado and even the US. There is a time and place for those retailers to find their home in a specific building, this is not it. This is more than the restaurant itself, it is the beginning of an upheaval of what makes Vail such a special place. I am happy to speak on this further if more is needed - please do not hesitate to reach out. Best, Ashley Raynor 88 From:adriana mtz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please keep the red lion!! Date:Friday, January 16, 2026 9:37:03 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department We’ve been going to Vail since the 1970 and we love the red lion is landmark of tradition of Vail, please save it . Adriana Martínez Enviado desde mi iPhone 89 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Elizabeth Gough To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Vail Village Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 11:28:45 AM Dear Vail Town Council, My name is Liz Gough, I'm 41 years old, live in NYC, and have been skiing in Vail 1-3 trips per season for my entire life. I love Vail. The mountain, the vibes, and the village are second- to-none. With that said, I most recently visited Vail over the Christmas & New Year break, and I have to say, I was grossly disappointed by the state of the village and the clientele. Part of what made Vail incredible was the high-low mix - the quiet luxury of the whole experience. Now, with Los Amigos (the literal best place on earth) gone, and with the rumors about the closing of The Red Lion, Blue Cow, Shakedown, etc, I firmly believe that any sense of "vibe" left in the village will be gone. The general aura over the holidays was gross, with loud in your face luxury EVERYWHERE. Honestly, I think the town council should be ashamed that a private members club is going into the former Los Amigos space. My friends and I discussed several times that "Vail is over" and that we may never come back, and that was before we learned about the impending closing of Red Lion, etc for more luxury stores! GROSS! Please save Vail and reconsider your decision before it's too late! Sincerely, Liz Gough 90 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Val Kepler To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Request for Reconsideration: The Red Lion’s Importance to the Vail Community Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 11:36:26 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to respectfully ask you to reconsider what The Red Lion represents to the people of Vail and the broader community it has helped shape over the years. I had the privilege of living in Vail for a time and working at The Red Lion around 2018. For me, it was not just a place of employment, but a true gathering space where locals, seasonal workers, visitors, and longtime residents all came together. It was one of the few places where you could genuinely feel the heart of the town, its history, and its sense of connection. The Red Lion has long been more than a business. It is part of Vail’s identity. It holds memories for countless people who have worked there, celebrated there, and formed lasting friendships there. These types of spaces are rare, and once they are gone, they cannot be replaced. I understand the complexity of the decisions before you and appreciate the work you do on behalf of the town. I simply ask that, in your considerations, you weigh not only the logistical and economic factors, but also the cultural and human impact this establishment has had for decades. Thank you for your time and for listening to the voices of those who care deeply about preserving the spirit and character of Vail. With respect, Valerie Kepler 91 From:Denise To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 11:45:19 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department In my job I am talking to visitors year-round, and it is incredibly important to them to have a sense of place, a sense of “Vail-ness” when they visit. They want to recognize businesses and landmarks, and appreciate the continuity of this location being so desirable and important that some businesses have been here since the beginning. It is not realistic in any way for all our important businesses to own their location. But in the interest of the success of us all, the town should advocate for these successful businesses to be able to continue. Red Lion, Blu Cow, Big Bear… we locals rely on these places and so do our visitors. Additionally, keep ground level building fronts commercial! Nothing interrupts a walk through the village like encountering space that you are excluded from inherently. Denise Zenier EagleVail Vail core area employee 92 From:Cynthia Ryerson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Building Project Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 11:53:24 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Council Members and to whom it may concern, I am wring to express my disappointment to see long time local establishments such as The Blü Cow, potentially The Red Lion and the Big Bear Bistro be forced out of their leases so that the owner of the building may lease them to designer brands that will bring the highest income. Realizing change is inevitable and business is business, this seems to be happening without the consideration of the livelihood of the long time locals who run them and those who patronize them . These establishments bring heart and soul to our town and community camaraderie for locals. The owner of the building and the high end businesses that are meant to go into these locations are ardent for this change that only benefits a few. This will not be where the locals can shop, relax or visit but where the elite can make themselves feel worthy by buying things with materialistic labels making a statement that they are member of a class that has completely different values than those that was our Town was built upon in 1962. Back then the town was established through connections and relationships with people who all recreated and socialized together no matter their socioeconomic backgrounds. It’s a sad time to think these local establishments will no longer be on Bridge Street/Hansen Ranch Road and the disappearance of them will certainly forever change the familiar and welcome feel of our small town . Please consider this as you move forward with any decisions to be made about this issue and any issues involving significant change in the future. Sincerely, Cindy Ryerson 4859 Meadow Drive Vail, Co. 81657 93 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Elliot Appelman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Unacceptable: Replacing Vail Institutions with Louis Vuitton Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:05:24 PM To the Vail Town Council, I am writing out of deep frustration and disbelief that the Town of Vail is even considering allowing Louis Vuitton to take over the building that houses the Red Lion and Blü Cow. This is unacceptable. The Red Lion and Blü Cow are not just businesses. They are institutions. They are part of what made Vail Village vibrant in the first place, long before luxury retail brands decided Vail was a convenient logo placement. These establishments contribute year-round life, community, and character. They employ locals, anchor social life, and create the atmosphere people actually remember when they think of Vail. Louis Vuitton contributes none of that. A Louis Vuitton store will not be meaningfully patronized by locals. It will sit empty most of the year, activate only during peak tourism windows, and function purely as a vanity retail box for a global brand that could exist anywhere; Aspen, New York, Miami, or an airport terminal. It adds no culture, no community, no soul, and no lasting value to Vail Village. Replacing foundational local institutions with a luxury retail chain is not “progress.” It is the hollowing out of what makes Vail Vail. If this proposal moves forward, it sends a very clear message: that global luxury branding matters more to the Town than the businesses and people who built the town’s identity in the first place. That is a dangerous and irreversible direction. Vail has already priced out much of its younger population; the very people who work here, keep the town alive, and carry its culture forward. Housing is increasingly unattainable, wages lag behind cost of living, and now the few remaining places that actually feel welcoming and accessible are being targeted for replacement. This makes it even harder for young people, workers, and year-round residents to justify staying. Vail’s greatest asset is not luxury logos. It is its potential to be the most vibrant ski town experience in North America. A place where world-class skiing meets authentic culture, energy, nightlife, and community. The frustrating part is that Vail is so close to reclaiming that identity. Replacing iconic gathering places with a Louis Vuitton is a direct shot in the foot. If the Town’s goal is a return to Vail’s old glory, when it was a must-see destination, not just a 94 high-end shopping stop, then decisions should be centered on protecting and amplifying local institutions, social spaces, and year-round vitality. This proposal does the opposite. Vail does not need another luxury storefront. It needs to protect the places that give the village its heartbeat and create reasons for people to stay, return, and talk about Vail as an experience; not a mall. I urge the Town Council to reject this outright and give real weight to the voices of locals, workers, and long-standing community members who are disgusted that this is even being entertained. Our community deserves better than this. Sincerely Concerned, Elliot Appelman 4295 Columbine Drive Vail, CO 81657 95 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:RAB Email To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:33:23 PM The Red Lion Restaurant IS VAIL and part of its history! It was there before any of us! No one wants to go underground for food and music! Don’t destroy the culture of Vail! Please note, my email address has changed. Ray Bunes E RayB5351@comcast.net M 317.850.5010 96 From:Julie Goraj To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:34:28 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please do not let these horrible changes, under the guise of ‘progress’, happen to The Red Lion. That building, and restaurant are iconic landmarks that make Vail special. I lived in Vail for over 20 years. I am also a property owner in Eagle County. While I do not currently live there, I continue to visit Vail 3-4 times a year. The Red Lion is ALWAYS a stop on my visits. The Red Lion was the first job I had when I moved to Vail in 1999. People make sure a Red Lion stop is always part of any Vail trip. I make sure everyone I know that is visiting Vail stops there. I myself waited over an hour during the holiday season, just to make sure I had a Red Lion experience. No one that truly loves Vail wants a Dior or Louis Vuitton. This isn’t Aspen. The changes Jeff wants to make aren’t for the ‘good of the community.’ As no one in this community has been involved in the process. Please reconsider these plans. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Julie Goraj Sent from my iPhone 97 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Emily Conklin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:RED LION Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:44:47 PM Hello Vail Town Council, I would like to preface by saying that I was born in Vail, Colorado in 2001. Growing up my parents would take me to the Red Lion for dinner and I fortunately have many vivid memories of being there. Please reconsider your plans to redesign the building that contains the Red Lion. Eliminating the restaurant would be eliminating another piece of Vails history. Built in 1962, it remains one of Vail’s very first businesses. That means that historic pub has been around for nearly 65 years… As a town council, I trust that you will uphold your oath to protect and advance the best interests of the city of Vail. All I can hope is that protecting its history is one of those interests. Best, Emily Conklin 98 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:kamryn brauch To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 1:11:13 PM Hi, my name is Kamryn Brausch. I was born and raised in the Vail Valley, and I truly can’t imagine Vail without the Red Lion. It’s a place that brings people together, whether you’ve lived here since the 90s or just moved to town. The Red Lion is a staple of Vail. A luxury retail store is not. The Red Lion represents what Vail is meant to be: fun, local, welcoming, and a second home for so many people. Thank you for taking the future of the Red Lion into consideration. Sincerely, Kamryn Brausch 99 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mary Katherine Spierings To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Vail Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:59:40 PM Some of my earliest and favorite memories of Vail are from the Red Lion. I think Vail is special because we don’t have the Belly Up type places that drive out of town acts, and rather, have this cool environment of apres ski singalongs and a mixture of locals and tourists celebrating together at institutions that have been around as long as we have. 100 From:Jeanie Sanders To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion proposed remodel Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 1:14:53 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Sounds like this is not at all in the public interest! Totally unnecessary. Jeanie Sanders Sent from my iPhone 101 From:marty.phelan@gmail.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 1:16:48 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To the Vail Town Council, I’ve recently learned that there’s a measure to approve the redevelopment of the location in Vail that houses the Red Lion pub in Vail Village, to be replaced with a high-end restaurant and expensive retail locations. I am vehemently against the approval of this measure. For too long the culture of this town has been slowly eroded in the name of “progress.” Removing any trace of authentic character from your own town is not “progress,” no matter what formula or equation you use to justify it in terms of tax dollars. People ski to have fun. Not to shop for Rolexes or diamonds. And for those that want to drop some serious cash on fancy stuff, Vail has more than enough such retail spaces to keep them satisfied. People who want a beer, some great music and laughs (and a killer bowl of green chili), on the other hand?? Our options are dwindling. Please preserve one of the only places that I, and THOUSANDS of others - residents and tourists alike, holds true to the character of a great ski town. Respectfully, Marty Phelan Sent from my iPhone 102 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alex Wagner To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion & Blue Cow Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 1:37:48 PM As a Vail local hearing the news that y’all are trying to take away 2 of the BEST local spots and replace them with 2 more unaffordable, expensive clothing stores is so disheartening. Local places like this are the reason Vail has character and is so amazing, not to mention the AMAZING owners of the Blu Cow. Tourists can shop designer brand WHEREVER they want, they can go to Aspen, they can go online. The memories made in Blu cow and Red lion can not be replaced, unlike some stupid designer bag. Remember, locals are what keeps Vail running and you guys will slowly kick all locals out if you continue this. Please rethink this decision of replacing the heart of vail. Vail is slowly turning into a place for tourists only and not locals and it is sad. 103 From:Stevan Garcia To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion removal and other Vail failings Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 1:39:46 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department My husband and I have been property owners in East Vail, Sandstone and West Vail for the past 16 years. Five years of that we were full time residents. Vail has changed so much from then to now. Not for the best. The night life has vanished. Restaurants are too few and stale. Too many shops selling items not worth owning. Vail used to be a place to gather, socialize, make friends. Talk about the skiing and the best places to eat and listen to live music. Sadly those days are disappearing. We personally made many friends hanging out at “The Lion” every weekend. People we would have otherwise met. The Red Lion is iconic to Vail. One of the first places to stop in after skiing. It should be a historical site in Vail. Not turned into another unwanted shopping experience. The Red Lion IS Vail! Vail should be about experiences not shopping. People do not come to Vail to go shopping. They come for the outdoors and fun village events and gatherings. If you take those away, we are just a bunch of hotels and bedroom stops with nothings special to offer but some expensive clothing and lodging. Please reconsider shutting down The Red Lion and places like it. We should be adding more socializing experiences, not shutting them down. Let’s remember what’s important to your brand. People and the experiences you offer them. Thank you, Tanya Garcia Sent from my iPad 104 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:First Last To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion IS Vail Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 2:27:54 PM One thing that US resorts often lose to shortsightedness is history, especially when you compare them to their European counterparts. Let’s preserve what makes a village truly special and feel like home. Scott Waiter, Red Lion 90-91 Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone 105 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Parker Rowe To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserving Vail’s Character and Longstanding Local Landmarks Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 2:41:55 PM Dear Town of Vail Leadership, I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the potential closure of two long-standing institutional restaurants in Vail — the Red Lion and the Blue Cow — and their proposed replacement with additional luxury retail such as Louis Vuitton or Chanel. Even if it’s not for luxury stores, why? I have a long and personal connection to the Vail and Beaver Creek community. I began coming to the area in 1988 yearly with my family, moved there in 1995, and lived in the valley until I graduated high school in 2002. Vail is not just a destination to me — it helped shape who I am. I proposed to my wife at Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek, and although I now live in North Carolina, I bring my children back every summer and winter so they can experience the same town that meant so much to me growing up. For decades, the Red Lion and the Blue Cow have been more than restaurants. They are landmarks. They are woven into the fabric of Vail for residents, summer visitors, ski families, and generations of locals alike. I cannot come to Vail without visiting both — and I know I am far from alone in that sentiment. I have fond memories of meeting my mom and her friends at the Red Lion after a long ski day. My friend, Barclay introduced me to Blu Cow when it was located in Lions Head. When people ask me for advice on restaurants in the village, these are number one and two on my list. They are in institutions. There is a growing sentiment, both locally and nationally, about why people increasingly feel disconnected from or even resentful toward town of Vail. The concern is that they are becoming places only for the wealthy, rather than welcoming communities for everyone. Vail has never been just “for the rich” — it has always been for families, workers, athletes, visitors, and locals alike. But preserving that identity requires intentionally maintaining our roots. Replacing long-standing community institutions with additional luxury storefronts moves Vail further away from what made it special in the first place. The town does not need more high- end retail, and more importantly, that is not what the people who love Vail are asking for. What makes Vail exceptional is authenticity, history, and places that feel lived in and meaningful — not brand names. Once these landmarks are gone, they are gone forever. No luxury store can replace decades of memories, stories, and shared experiences. Preserving establishments like the Red Lion and Blue Cow is about preserving the soul of Vail itself. I strongly urge the Town of Vail to reconsider this direction and to support the continued operation of these iconic local businesses. Protecting what makes Vail Vail is essential — not just for current residents, but for the many families like mine who return year after year because of what this town represents. 106 Thank you for your time and for considering the voices of those who care deeply about Vail’s past, present, and future. Respectfully, Parker Rowe Former Vail Resident Former Ski Club Vail Racer Yearly visitor and longtime supporter of the Vail and Beaver Creek community 107 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Anna Norregaard To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the red lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 3:12:05 PM Hi, I heard that the Red Lion is getting pushed out, and the George is up for sale. I’ve been coming to these places for 20years, they are staples of the community. Please help to preserve the Red Lion so that it can remain the same for many more years to come. Sincerely, Anna Local resident 108 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Amy Pizarro-Griffiths To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserve the Red Lion as a Vital Vail Village Institution Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 3:36:33 PM Dear Members of the Town Council and Planning Department, I am writing as a resident of Vail Village to urge you to reconsider the current plans for the Red Lion building at 304 Bridge Street that would result in the Red Lion not continuing to operate in its historic form or being replaced by non‑restaurant use. The Red Lion is far more than a business to us, it is a community institution and cultural landmark in Vail Village with deep roots dating back to the 1960s. For decades, it has served as a gathering place for visitors, locals, and employees alike, contributing significantly to the vibrancy, character, and unique identity of Vail Village. Its contribution to Vail’s après‑ski culture, nightlife, and overall sense of community cannot be overstated. Plans that would substantially alter or eliminate this cornerstone venue in favor of retail or other non‑restaurant uses would be a significant loss to Vail’s cultural and social fabric. Many community members have already expressed concern that redevelopment threatens local character and favors high‑end retail or projects that do not reflect the needs or traditions of the community. I understand that development and renovation are often necessary, but I respectfully request that the Town: Ensure that the Red Lion restaurant remains an anchor tenant in any new or renovated building, preserving its operations, location, and role in the Village. Prioritize community character and local heritage over redevelopment that caters primarily to luxury retail or tourism at the expense of longstanding local social spaces. Vail’s economic and cultural vitality depends not only on new development, but on preserving the places that make this town special. The Red Lion is one such place. It is a destination that draws people not just to shop, but to eat, gather, and celebrate the community’s soul. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you will take these concerns seriously and work with the community to find a path forward that safeguards Vail’s history and unique character. 109 Sincerely, Amy Pizarro Griffiths 110 From:Sue To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 4:06:30 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I was so sad to read the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion building. Even before this current poor season due to lack of snow, vail has been catering relentlessly to the 1% and not to the people who love vail - and have been coming there for years. No one wants to sit in a dark basement for après-ski. Another large music venue is not needed. Sent from my iPhone 111 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Vinnie Maliakkal To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 4:12:33 PM The red lion is a staple in vail village. )getting rid of it would be a sin. What, you’re gonna put a Gucci store here? That’s insanity. This place is always packed with happy people of all walks of life. Lots of memories are made here. More memories than would ever be made at a Gucci store. Vail can’t lose that. You’d be losing an integral part of the heart of Vail. - love, everyone 112 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jack Trager To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 4:14:16 PM Dudes and Dudettes of the council, Please don’t take away one of the last elements of Vail’s character. The Red Lion brings out the beauty of the mountain and socializes in one of the last remaining unpretentious ways possible at a ski resort. There has to be more left in this world beyond cold, max profit inhumanities. There has to be soul. Save the soul. I don’t want to become an Aspen robot but that is essentially how you would for the crew to be if you took this final establishment of soul away from the boys (and girls). I love you, Jack 113 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lindsay Poff To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 4:14:22 PM Good afternoon, I heard recently that the town of Vail was planning of replacing the historic and iconic Red Lion with luxury stores and that just doesn't sit right with me. I was born and raised in Vail. The Red Lion is as much a part of Vail history as Pepi's and the covered bridge. The live music and the great food made memories. Luxury brands don't care about Vail and it's people the way small businesses and restaurants do. I want to save the Red Lion so future skiers can make new memories as they head off the mountain at the end of the day for a hot plate of food and good music. Lindsay Poff 114 From:Sam Riggott To:Public Input Town Council Cc:theredlion68@gmail.com Subject:Save the red lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 4:44:06 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department How can town leadership possibly think it’s in the broader communities best interest to approve site plans that would take an iconic and beloved place for the public to eat, drink, socialize and enjoy local musicians and replace it with a building built for profit. The basement music venue will be a bust and only attract night club styled artist that bring degenerate party crowds and has no appeal to the normal skier that wants to après. Prioritizing luxury retail on the bridge street frontage (which there is already plenty of) is just another step towards turning Vail into an obnoxious soulless playground for rich tourist who don’t even appreciate the skiing. It would be one thing if an amazing restaurant had to go for safety reasons or to provide housing for the community (people who actually live in them or visit often)… but to allow a rich building owner to do away with the Red Lion so that they can make even more money by pushing Vail one step further towards a glorified mall is to spit in the face of the people who make vail vail and who love vail for vail. Do your jobs please. 115 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Annie Leithead To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save red lion! Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 5:42:43 PM Hello Vail Town Council, I am emailing in regards to the upcoming decision about the Red Lion Restaurant and to urge you to strongly consider the Red Lion’s contribution to Vail’s history, culture, and future into consideration in your upcoming vote. These types of establishments make Vail feel like Vail –– not Aspen, actually cool, and real.The Red Lion is the oldest, longest-running, yummy spot in town. Locals, tourists, staff, and friends from everywhere have cherished this place for decades. I hope it can continue to be this way. Best, Annie 116 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Traci Samczyk To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Support for the Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 5:45:41 PM Dear Town Council, I am a long-time visitor to Vail and have been coming for over 25 years. One of the true highlights of every trip has always been the Red Lion. It is a place my friends and I—often a group of eight—return to repeatedly for meals, drinks, and the unmistakable atmosphere that makes Vail feel like Vail. No visit feels complete without stopping in, and yes, even bringing home a bit of Red Lion swag. I was very disheartened to hear that the landlord may be seeking to force the Red Lion out. Quite simply, Vail would not be the same without it. Gathering there for a meal or a drink is often the perfect beginning to an evening spent walking the village streets and enjoying the shops and community. I strongly urge the Town Council to do everything possible to preserve this iconic establishment. Vail does not need more high-end retail or jewelry stores—it needs its legends. The Red Lion is one of them. Traci Samczyk South Pasadena, CA 91030 117 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:cp To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 5:45:41 PM The Red Lion is a a staple of vail culture and one of the few remaining f&b outlets that welcomes a casual consumer experience while still delivering high quality atmosphere and service. I’ve only heard rumors about the proposed tenancy, but high end retail targeting the upper echelon is sufficiently represented in vail today. In order to preserve the vail we all know and love, I hope the council considers the implications of losing a cultural anchor such as the Red Lion, and protects them to the best of their ability. Sincerely, Concerned Citizen 118 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Chafika Landers To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Community Support for the Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 6:05:13 PM Dear Vail Town Council, I’m writing to express my strong support for the Red Lion and to ask that its future be given thoughtful and meaningful consideration. The Red Lion is more than just a business — it’s a long-standing part of Vail’s identity and culture. For decades, it has been a gathering place for locals, visitors, employees, and families, contributing to the character and vibrancy that make Vail special. Places like this are increasingly rare, and once they’re gone, they cannot be replaced. As our town continues to evolve, I believe it’s vital that decisions reflect not only development goals but also the community's voice and the preservation of the local establishments that give Vail its soul. The Red Lion represents history, connection, and the spirit of this town. I respectfully ask that you take the time to fully consider what the Red Lion means to Vail and its residents before making any decisions that could impact its future. Thank you for your time, your service, and for listening to the community. Sincerely, image.png image.png Chafika Landers Owner m.727.688.0131 o.970.949.3235 clanders@sprestores.com Follow SERVPRO Team Landers on Linkedin 119 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:David Chmielecki To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Regarding red lion building Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 8:32:10 PM Hi, I would like to express my disappointment regarding the Town of Vail and City Council’s decision to approve the Red Lion building remodel. I believe this project is just another step toward turning Vail into a boutique mall. Ski towns were not built to supply handbags, purses, and high end accessories. While I understand that high end clientele plays an important role in the economic success of ski towns, eliminating true apres options is like ripping out the heart of the community. I recently bought a house here, and I am honestly shattered that I may no longer be able to walk down to my favorite place, The Blü Cow. After discovering its rich history and how deeply it’s tied to pioneering Vail, I’m absolutely shocked Vail is allowing them to be kicked out. Forcing small business owners out of buildings to save face and encourage further disruption of this town’s food and beverage options is ridiculous. I believe there needs to be further evaluation of why this project has been approved. Vail cannot and should not become another missed opportunity to maintain its ski town atmosphere simply because one or two building owners want to pillage and conquer in the name of money. We should not allow them to disrupt what makes ski towns what they should be: ski towns. David C. Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer 120 From:Dan Rader To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Oppose the red lion building redevelopment Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 8:35:51 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi, I love Vail and so I recently bought a condo in Mountain Haus. My plan is to spend about 4 months of the year here. I’ve been reading the Vail Daily regularly since this fall. I am saddened to read the news that the Red Lion building may be torn down and the restaurant could close. I adamantly oppose this. One of the things I like most about Vail is that it has a mix of high, medium and lower end offerings. This gives the town charm and a ‘little bit of everything’ vibe. I feel strongly that restaurants and bars are the most importing venues for attracting people to Vail. I love walking from the slopes to my new home past the Red Lion every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and feeling the energy and fun emanating from the Red Lion and their patio. I don’t even go to the Red Lion very often (sometimes it’s too crowded to get a table!) but it still brings so much character and excitement to the popular thoroughfare for me. I’ve become something of a Vail history buff of late. And the Red Lion IS Vail. I cherish the oldest places and the sense of place and time they exude. Please don’t take this away from us. It is unthinkable. Sincerely, Dan Rader 292 E Meadow Drive Unit 329 Vail, CO 121 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:David Chmielecki To:Council Dist List Subject:Regarding red lion building Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 8:40:09 PM Hi, I would like to express my disappointment regarding the Town of Vail and City Council’s decision to approve the Red Lion building remodel. I believe this project is just another step toward turning Vail into a boutique mall. Ski towns were not built to supply handbags, purses, and high end accessories. While I understand that high end clientele plays an important role in the economic success of ski towns, eliminating true apres options is like ripping out the heart of the community. I recently bought a house here, and I am honestly shattered that I may no longer be able to walk down to my favorite place, The Blü Cow. After discovering its rich history and how deeply it’s tied to pioneering Vail, I’m absolutely shocked Vail is allowing them to be kicked out. Forcing small business owners out of buildings to save face and encourage further disruption of this town’s food and beverage options is ridiculous. I believe there needs to be further evaluation of why this project has been approved. Vail cannot and should not become another missed opportunity to maintain its ski town atmosphere simply because one or two building owners want to pillage and conquer in the name of money. We should not allow them to disrupt what makes ski towns what they should be: ski towns. David C. Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer 122 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Dave Thibedeau To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 9:08:07 PM I disagree whole heartedly with this new Red Lion proposal. I've only been here since '91 but that's my $0.02 Be Great Vail!! Dave Thibedeau 123 From:Charles Keszler To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 9:16:04 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi Vail Town council, I’ve Been coming to vail for 35 years and now own a home in East Vail and have been living here permanently since 2/ 2013. I Have always loved the way the town has felt and part of that is the Red Lion. The redesign plan will take away so much character of the Vail that I feel in love with and that made me call Vail my home. Everything that’s been happening of late seems to be changing that. The Vail 62 society and now this proposed change to the iconic Red Lion. It feels like a push to become a new Aspen. I fear it will not only price out many of the people that have been coming year after year but, may in the end backfire. $350 lift tickets, $50 parking, higher lodging taxes, high vehicle annual vehicle registration costs. It just keeps going in this direction. And now affordable venues getting remade into never ending high end shops and restaurants may very well damage Vail. It’s a needless risk and not a direction that many long time visitors and residents of Vail support. Are we willing to risk the whole town in this manner? Is the board willing to put their names to a risky ideology that may harm us? Please reconsider the proposed change to the Red Lion structure and not risk a failure of so many years of built up goodwill in our community. Our goodwill is truly valuable and needs to be protected as an important asset of the Town of Vail. Please don’t risk diminishing our asset in the name of never ending higher end retail and restaurants. I beg you, Chuck Keszler 5042 Snowshoe Vail, CO 81657 972/822-6701 Sent from my iPad 124 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:alexa anderson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 9:39:37 PM Don’t get rid of red lion 125 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kaylie Lloyd To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Concern from a Longtime Local About the Direction of Vail Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 10:30:33 PM To the Town of Vail Leadership Team, I’m writing as a longtime local, a homeowner in Avon, and someone who has deeply cared about the Vail Valley community for many years. Like many others, I’ve been saddened, and frankly frustrated, to watch the steady erosion of what once made Vail special. The recent displacement of long-standing local establishments like Blu Cow and Red Lion feels like a breaking point. These places weren’t just businesses; they were part of the social fabric of the village. Seeing them pushed out in favor of global luxury retailers sends a very clear message about who Vail is now choosing to serve. My husband and I have strong roots in the valley, we contribute to the local economy, and we’ve accepted the significant financial sacrifices that come with living here because we believed in the community, the culture, and the lifestyle Vail once stood for. But as we look toward growing our family, we find ourselves at a crossroads. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify the high cost of living when the town we love is losing its identity and charm and becoming a town we no longer recognize. Vail used to feel like a community rooted in outdoor living, small businesses, and genuine local connection. Today, it feels as though it’s being reshaped into a luxury shopping mall in an attempt to emulate Aspen rather than honor its own history and character. That shift may appeal to a short-term visitor or luxury consumer, but it alienates the very people who live, work, and raise families here year-round. With moves like this, Vail risks losing more than restaurants and storefronts, it risks losing its locals. We are now seriously considering putting our home on the market and seeking out a community that reflects what Vail once was: supportive of small businesses and the community, grounded in outdoor culture, and focused on people over prestige. If this direction continues, Vail won’t just lose Blu Cow or Red Lion, it will lose families like ours. And once that happens, it’s worth asking what kind of town will be left. Sincerely, Kaylie 126 From:Jaine Moretti To:Public Input Town Council Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:05:05 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom this concerns…. It has come to my knowledge that you are considering re doing the Red Lion establishment in Vail….And I cannot think of why? The Red Lion has been a successful and desirable restaurant for as long as I have been a vail resident, and even before that, when I was in college in Denver. Some times restaurants or even buildings are landmarks and should be treated with special care and made to be remembered and enjoyed. The idea of replacing the Red lion with ANOTHER high end retain store is ridiculous for the town of Vail. There are already many high end stores that only a few people actually buy things from. Does Vail want to continue to be a destination where people from all over the world come to, and make lasting memories of their days skiing, relaxing and eating. Especially having a FUN, Happy meal!! Or does Vail want to have another pricey store where people go in and out of, without purchasing anything and then saying, “Vail is SOOO expensive!” The Red Lion has a special place in Vail. It’s a favorite place to go and sit outside and just chill, just eat, and watch as people enjoy the sites of the mountains and the town of Vail. Vail should not become another “mall” for people to shop in. Please reconsider what your are thinking of re-doing the Red Lion and removing a landmark and established place to, go, eat, relax, watch and chill!! I will gladly support the continuation of the Red Lion Restaurant in Vail. Sincerely, Jaine Moretti (East Vail resident) 127 From:Sarah Carr To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 6:46:11 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please don’t allow the current red lion building to be redesigned giving retail the bridge street priority location. We’ve lost almost all of the iconic Vail staples. We need to keep the casual apres option, not only for locals, but for families visiting. I am in the design world in the Vail Valley and I’m all for a remodel, but keep the same character. We don’t want to turn into an aspen with only fancy options. I’ve heard rumors of Gucci taking over that space but I thought there was no way it was true. Please reconsider. Thank you, Sarah Carr sarah carr DESIGN www.sarahcarrdesign.com 128 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:peter switzer To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:10:27 AM We have been coming to Vail since 1965. We previously owned property in the village. Our family is still in involved in the Vail valley. The proposed remodel of the red lion building is the destruction of an Iconic site and the revision of the building so that a Louis Vuitton retail space or one similar to it is being substituted for this historic building. Probably the best example of what happens when commercial retail space takes over a ski community is found at Whistler, which has really become just a mall with one retail tenant after another. If that is what the council wants to happen in Vail Village, then maybe the approval of the red lion design Is what you ought to do. I believe it would be a mistake. Peter and Nancy Switzer 129 From:Joseph M Demmler To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Vail Village - Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:19:19 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I am a Vail Resident and live in the Valley full time. The LAST THING Vail Village needs is more big end retail and fewer places where people can meet, dine and enjoy entertainment. Without dining venues that are not private (Club 62 - another bad idea) there will be fewer visitors to the Village and more big end retail will not provide "life support" to the Town. Best, Joe Demmler 130 From:Wayne Wright To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:22:07 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The very idea the TOV council is even “considering” the new Red Lion building plan is proof the foreign takeover of this iconic resort is underway. Pepis is next. Sincerely, Wayne Wright Houston Procurement and Logistics International, Inc. 713.824.5999 (cell) HPLI@pdq.net 10590 Westoffice Drive suite 125 Houston, TX 77042 Sent from my iPhone Pardon my spelling and grammatical errors! 131 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Cynthia Senko To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Ted Senko Subject:Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:22:09 AM I’m writing today to ask the Vail Town council to think long and hard about what Vail means to the locals and loyal travelers who come here to experience the Vail scene. 60 years of live music on Bridge Street with a sunny patio to people watch and congregate. It is one of the last places to do that in Vail. It brings smiles and ambience to the whole Vail experience to so many people. More retail? Let that be underground or facing a different way. This is truly not the future of Vail. Please consider what type of vibe you want to attract ongoing visitors all year round where people can relax and enjoy life! Thank you Cynthia Senko Cindy Senko Cell: 303-507-2928 Home Vail: 970-479-7486 2035 Vermont Rd Vail, CO 81657 132 From:Campbell Hough To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Horrible idea. SAVE THE SOUL OF VAIL!!! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:41:36 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The last damn thing we need is a freaking Louis Vuitton and Prada stores if we are going to kill the Red Lion!!!!! Shame on you for ever allowing this to even be considered! Losing this space and taking away all the business that is there currently will be a forever stain on your legacy!!!! Stop the damn insanity. Campbell Hough Vail resident since 1979!!!!!! 133 From:Donald Fraser To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:46:10 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please do not approve plans. Bad for Vail. Money grab by developers. Don Fraser Sent from my iPad 134 From:Taryn Wright To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:54:54 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please do not vote to get rid of the red lion. It is an iconic place, providing a one of a kind experience in vail. A basic remodel would be just fine, no need to take away a historic institution. Why do we need more upscale shopping anyway? This is not Aspen. Please save the red lion!! Taryn Wright 713.824.1602 Sent from my iPhone 135 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tracy Bischof To:Public Input Town Council; Tracy Bischof Subject:Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:59:50 AM To whom it may concern, As a resident of Edwards, CO and a frequent visitor to Vail I am adamantly opposed to the remodel of the current Red Lion building. Putting the restaurant in the basement is extremely UNappealing and guests would have no interest in being stuck below street level in a dark room. A large part of the appeal are the open windows & doors, live music at street level and enjoying the people walking by in town. Secondly, who wants "high end" retail shopping in Vail? Does anyone really want us to become Aspen 2.0? I don't think so!! Let those wanna be's hang in Aspen, we prefer it stay the quaint village that it is without having a Chanel or Hermes store. I sincerely hope the village planning committee REthinks this plan to redesign the current building. It is a BIG mistake and you should be asking the residents what they want. Not the owners of the building whose main concern is their pocket book; not the welfare of the residents and the thousands of guests who enjoying coming to town. Regards, Tracy Bischof 48 Ambleside place Edwards, CO 136 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Morgan Starr To:Public Input Town Council Cc:towntalk@vaildaily.com; letters@vaildaily.com Subject:Strong Opposition to Proposed Red Lion Redevelopment Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:19:15 AM To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my unequivocal opposition to the current proposal for the Red Lion building. This plan is a serious mistake and would be detrimental not only to Vail Village, but to the long-term vitality of the town as a whole. As noted in a June article in the Vail Daily (https://www.vaildaily.com/news/vail-halts- restaurants-into-retail/), there is already significant concern about the ongoing loss of restaurant and gathering spaces in the village due to their conversion into retail. This proposal is yet another example of that troubling trend. More retail space is not what Vail needs. Retail alone does not create a vibrant community. People may shop, but where will they gather? Where will they dine? Where will they meet friends after skiing, or spend evenings and weekends when visiting from the out of town or the Front Range? Restaurants and social spaces are the backbone of an active, engaging village. Replacing them with retail strips away the very reasons people choose to spend time here in the first place. This proposal would further erode the appeal of Vail Village, leaving behind yet another shuttered restaurant—this time, an incredibly iconic one. The Red Lion is synonymous with Bridge Street and Vail Village itself. People worldwide know and love the Red Lion. Losing it would mean losing an irreplaceable piece of the town’s identity and character. Having been born and raised in Vail, I have witnessed many changes over the years. While some evolution is inevitable, this is the change that saddens me the most. It moves Vail further away from its original spirit and closer to becoming just another generic retail corridor— something Vail has never been, and should never aspire to be. I strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal. Sincerely, Morgan Starr 137 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Peter Millett To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Writing in support of efforts to preserve the Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 4:23:14 AM Attachments:image002.png Dear Vail Town Council - I am writing in support of efforts to preserve the Red Lion. I understand owners of the building have property rights, but also believe that preserving Vail’s unique character and culture are important as well. I believe there must be some type of compromise that can keep a Vail landmark like the Red Lion open and at the same time satisfy the business needs of the owners of the property. I encourage the Town Council to explore these possibilities to the fullest extent available. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Peter Millett Peter J. Millett, MD, MSc Chief Medical Officer Director of Shoulder Surgery Shoulder, Knee, Elbow and Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery The Steadman Clinic 181 West Meadow Drive Vail, CO 81657 USA 970-476-1100 drmillett.com drmillett@thesteadmanclinic.com Medical Director, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail Consultant, Major League Baseball Players' Association Consultant, National Hockey League Players' Association Dr Millett has been ranked in the top 1% of Orthopaedic Surgeons in America by U.S. News & World Report. Visit online at drmillett.com for complete listing of services, staff, and locations. 138 139 From:Lilly Behbehani To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Saturday, January 17, 2026 10:58:16 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern, I’m writing in support of the Red Lion. Red Lion in Vail is a nationally recognized name. The name recognition that comes with it brings people together. The thought of Vail losing a place that brings people together would be a shame and a loss to the community. I hope the Council will preserve this local landmark and legend. Best, Lilly 140 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Grace Dereemer To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Urgent: Please Reconsider Plans - SAVE the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:20:20 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I hope this finds you well. I am writing in strong opposition to the Vail Village’s Red Lion Building redesign plan. I strongly urge you SAVE the Red Lion and consider what the Red Lion means to the character, history, and future of Vail before moving forward with any redesign decisions that could jeopardize its operations and existence. Please SAVE the Red Lion. As Vail’s oldest and longest-running establishment, the Red Lion is a cornerstone of Vail’s culture. For six decades, it has brought together locals, workers, and visitors alike, serving as a rare space where community, music, and shared experiences define what makes this valley special. Please consider the Red Lion’s historic, cultural, and social contributions as you deliberate these plans. A vote should not be made without fully hearing and weighing the voices of the community it affects. Losing the Red Lion would mean losing a piece of Vail’s character and culture. Sincerely, Grace Dereemer 141 From:Emma Resnick To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:21:30 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi, I just wanted to say the red lion is such a meaningful place to vail, to the locals, to the tourists who have celebrated here, created traditions, spent time with loved ones, and have become closer to the community. Its demolition would be tragic and a huge loss to the community. I hope you’ll consider this in your future plans. Thanks Emma Resnick 142 From:Don Chappel To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Don & Erin Chappel Subject:Red Lion Building Redevelopment Proposed Plan Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:25:52 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Representatives We are Don & Erin Chappel and we own a home at 1797 Alpine Drive in Vail. We would like to object to the proposed plan that would eliminate the Red Lion restaurant as we know it. It’s a famous part of Vail that we, or family, our friends and tens of thousands of guests have visited since 1963. And, the Red Lion is fun and affordable which is increasingly rare in Vail. The Red Lion appeals to people of all ages and creates life-long memories and a fondness for Vail. The proposed plan places a significant amount of entertainment space below ground level which is unattractive and can be a hazard as recently seen in France. We encourage you to reject the redevelopment plan and hold remodeling to the current footprint and uses. Sincerely, Don Chappel (signed) Erin Chappel (signed) Sent from my iPad 143 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Don Gury To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:30:32 AM As a past resident and first came to vail in 1963 I am sadden that Vail will do a way with another historic restaurant. Vail, does not need more high end retail. they need to provide more for locals; restaurants, bars and entertainment. Where is the balance? You are driving away the locals that work for all the high end stores and restaurants. Vail is losing it's identity that make if great. Catering only to the wealthy will be a mistake. Find a balance! Sincerely, Don Gury 303.581-0068 144 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jordan Quirk To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:33:38 AM To whom it may concern, I have been a resident of vail for ten years now. Ever since I moved to this valley there have been talks of "vail is not as cool as it used to be". I took this with a grain of salt at the time but as my time here has progressed I've felt this to be more and more true. The town of vail is selling out to cater to a 1% that doesn't care about the integrity of this town. If the red lion closes and is replaced by a "Gucci" store or whatever plans there are to replace it, it will be a direct implication that these talks have been true all along. The red lion is a staple of vail. It is the heart and soul of vail village. It was my first job here, where I met my first girlfriend and so many other friends, and first really fell in love with our little town. It is the first stop for many who have been coming to vail for decades, and all those who know it cherish it and the memories they have spent there. Save the red lion. Save vail. Regards, A concerned citizen 145 From:Jan Ramberger To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:40:49 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello Vail. Redesigning the Red Lion property to more high end retail is ridiculous We’ve been coming to Vail since 1986 we own property in vail, raised our kids and now grandchildren skiing there. Loosening Red Lion restaurant will have an detrimental effect on the town. Moving music and food underground is horrible for the atmosphere of “downtown”. So disappointed with the leaders of Vail who would allow this to happen. Please don’t allow this to happen. Vail will never be the same. So Sad for the future of Vail. Sent from my iPhone 146 From:Gary Eno To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion renovation Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:42:37 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Well, another Chanel store and the loss of Landmark Community restaurants. Also what do the owners of the residential space think of a concert hall going in under there VERY expensive condo?? I took my son there as a child, he worked there as a teen getting ready for college. Also the Blue Cow / Swiss Hot Dog, Both my sons born and raised here, now 36 and 39 ate Swiss hot dogs with Ernst and every time they come to town from Boulder and Denver. The oldest, Sean, is the Marketing Director and limited partner in Weston Backcountry, a Colorado origin and based snowboard and ski company. Can’t the TOV Council designate the building an Historic site? Los Amigos gone and replaced with a Membership Club I believe with a cost upward of $200k! Sincerely, Gary L. Eno 147 From:Allan Heymann To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion redevelopment Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:47:22 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department This proposal will “Aspenize” Vail. It brings money to the commercial property owner at the expense of historical value in Vail Village. Value will disappear in the core and many younger visitors will not be able to afford ski days and apres in the village. The wealthy visitors will also lose out as restaurant space is described as being a fraction of current space. Losing Los Amigos and now potentially the Red Lion will be unfortunate. I agree with the opinion from the validly article that descibed challenging logistics bringing big band equipment to shakedown and having large trucks on Hanson ranch to to achieve this. Maybe “winterize” ford theater and build new restaurants and shops in that location ? Please do not approve this destructive proposal. Sent from my iPhone 148 From:Josephine Trueblood To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Save the Red Lion! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:48:03 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, I am writing on behalf of the Red Lion, as I know the space is potentially becoming luxury shopping. As a Vail Valley local, I am asking you to please keep the Red Lion! The restaurant is a Vail staple, and a welcoming place for locals and tourists alike. Vail would not be the same without the Red Lion. Thank you! Best, Josephine Trueblood 149 From:Caroline Goodwin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:03:11 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council, I urge you to consider the public impact that closing the Red Lion would have on the spirit and local experience in the town of Vail. I grew up in the Valley hearing stories of the Red Lion from my parents, who came in the 80s to live in work in town. As I grew up, I became a ski school instructor here and have my own memories of the Red Lion after work and in town. I had hopes that my daughter would one day be able to enjoy the red lion as her mother and grandparents did for the last 40+ years. When traveling the country and indeed the world, when I tell people from Vail they ask about the Red Lion. It’s a known institution and a core part of Vails identity and history. I urge you to reject the proposed new design of the building - which will take away the soul of this institution. The town needs to keep places alive that welcome all - visitors and locals alike. The proposed new restaurant space removes the bridge street entrance and takes away a the sunny part of the terrace, which is critical for apres ski traffic especially in the spring. It will continue to erode the few places left for apres ski and late night bar areas with live music in town. Without the red Lion, the town of Vail will lose a key space for visitors and locals alike. Remodeling the building in its current configuration would maintain that. We do not need more high end retail space, the town needs to have a sense of identity that the Red Lion plays a key role in maintaining. Sincerely, Caroline Goodwin 150 From:Rory Holmes To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:03:27 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Do not let them change the building. The Redlion is synonymous with Vail. Your job on town council is to protect Vail and serve its people. The new proposed plan yet again is another move of gutting the heart and soul of Vail. We don’t need more high end retail, also take into account about the amount of Jobs that will be lost and not replaced by allowing this to move forward. Make the right decision for you town!! Sent from my iPhone 151 From:Emily Lepore To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:25:37 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, Please, please please do not add any more retail stores. The last thing Vail needs is more retail. We need more community gathering spots, more restaurants, more coffee bars, more yoga studios, etc. The first Vail baby was born in the kitchen of red lion, red lion is a heartbeat for community and to make it anything other than a gathering spot is a disgusting example of what too much money, and too much greed can do. DO NOT CHANGE A THING FOR MILLIONAIRE INTERESTS. Thank you, Born and raised Colorado 152 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Joe Overman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:26:07 AM Hi, My family has been coming up to Vail almost every weekend for the last several years. We oppose a shrinking or drastically changing of the Red Lion restaurant. We like the idea of a Belly Up style music venue but not at the cost of shrinking or negatively changing the Red Lion. It’s one of the few great places left in the village. High end retail may be profitable but it does little for the soul of the village. We hope you reconsider the proposed plans. Joe Overman, MD, FAAD, FACMS CEO, Founder - Clearview Dermatology Office 720-797-9184 Fax 720-797-9186 ­ JoeOvermanMD@clearviewdermatology.com ­ www.ClearviewDermatology.com/ ­ 14789 W. 87th Parkway, Arvada, CO 80005  ­ Board-Certified Dermatologist  ­ Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon  ­ The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information, including patient information protected by federal and state privacy laws. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution, or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. 153 From:Alan Ritchie To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:35:54 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I am writing in support of retaining the character and heart of Vail. The Red Lion and its proximity to the main road to and from the slopes creates an energy and atmosphere that is iconic Vail. People love to ski and snowboard, but they also come to Vail because of the village, specifically the Red Lion. Progress and redevelopment is inevitable but it should be modified and limited to preserve the character and assets of Vail. Please reject the full redevelopment plan and approve a modified plan to include the location and character of The Red Lion. Sincerely, Alan Ritchie Birmingham, AL 3x a year Vail visitor Sent from my iPad 154 From:bclower@insight.rr.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:47:33 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department While I could provide you with the same commentary I am sure you are getting from others already - I am simply voicing my support of the Red Lion in in its current location and format. I don't think the changes I read about with your new development are conducive to keeping this institution intact and providing the same ambiance that myself and many others have come to enjoy over the years. To be honest, this move/change might impact our annual trips to Vail since the Red Lion has been an intricate part of our vacations to Vail. Please weigh out all of your options before changing this cultural hot spot that helps make Vail so special. Thank you Bill Clower Columbus, Ohio 155 From:snowboardgirl007@gmail.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:55:01 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, as a Vail local for 30 years, making the Red lion restaurant space on bridge street more luxury stores is a bad decision. Sounds like the restaurant will be moved mostly underground?A lot of people come to Vail to Apres, and the Red Lion is that establishment. You are slowly taking the soul out of Vail one establishment at a time. super sad to see Big Bear Bistro go. Luxury retail is boring and not to mention all those “luxury “ face lotion places trying to heckle me as I walk down Bridge Street. Thanks Sabrina Ste-Marie Sent from my iPhone 156 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sandi Murphy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The destruction of an icon Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:55:24 AM Really Vail??? First the destruction of Los Amigos and now Red Lion? You’re just becoming another Aspen. 157 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Yolanda van Kempen To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion is Vail History Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:04:32 AM Our family has only been coming to Vail since 2010 but since the moment we set foot in Vail, the Red Lion has always been a part of our lives! Whether it’s apres during ski season or enjoying the sunshine out on the patio during the summer months, or our girls watching the parade on July 4 patio side, it has so many precious memories. I cannot even begin to imagine what this change would mean for the people who have been there for so many more years. Isn’t The Red Lion is the longest running business in Vail and opened when the mountain opened over 60 years ago? How can you completely disregard that history in favor of high- end retail. We are property owners in Vail and are so saddened that the town would allow this to happen. Please reconsider what the red lion means to the town of Vail and so many families that have been there since the beginning Regards, Wouter & Yolanda van Kempen 158 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lily Norris To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:04:56 AM Hi Vail Town Council, The Red Lion is Vail. I grew up coming here, and no matter the season—after a ski day or a summer hike—I always look forward to ending my day at the Red Lion with nachos, drinks, friends, family, and live music. It’s not just a restaurant or bar; it’s a gathering place, a tradition, and a shared memory for locals and visitors alike. Tearing it down would be a heartbreaking and irreversible mistake. The Red Lion is legendary and deeply woven into the identity of this town. Places like this are what make Vail special and authentic, not just another resort destination. Once something like this is gone, it can never truly be replaced. I strongly urge you to reconsider and protect one of Vail’s most iconic and beloved landmarks. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Lily Norris 720-480-1671 159 From:Comcast To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Comment on Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:06:01 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council, This is your chance to save the Red Lion, one of the only last, iconic venues for the average middle income skier. My family has been coming to Vail since the 1980s. I love this place so much that I made it my home in 2022. It has changed in so many ways but the most heart breaking was the closing of the only affordable restaurant at the base of the mountain/ Gondola to the new “Private Luxury Ski Club”. Now one of the remaining Main Street affordable restaurants will be lost to more high end shopping?! Who does the plan serve? I know we are a capitalist society but we don’t need more high end shopping for the majority of skiers that come to Vail. We need to maintain the history of what made Vail what it is. A great place to meet up with friends for lunch or apres in a sunny spot. Who goes shopping after a day on the slopes for unneeded high end fur coats ? This is your chance to help save one of the last remaining iconic pieces of history in our most beloved town. Sincerely, Andrea Durbin Sent from my iPhone 160 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Gerald Brummett To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion... Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:06:56 AM Good Sunday morning to you... I have recently been informed that The Red Lion's future in Vail is jeopardy of dissapearing. I first came to Vail in 1968 to ski... that is my first memory of being in the Red Lion. My wife and I moved to Vail after I graduated from college in 1973 and I was lucky enough to become an instructor in Lionshead. In 1975 my father got cancer and we moved home to be with him and my mom through his 2 year journey to the end. I still ski Vail and have had a season pass most of my life. Nearly every time I ski I will stop by the Red Lion for a beverage and food before heading back to Golden. All the above being said... please consider the history of Vail and the major part the Red Lion has had with so many folks like me. Thanks! GB Gerald West Brummett gbskis1@msn.com 303-918-6425 161 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Margaret Coughlin To:publicinput@vail.gov; Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:08:55 AM PLEASE SAVE THE RED LION!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone hates vail and how they are changing the vibes here. DONT MAKE IT WORSE WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING????????? The red lion ROCKS please DONT BE SILLY LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAVE THE RED LION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We do not need or want Dior or Chanel stores please what ON EARTH is the thought process here save our beloved vail institutions!!!!!!!!!!!!! 162 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Noel Falk To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion, Big Bear Bistro and Blu Cow Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:12:36 AM To the Vail Town Council, I am a long-time resident of Eagle County, having moved here in 1998. Since then, I have worked as an educator both for Eagle County Schools and Vail Mountain School. My children were born and raised here. I am writing to urge you to reconsider the plans for the space occupied by the Red Lion, Big Bear Bistro, and Blu Cow. As a newcomer to Eagle Valley in 1998, I found the Red Lion's $1.00 buffet on Fridays during the shoulder season to be a place to find like-minded young people with little money, seeking community and a cheap dinner. It was a place where I could go with friends, have a good meal, and make new friends. The Red Lion has always been an après-ski stop for live music, outdoor seating when it is sunny, and a great local place to grab a bite during our off-season. The Big Bear and Blu Cow offer quick bites and variety. Not everyone wants a sit-down meal for every meal...even tourists. During COVID, both the Blu Cow and The Big Bear Bistro offered places where people could go "out" to lunch with friends safely, because we could eat outside. While their prices aren't necessarily low, these restaurants offer locals the space in Vail to gather, eat, and be in community together. It seems that local places are becoming extinct in Vail Village. While I am no longer young and hitting after-ski bars like I used to, I understand the importance of welcoming younger people to an area and enticing them to stay here, as I was encouraged to do 28 years ago. If we lose local places like Red Lion, the Big Bear Bistro, and Blu Cow to high-end shopping, we lose the encouragement young people need to move here. I understand we need to balance progress with preserving history, and the needs of tourism with those of its local population. Vail does not need more high-end shopping. Locals can't afford it anyway. Locals have already been pushed down-valley. But we come to Vail to ski. And we come to Vail in the summer to play. What we need is to create places where a young tourist visiting with their family when they are 15-18, or a college-aged student on spring break, thinks that someday they want to move back here and start their life. If we want our community to have a future, we need people to want to move here. And we want to have places where young people can find community, like I did when I moved out here alone in 1998. Please, don't throw away local hangout places. Regards, Noel Falk -- Noel Falk History Department Chair Upper School History Teacher she/her/hers Vail Mountain School nfalk@vms.edu 970-477-7183 163 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Susie Huxford To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Preserve the Red Lion, A Cornerstone of Vail Village Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:15:45 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to preserve The Red Lion and protect it from removal or redevelopment that would erase one of Vail Village’s most iconic and meaningful establishments. The Red Lion is more than a bar or restaurant, it is part of Vail’s identity. For decades, it has been a gathering place where locals celebrate milestones, seasonal workers find community, and visitors experience something authentic and unforgettable about Vail. It’s where stories are shared after powder days, friendships are formed over music and laughter, and traditions are passed down year after year. For tourists, The Red Lion represents the soul of Vail Village. It’s not a generic après-ski stop, it’s a place people remember, talk about, and return for. Many visitors plan their trips around experiences like this because they want something real, something rooted in history and culture, not another interchangeable space that could exist in any resort town. For locals, removing The Red Lion would feel like losing a piece of us. Vail is special because it has managed to balance growth with character. Once an icon like this is gone, it cannot be replaced — and the Village becomes a little less human, a little less warm, and a lot more forgettable. Eliminating long-standing institutions in favor of modernization or short-term gain risks turning Vail Village into something generic. The magic of Vail lies in its sense of place, and places like The Red Lion are what give it that soul. I respectfully ask the Town Council to consider the long-term cultural and community impact of this decision and to take meaningful steps to protect The Red Lion as an integral part of Vail’s heritage. Saving it is not about resisting progress, it’s about preserving what makes Vail, Vail. Can your development plans be constructed elsewhere perhaps? Please Not on Bridge Street. Thank you for your time, leadership, and commitment to the community. Sincerely, Susie Huxford 164 Click here to watch our latest video 165 From:Gail Goodwin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:23:45 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I’m writing to ask the DRB to not approve the current plan as it stands for the Red Lion Remodel. The restaurant that has occupied that space since - 1963 and has been such a major establishment for the town all those years is needed to maintain the aura of Vail. As a 49 year property owner here & 12 of those years a full time resident to see the Red Lion not on Bridge Street is a crime. Another high end retail shop can face Hanson Ranch Rd. & do just fine. Please vote down the proposed plans as submitted. 1518 Buffehr Creek Rd. Vail, CO Gail Hannan Goodwin ghgoodwin@msn.com 303-956-1110 166 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Autumn Goebel To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:24:24 AM Dear Members of the Council / Planning Committee, I am writing to formally express my deep concern regarding the proposed demolition of the Red Lion, a business that has been an integral part of Vail for more than 60 years. I was born and raised in Vail and am now 37 years old. Establishments like the Red Lion are not just restaurants—they are part of the cultural and historical fabric of our town. Over the years, I have watched as meaningful, locally loved businesses have repeatedly been threatened or removed, including the small sandwich cart that had been a fixture here since my childhood. These losses are felt deeply by longtime residents. Vail does not need to sacrifice successful, well-loved establishments in favor of luxury brands or large-scale developments to remain relevant or prosperous. The Red Lion is thriving, it represents the character and authenticity of our community, and it continues to draw both locals and visitors precisely because it reflects what makes Vail unique. I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision. Preserving businesses that have stood the test of time and continue to serve the community well is essential to maintaining the identity of Vail. Once places like the Red Lion are gone, they cannot be replaced. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you will take the voices of longtime residents seriously as you move forward. Sincerely, 167 Autumn O’Connell Vail, Colorado Sent from my iPhone 168 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karissa Moss To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:24:30 AM Please keep the red lion how it is. I’ve always had so much fun with friends and family going there after a long ski day. The vibes are immaculate. Thanks for listening. Karissa Moss, QKA Direct-252.578.3040 169 From:Kay Magner To:Public Input Town Council Subject:red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:26:43 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department please don’t Aspen your Vail Village. Kay Magner Sent from my iPad 170 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kim Dozier To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion and the slow DEATH of entertainment in Vail. Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:28:56 AM HI All, I having been living here 26 years and have been watching, as everyone else who lives here, the decline of where to go in the village. The TOV has become the elite ONLY stumping ground. The Red Lion and Vendettas are ONLY places that can go in - not have a reservation and eat casually. The Red Lion takes it up a notch with some entertainment which is essential for a ski town. TOV has NO real Apres and that is the now reputation of Vail locally and world wide. I’m constantly asked where can we go just to enjoy a bite and some entertainment with a group. Answer now is Red Lion or maybe Avanti or good luck. I was so excited when I heard Chasing Rabbits was coming into town…… they took a great idea and made it most uptight and LA fake posh! SO sad. Oh let’s not forget the take over of Los Amigos - 62 Society - $150K and you can have a burger and a ski locker……come on. I get it……the owner of a property can do what they want to do and I appreciate the attempted moratorium. At least make them keep a restaurant on Bridge street and sell Gucci and Prada facing the ever missed Tap Room. Being on town council ain’t easy…I have empathy for all of you. I also realize change is inevitable. Let me know how many of you shop in the village. Have any of you ever stepped into one of these stores that the cheapest thing you can buy is a key chain for $500 (I actually saw that). There has to be a balance - I appreciate the attempt for Silent discos on the street and its easier to create events in the summer….but there are far more middle income people who want to enjoy Vail as much as the Mega rich and we are being kicked out without places like the Red Lion to go to. This is the story of the slow death of entertainment and music in Vail. Maybe a bit dramatic but so true. Thank you for your time! Kim Dozier 970-390-9555 Kim@4wallsthatfit.com 4 Walls That Fit Real Estate *My response time makes up for my spelling errors. 171 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Hall, Gregory To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Hall, Gregory Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:42:52 AM Dear Town Council Members, I am writing to formally express my strong opposition to the proposed alteration and renovation of the Red Lion building. I have been coming to Vail since the late 1960s, own a condo in the Village, and spend as much time in Vail as possible. If I were to try and come up with an idea that would materially adversely change the character of Vail Village, this proposal would be it. For many decades, the Red Lion has been more than just a business; it is a cornerstone of our community. It has served as a gathering place for generations of residents, visitors, and their respective families, and is a key identifier of our town’s unique, historic charm. Simply put, it is an institution in Vail. Removing this restaurant to make way for high end shops, a bar and music venue will eradicate a piece of our local history. Moreover, it cannot be understated how significant this venue has been for Vail over the many years, as it is a regular meeting place after a day of skiing or hiking and a fantastic place to gather in the afternoon and evening to socialize, listen to live music, and simply watch people as they stroll up or down Bridge Street. There is absolutely nothing like it in Vail. In addition to the foregoing, you must also consider how important and necessary it is to maintain a walk-in casual restaurant the size of the Red Lion. If you approve the current proposal, you will effectively eliminate one of the major places to eat in town, leaving people with the only choice of trying to walk into El Segundo or Vendetta’s, which are both already very busy restaurants with limited capacity. I don’t think it would be an overstatement to say that I bet families that visit Vail probably eat at the Red Lion at least once during their visit, which is more than can be said for any other restaurant in the Village. Lastly, we do not need more high-end shops in town, unless we are trying to turn Vail into Aspen. While I admittedly don’t spend a lot of time in Aspen (and for good reason), when I am there I walk around the town center and rarely even enter any of 172 their shops as they are all high-end designer shops that are overly expensive and appeal only to that sliver of society that likes to spend $10,000 on a handbag or $5,000 on a designer t-shirt. These sorts of business don’t add to the charm and appeal of a town. They do the exact opposite. Just look at the shops in Solaris. On any given day you can walk by Moncler, Stio, Betteridge, and Luca Bruno and never see a single person in the shop. Is that what we want to turn Vail into? I certainly hope not. I urge the Council to reject the current application. I urge you to protect the institutions that make our town special. Thank you for your time, your dedication to our community, and for considering this opposition. Sincerely, Greg Hall The information contained in this email may be confidential and/or legally privileged. It has been sent for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If the reader of this message is not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please reply to the sender and destroy all copies of the message. To contact us directly, send to postmaster@dlapiper.com. Thank you. 173 From:Deirdre Metcalf To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Let’s Keep it Local Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:44:10 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello. I am a resident of Edwards and prior to that have been a visitor to Vail my entire life. The Red Lion is and should continue to be a permanent and historical establishment in Vail Village. Exactly where it is. It represents old school Vail and I’m sure every person who has ever been to Vail shares memories of the Red Lion. My favorite memory is leaving my son at age one month with Phil Long on the stage and taking a few turns. My son went on to be a musician and played several times at the Red Lion in addition to other venues and music festivals. Beyond the historical significance of keeping the Red Lion, there is the cultural importance. Vail and its Back Bowls is famous for being a fun ski “town.” Please don’t ruin it by importing corporations to keep up with Aspen. Let’s keep it Local! If people want LV brands etc they can go down the road to Aspen. We have Gorsuche’s, Skea, local artists and up and coming brands. Similar to Telluride, people come to Vail for the ambiance and ski town experience. Please don’t ruin this. I’m asking that you vote down the planned renovation and keep the space now housing the Red Lion as is. We’ve already lost other historical establishments and we can’t afford to loose the Red Lion. Sincerely, Deirdre “Tiff” Metcalf Sent from my iPhone 174 From:William Bonati To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:56:09 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Just sad, another Vail establishment falling to capitalistic greed and continuing the demise of any ski town character the town of Vail has left. William Bonati 970 977 9232 175 From:Heidi Trueblood To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:04:24 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Town Council, We are so sad to hear that we may be loosing Big Bear Bistro, Blu Cow and the Red Lion. I understand that you are in a tough situation, because none of these businesses owns the building. It is very tough to infringe on the property owners rights to maximize rental revenue. However, these are the kind of businesses that give Vail character and the kind of businesses that are easy to support. They are owned by locals and help give Vail some kind of distinctive identity. When people ask us where to eat in Vail, these are the places that we recommend. Clearly, people would like to eat at Mountain Standard all of the time, but even if you have the budget for that, no one wants that kind of long sit down meal all of the time. Is there any way to incentivize the owner to update the space and keep the current tenants? Thank you for your consideration, Heidi Trueblood 176 From:Justin Ernest To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:09:09 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department No. No. No. Stop tearing down the heart of Vail Village. Stop replacing our history with bland, heartless, soulless retail stores. The Red Lion has been here since the beginning of Vail, I understand progress, but please stop destroying our history and legacy for profit and the greed of developers. Justin Ernest 177 From:A Hall To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:10:03 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Before you completely destroy what makes Vail the town visitors and locals know and love- please rethink the proposal to make the current Red Lion frontage into high-end retail or anything other than The Red Lion. Does the bar/building need a remodel- yes, like Pepis did to their bar area. But the bar/restaurant needs Bridge Street frontage with the retail, if we have to have it, on Hanson Ranch. We are losing too many restaurants and bars in the village as it is- Please don’t approve this terrible idea for the heart of Vail Village which loses THREE restaurants. Alane Hall Red Sandstone Rd 178 From:Santiago Miranda To:Public Input Town Council Subject:KEEP RED LION ALIVE Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:10:37 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern, I am writing to express my deep concern about the potential elimination of the Red Lion in Vail. For me, and for many other Vail locals and long-time visitors, the Red Lion is an iconic gathering place that represents the history, culture, and spirit of this town. The Red Lion is more than a business. It is where families celebrate milestones, friends reunite after long days on the mountain, and visitors first experience the authentic, welcoming atmosphere that made Vail unique long before it became a global destination. Its live music, familiar faces, and inclusive environment create a sense of community that cannot be replicated by luxury international brands. Replacing the Red Lion with high‑end retail or hospitality chains would erode the character that sets Vail apart. When local, historic institutions disappear, Vail risks becoming interchangeable with any other luxury resort rather than a place with its own identity and traditions. This change would not only affect locals who consider the Red Lion part of their daily lives, but also the many tourists who return year after year precisely because Vail still feels like a real mountain town. I urge you to recognize the cultural and social value of the Red Lion and to protect it as a cornerstone of Vail’s heritage. Preserving places like the Red Lion is essential if Vail is to remain a vibrant, authentic community rather than just another backdrop for luxury development. Sincerely, Santiago Miranda 179 From:Oliver Bohanon To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Protect the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:12:19 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern, Myself and my family have been Vail residents for over 30 years. The Red Lion restaurant has been and should remain one of the iconic hearts of our town, our home. The development proposals currently under considerations will not only put The Red Lion out of business but threaten the character and community of Vail as a whole. Approval of these plans sends a clear message that profiteering outsiders will be given favor to raze our town at will for the sake of lining their own pockets. We, the residents and community of Vail, do not want or need our home to become a glorified, overpriced strip mall. The approval of these plans is a massive leap toward reducing Vail to exactly that. The Red Lion restaurant, its history, and all that makes our town great should be protected and prioritized without hesitation. Anything less is an egregious failure of the town you purport to serve. On behalf of myself and my family, we ask that you act with integrity, that you preserve and protect this town, and that you deny these proposed plans. Best, Oliver Bohanon 180 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Wayne Overman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Input on Res Lion Reataurant Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:20:28 AM While I fully support property owners to make decisions on their own property downgrading the Red Lion restaurant to retail space does not seem to be in the best interest to those skiing at Vail. While Vail pricing has made it harder and harder for younger patrons to enter the sport, removing community gathering spaces seems inconsistent with growing the sport. There are already plenty of opportunities for retail in the resort area, let’s not add more at the expense of gathering places. Wayne J. Overman President/CEO DTKJ Associates, LLC 133 Spence Creek Ln Murfreesboro, TN 37128 Phone: 615-414-5731 Email: WJOverman@DTKJAssociates.com 181 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Marguerite McEvoy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion!! We want to keep the iconic Vail spot! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:20:23 AM Dear Members of the Town Council and/or whom it may concern, I am writing as a longtime local, small business owner, and active contributor to Vail’s tourism and events economy to express my strong support for preserving the Red Lion Restaurant and its iconic storefront as plans for renovation move forward. I own and operate Events by Marguerite, a locally based event planning business that brings visitors to Vail year-round for weddings, celebrations, and destination gatherings. My clients come from across the country—and often the world—to experience what makes Vail special. Time and time again, the Red Lion is not just mentioned, but intentionally woven into their weekend plans. It is a cornerstone of the Vail experience. Whether it’s a welcome drink after arrival, a casual rehearsal dinner stop, or a must-visit spot between events, the Red Lion consistently serves as a gathering place that feels authentically Vail. Its presence adds character, warmth, and continuity to the village—qualities that cannot be replicated once they are lost. From a business perspective, establishments like the Red Lion play a critical role in supporting the broader local economy. Guests don’t simply visit for an event—they stay longer, dine more, shop locally, and return because of places that feel storied and familiar. The Red Lion’s recognizable storefront and long-standing role in the village contribute directly to that sense of place and to Vail’s appeal as a 182 destination. Renovation and growth are important, but I respectfully urge the Council to consider how deeply tied the Red Lion is to Vail’s identity. Preserving the restaurant and its storefront is not about resisting change—it is about honoring what has made Vail successful and beloved while moving thoughtfully into the future. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your continued stewardship of the community we are proud to call home. Marguerite McEvoy Shipman 404-247-3565 www.eventsbymarguerite.com Please excuse any typos, sent from my iPhone. 183 From:John Hawkins To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Proposed Red Lion Redesign Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:21:35 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I live in Atlanta, but have been skiing in Colorado since the early 90s. Every year we include a visit to the Red Lion as a must stop as part of our trip, even if we are staying in Breck or Keystone. Losing it would be a travesty especially for the proposed purpose. We would probably skip skiing in Vail and spend more time in Beaver Creek or summit county instead. Sent from my iPhone 184 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Emily Salomone To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:22:17 AM Hello, I hope this email finds all town council members well. I’m sending you all this message as a local that was born in Vail, was raised in the valley and still lives here. I urge you all to reconsider what The Red Lion means to Vail, and I’d like to remind you all that although Vail is ever-changing and evolving, there are some things that have just earned their place. When my mother moved here in the winter of ‘91, the next few years she truly lived the Vail dream. She’s been at Manor almost ever since, and she got to live what all of us “locals” and “transplants” alike want to do. However, this was simply a different time. Monopolization of retail/dining space was not nearly as strong as it is today; the lucrative and luxurious Vail village was still unattainable for a lower class person to live in, but the village served as the third space for everyone. Vail was a real town, with hair stylists and dentists and locally owned businesses and restaurants lining bridge street. Since then, there’s been a disconnect pushing for luxury space to take up more space. While I can appreciate accommodating our tourism industry, you are walking a fine line between maintaining Vail as a town or letting it morph into something a lot more materialistic. Listen to your local workforce. We love this place and work very hard to be able to live here. We want to enjoy our home just as much as the next tourist, and making it a space that is exclusively for them continues to alienate the working class. I would hope all of you read the Vail Daily, but I’m attaching a couple articles of commentary from locals. Please listen. Reconsider exactly what’s happening to your town, you were elected to make the best decisions you can and all I can ask is that you do your best to provide a town of Vail that isn’t just for the tourists, but for everyone. https://www.vaildaily.com/news/letter-vail-village-cultural-crisis/ https://www.vaildaily.com/opinion/columns/ferry-answering-taylor-paules-question/ Thank you for your time. Emily Salomone 185 From:Jay Adams To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:24:10 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council, I have been visiting Vail in all seasons for the past 35 years and the Red Lion has always been my family’s favorite place. From when I skied with friends in college, to visiting with my wife and later bringing my kids out. Please don’t ruin this incredible piece of Vail history. With the loss of Los Amigos, you are losing what’s left of the soul of this once great ski town to rich developers. Please reconsider. Thanks, Jay Adams Denver Sent from my iPhone 186 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ella Salomone To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:27:05 AM Hello, I hope this email finds all town council members well. I’m sending you all this message as a local that was born in Vail, was raised in the valley and still lives here. I urge you all to reconsider what The Red Lion means to Vail, and I’d like to remind you all that although Vail is ever-changing and evolving, there are some things that have just earned their place. When my mother moved here in the winter of ‘91, the next few years she truly lived the Vail dream. She’s been at Manor almost ever since, and she got to live what all of us “locals” and “transplants” alike want to do. However, this was simply a different time. Monopolization of retail/dining space was not nearly as strong as it is today; the lucrative and luxurious Vail village was still unattainable for a lower class person to live in, but the village served as the third space for everyone. Vail was a real town, with hair stylists and dentists and locally owned businesses and restaurants lining bridge street. Since then, there’s been a disconnect pushing for luxury space to take up more space. While I can appreciate accommodating our tourism industry, you are walking a fine line between maintaining Vail as a town or letting it morph into something a lot more materialistic. Listen to your local workforce. We love this place and work very hard to be able to live here. We want to enjoy our home just as much as the next tourist, and making it a space that is exclusively for them continues to alienate the working class. I would hope all of you read the Vail Daily, but I’m attaching a couple articles of commentary from locals. Please listen. Reconsider exactly what’s happening to your town, you were elected to make the best decisions you can and all I can ask is that you do your best to provide a town of Vail that isn’t just for the tourists, but for everyone. https://www.vaildaily.com/news/letter-vail-village-cultural-crisis/ https://www.vaildaily.com/opinion/columns/ferry-answering-taylor-paules-question/ Thank you for your time. 187 From:Clemmie Pierce Martin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:30:21 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing as a member of a family who has been Vail homeowners since 1967 to express my deep concern regarding the impending closure of the Red Lion and the manner in which this decision appears to be unfolding. Some of my best memories in Vail—across decades—are in and around the Red Lion. For many of us, it is not simply a restaurant, but a cultural anchor and one of the last places that truly reflects the honest, unpretentious spirit that made this town what it is. Losing the Red Lion would be an absolute tragedy for Vail. We are not Aspen. We are not Telluride. We are Vail. And decisions like this fundamentally change the landscape of our town in a way that feels irreversible and deeply harmful to its character. Once places like this are gone, they do not come back—and what replaces them rarely serves the community in the same way. The Red Lion is one of Vail’s oldest and longest-running establishments. It brings people together across generations and backgrounds, and it represents the heart and soul of this town far more than any single development or short-term consideration ever could. A decision of this magnitude should not move forward without truly listening to the voices of the community that has supported, sustained, and loved this place for decades. Our stories matter. Our history matters. And the future of Vail should be shaped with those things firmly in mind. I strongly urge the Council to pause, to listen, and to consider what the Red Lion means—not just economically, but culturally and emotionally—to the town we all call home. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Clemmie Pierce Martin --- Clemmie Pierce Martin 832-282-0042 188 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Courtney Farr To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:34:49 AM Please please protect the Red Lion from redevelopment!! This place is very close to me and my family’s hearts, like so many others, we’d be devastated if anything were to happen to it Best, Courtney Courtney Farr courtneyfarr96@gmail.com 361-331-1419 189 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alexis Wotton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:38:29 AM Good afternoon, I am writing to express my heartfelt concerns regarding the proposed remodeling plan for the Red Lion, a truly iconic establishment here in Vail. As a resident for nearly a decade, I have witnessed the evolving character of our town, and frankly, the potential loss of places like the Red Lion deeply troubles me. The Red Lion embodies the authentic mountain charm that is so integral to Vail's appeal, a quality cherished by both long-time residents and visitors seeking that quintessential ski experience. We have a demand for establishments that offer genuine character and a sense of place, rather than a proliferation of high-end boutiques. The recent discussions surrounding changes to beloved local institutions, including both the Red Lion and the Little Diner, prompt serious reflection on the trajectory of our community. My sincere hope is that any remodel of the Red Lion will prioritize a respectful enhancement of its existing character, ensuring it remains the cherished and accessible icon it has always been for Vail. Thank you for your time, Alexis Wotton 972-765-5251 Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer 190 From:Kevinmilbery To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion LLC Proposal Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:43:31 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Change means to make something different. With the proposed design Red Lion LLC has submitted it will dramatically change the character of Vail. Do we want to become a ski town of high end shops that we cannot hardly pronounce their names or maintain an experience that reveals a quaint European feel and character? Our Vail customer experience focuses on skiing and boarding but the dining and entertainment supports why our guests want to come back and enjoy the adventure. Do we have to go under ground to do this? Please think what Vail was structured and built as and what we will want the future to be! Let’s maintain the standard, Vail - Like Nothing On Earth! Thanks, Kevin Milbery Edwards, Colorado 191 From:Felipe Carvajal To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:43:41 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear all, There is no question that when it comes down to preserving the heart and soul of our town we have to remain honest and true. Let those virtues guide you in your decision to keep the current configuration of the Red Lion. The human spirit should not be relegated to a windowless basement in favor of furthering retail exposure. Please do not let that happen. Because if the Red Lion goes the spirit of Vail, that thing that still binds us together, will perish overnight. And so will we. Thank you for your time. Yours truly, Pipo Carvajal 192 From:mark balen To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:47:00 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Council members, I am a frequent visitor to Vail Resort [6 or 7 times a year for 40 years) and have always enjoyed the experience Vail offers. I am sad to hear of the possible changes to the Red Lion and the building itself! Vail is slowly losing the charm that has endeared it to both locals and visitors alike. Change is always inevitable but to eliminate iconic venues that have been the heart of Vail is taking away what has made Vail great! There is a place for retail in the village but not at the expense of its roots. Please consider these thoughts before you make your decision. Thank you, Mark Balen Sent from my iPhone 193 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:William Gist To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:48:48 AM The proposed plans that will lead to the Red Lion's demise might be the final blow and lead to our family permanently crossing Vail off of our ski destination list. The mountain has already lost so much of its charm and approachable feel as the town has continued to only pursue luxury high end retailers, lodging and restaurants that cater to the 8-9 figure net worth crowd that flies into Eagle airport on private jets. But even many of those visitors will grow bored and disillusioned by a town that looks like every other luxury strip in America with no mountain vibe or feel whatsoever. We hope you act to preserve a venue that everyone loves and considers integral to the entire Vail experience. -Bill & Charlene Gist 194 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sierra Sturt Photo To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserve the Iconic Red Lion Location in Vail Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:52:29 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing as a long-time supporter of Vail and a member of the community who deeply values the town’s character and history. The Red Lion has been an iconic part of Vail for decades, not just as a beloved business, but as a gathering place that contributes to the culture, vibrancy, and sense of community here. Losing this landmark would mean more than the closure of a restaurant - it would be the loss of a piece of Vail’s identity that residents and visitors alike cherish. The Red Lion represents the history, energy, and spirit that make Vail unique, and its presence supports local businesses and tourism. We do not need to become Aspen, with every single store and restaurant being high-end. The charm we know and love is what makes Vail special, and keeping iconic locations like the Red Lion ensures we preserve that authenticity. I strongly urge the Council to consider all avenues to preserve this iconic location. Keeping the Red Lion in its current spot ensures that Vail retains the charm and character that draws people to our town year after year. Thank you for your time, attention, and commitment to preserving the character of Vail. Sierra Sturt Owner, Principal Photographer 419-205-3098 Website | Instagram Digital Business Card 195 From:John Krauklis To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion must stay Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:58:14 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I am opposed to a redesign of the Red Lion building that removes the Red Lion. The restaurant space should be landmarked the way it is. The ground floor restaurant with large enclosed patio and quaint open corner patio are iconic parts of the Vail experience and should not be messed with. We love going to this restaurant as a family during skiing and really feel at home with businesses like this. It is a historical part of the town of Vail and any proposal to remove it should be denied. Replace an original Vail restaurant with high end retail?! That is cringeworthy and ripping the soul of the town out of it. Don’t approve this. Thank you John Krauklis (303) 330-6308 Jkrauk@yahoo.com 196 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alitza Vagenknechtova To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion building redesign. Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:58:18 AM Hello , I am writing in regards of redesign of Red Lion building - this is an icon of Vail Village and part of history - the beginning of Vail and heart of Vail. A building which is serving to many après ski people, visitors in winter and in summer - skiers and non-skiers as comfortable place to eat , lessen to music and be outside ( not underground) . - we do not have any other places like it in Vail Village. Do we need another HIGH end shop???? NO ! Do we need place as Red lion - outside seating , large windows and an comfortable place to sit and eat and lessen to music during the afternoon - YES. I have lived in the Vail Valley since 1991, when I tell people ( visitors, second home owners and locals) about the intentions and redesign of Red Lion - everyone is horrified. What do we have left for food and entertainment on ground floor in Vail Village? - not much. Do we want to be as Aspen - another high end shop - how many people are going to be satisfied with that? The truth is Red Lion services much more public use and for far more people as it is ( or remodeled with the same configuration as it is.). Please reconsider the allowance of changing this re-configuration and putting another music venue underground. Thank you very much Alitza Vagenknechtova Real Estate Broker LIV Sotheby's realty, Vail, CO 970-471-5505 Sotheby's International Realty will never ask you to wire money or provide wiring instructions. Beware of phishing emails or fraudulent phone calls requesting a bank wire. Please call your lender, title company, or closing attorney to confirm any wiring instructions over the phone. 197 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Noah Aldonas To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the red lion and Blue Cow Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:05:47 PM My family has been visiting Vail since I was 9 years old. The Red Lion has always been the best spot in town to hang out after skiing. Blu Cow has the best sausages around. Now they’re turning these into designer stores? That’s a huge bummer. Chanel isn’t what makes Vail the place I come to ski. It’s places like the Lion and the Cow. Don’t let this happen. Noah Aldonas 198 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lauren Sandman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:10:34 PM You should not get rid of the Red Lion and you should stop putting in high end stores in Vail Village. I have been coming to Vail since I was a kid and you all have completely changed the town and got rid of the mountain town charm of the West that people want. Adding chain retail stores does not make this a destination. It makes it like every other upscale city around the world. What makes this town so special is the quaintness of it including the restaurants. Some of my favorite places are in Vail. I live in Florida now and I will tell you, people talk about Ski Resort towns a lot as I am in the hospitality industry. You’ve turned Vail into a foreigners paradise… it’s so overpriced and ridiculous it’s not even a place Americans enjoy visiting. If you take the Red Lion away, you’re really taking a huge part of people memories and history of the town away. It’s unfortunate this is the route you all have chosen to go with Vail. I’m just one person, but I know there is a general consensus that this town is ridiculously priced and geared towards European tourists and not even a place American people to enjoy the Rockies anymore. Sad. You should change your model and be more appealing to American families and I guarantee business would be booming. Maxing out your own people for European dollars is most likely why your sales are down… regardless of snow. Lauren 199 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mia Veronique Philippon To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion and Protect What Makes Vail Vail Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:32:08 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I’m writing as someone who deeply loves Vail — not just for the skiing, but for the spirit of community that makes this town feel alive and human. I grew up in Vail and still call it my home. I urge you to do everything in your power to preserve the Red Lion and prevent its replacement by another luxury retail storefront. Vail does not need another high-end brand. We do not need to become Aspen. What has always made Vail special is that it’s a ski town first — a place where real people gather after a long day on the mountain, still in their boots, cheeks red from the cold, hungry and happy and together. The Red Lion represents that soul. It’s where families share nachos, where locals run into each other, where generations of skiers celebrate powder days and memories. Replacing an iconic community gathering space with a Dior store would send a devastating message: that Vail values status over substance, wealth over warmth, image over identity. It would be shameful to erase a place woven into the culture and history of this town in exchange for something that could exist in any luxury mall anywhere in the world. Visitors don’t fall in love with Vail because it feels exclusive — they fall in love because it feels authentic. Red Lion is part of that authenticity. Once places like it disappear, they don’t come back, and the town loses something irreplaceable. Please protect the character of Vail. Please stand for the community and traditions that built this town. Please save the Red Lion. Respectfully, Mia Philippon 200 From:Caroline Sterkel To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:32:40 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Vail Town Council, I was saddened to hear that the Red Lion is being shut down and will be made instead into a retail space. I urge you to strongly consider not allowing the owners to repurpose the building in favor of retail. Vail is not Aspen nor should we want to be! Skiers and locals alike want to enjoy live music or sit on the patio after a long day skiing. The Red Lion is especially important to my family, as it’s where I met my husband 18 years ago, with Phil Long playing. It is a cornerstone of Vail Village! Thank you for listening, and I appreciate your consideration in preserving the traditions that make Vail unique. Sincerely, Caroline Sterkel 201 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Caroline Segal To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:53:07 PM Dear Members of the Vail Council, My name is Caroline Segal, and I have been coming to Vail for 23 years. Each time that I visit I, of course, enjoy the spectacular beauty of Vail. Vail is the best in the world for skiing, hiking, and biking. But it’s also the best in the world for community. Essential to that vibrant community is the Red Lion. I met my best friend in college because Vail came up and the first thing I asked her was, “Have you been to the Red Lion?”. She had been there, obviously. Anytime that I talk about skiing in Vail, I talk about eating and listening to music at the Red Lion. To me, the Red Lion embodies Vail. To replace an establishment that has soul, character and decades of memories attached to it with a high-end storefront goes against everything Vail stands for. Community and culture will be eliminated all to make a profit. Do you really want to be the ones to allow that to happen? Please vote no to the new redesign of the Red Lion building and keep one of the most iconic restaurants in the entire world in business. Best, Caroline Segal 202 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Diane Queen To:Public Input Town Council Subject:To the Vail Town Council Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:01:31 PM I write to express my concern about the demise of Vail Village. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to live in Vail from 1988 to 1998, initially working for Vail Associates and subsequently for Snow Country magazine. Indeed, I lived through the demise of George Gillette’s ownership resulting from his purchase of the resort through junk bonds (who, incidentally after claiming “they took the shirt right off my back” when describing the loss, went on to purchase Liverpool Football Club in the UK.) The new resort management set about closing the feeder areas and acquiring multiple resorts across North America, thus closing off the sport to those less affluent and fortunate. I left Vail disillusioned about what was taking place but I still own property there and try to provide affordable housing for those who live and work there. Vail was magical, one of the best and most welcoming of ski resorts in the USA. Sell out and you simply become one of the many other resorts in the Vail portfolio. Observe what is occurring in many of those resorts: locals are being priced out of the market and are no longer welcome there!! Eventually you end up with a finite number of skiers wealthy enough to take up the sport, thus seeding your own demise. Yours, Diane Queen Owner/former Vail resident Sent from D. Queen 203 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Brad Richardson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:10:49 PM I have been coming to Vail for most of my life and cannot imagine Vail village without the Red Lion. I am a real estate investor, and certainly understanding maximizing value, but this is so iconic to Vail that it needs to remain as is or the development needs to be redeveloped to incorporate a design that includes the red Lion is basically the same location and configuration. Thanks, Brad Richardson 204 From:Michael Braun To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:13:24 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I am against the reconfiguration of the Red Lion building and the changes to the be-loved and iconic Red Lion Restaurant. Michael Braun 205 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Allison Feldmeir To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep the red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:16:39 PM This is absurd . You’re ripping out the hesrt and soul out of this town and if you keep abolishing these original establishments you’ll have no Allure left in this place. Locals will have no emotional ties to the town and will leave because they don’t feel attached to it anymore. Please reconsider this enormous fumble to get rid of the lions current space, you’d be cutting off a limb if you did go through with it. 206 From:Erica Herrmann To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE RED LION Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:40:46 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please save Red Lion. No local cares for materialistic stores. No local wants to work for them either. They want to work and go to Red Lion to enjoy the community. Vail is losing its community. Erica Swartzendruber 207 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Clare Hefferren To:Public Input Town Council Cc:DRB Subject:Measuring What Matters: Red Lion LLC Redevelopment, Cultural Heritage, and Community Vitality Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:41:37 PM Dear Mayor, Town Council Members, and Design Review Board Members, Thank you for receiving this comment in writing. I’m unable to attend this week’s meeting due to my work schedule AND I care about this conversation. Please read this with the intention of finding one useful nugget in my absence. Writing as a long-time resident and someone who loves Vail, this is public comment regarding the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion LLC building and the broader pattern of change in Vail Village. Development will continue, and it should. Yet there is a difference between change that strengthens a place and change that erodes it. Vail Village is not simply a commercial district; it is a cultural asset built through sweat equity, vision, and community stewardship. Over the past 16 years I’ve lived here, it has been heartbreaking to watch the steady loss of legacy properties and the distinct “Vail-ness” they carried. Time cannot be frozen, but legacy can be honored. For that reason, my support is for a redevelopment approach that aligns with Town Code and the Design Review Board’s standards and guidelines, with particular attention to compatibility, architectural character, materials, and the lived experience of the pedestrian village. The Town already has a stated mission to “preserve, enrich and sustain the cultural and historic legacy of Vail,” with a vision that explicitly connects Vail’s past, present, and future. This redevelopment is exactly the kind of moment when those values should be operationalized—not only stated. (Vail) According to Vail Daily reporting, the new Red Lion LLC building will not contain the Red Lion restaurant. (It is challenging to ensure facts are correct, so please give me grace.) That may be permissible from a development standpoint, but it is not culturally neutral. When legacy anchors disappear, the village loses its memory, identity, continuity. This loss is not singular. I’m also heartbroken to see The Blu Cow leaving us, particularly as a female-owned business with parental legacy. The list goes on and on. Each departure carries a ripple effect: fewer places that feel like “ours,” fewer owners who know our neighbors by name, fewer institutions that hold the village’s stories. Alongside financial ramifications, encouragement is offered to weigh cultural drag: the slow, compounding cost of losing local texture, human-scale design, and the sense that this village belongs to the people who live and work here—not only to capital markets. These impacts are real. They show up as diminished community vitality, reduced belonging, and a village experience that feels increasingly transactional. 208 Rather than complain, I’d like to offer ideas. First: Can the Town add (or elevate) a clear, public-facing metric for community vitality within its dashboards and strategic reporting, alongside the measures that are easier to quantify? The Town already publishes community indicators, including “People & Community” categories. A vitality metric would help guide decisions before loss becomes irreversible. A practical starting set could include: Percentage of street-level frontage occupied by locally owned/legacy businesses Commercial vacancy duration (by village sub-area) and seasonal swing Resident experience scores (brief quarterly pulse survey) Workforce retention indicators tied to cost of living and commuting burden Pedestrian experience indicators (including solicitation complaints and compliance outcomes) Second: Please consider a program that helps residents buy local businesses rather than shuttering doors or selling to the highest bidder, especially when an owner is ready to retire or exit (look up the Silver Tsunami.) A community-supported transition path (education, match- making, financing partners, cooperative models, or a town-facilitated initiative) could keep doors open, preserve jobs, and protect the cultural fabric that visitors come here to experience. This program concept has been on my mind, and in writing, for years. Like many locals, I’ve had to put it to the side to focus on simply staying afloat while working multiple jobs and launching a small venture of my own. As a branding professional for over 30 years, the equity loss in these transitions is painful to watch because brand equity isn’t just logos and signage. It’s trust, story, belonging, and hard- won reputation. We have local models worth protecting and replicating. Mountain Standard/Sweet Basil, Two Arrows and Root & Flower are strong examples of locally owned businesses who contribute to the village in a way that feels grounded and relational. A related question: What became of the Town-initiated “dashboard” effort intended to show progress toward restoring vitality and inviting resident input? When last reviewed (fall 2025), it appeared to have been sidelined after pushback. If my understanding is incomplete, please correct it. Either way, my support is here for bringing that effort back in a meaningful form. A smaller, quality-of-experience note: the “cat calling” behavior from several high-end retailers along key pedestrian corridors reads as solicitation and changes the tone of the village. Let music, craftsmanship, and hospitality call people in instead please. My hope is that Vail continues choosing a future where year-round residents can belong and contribute. This current challenge is one example of a larger problem AND also an opportunity. As many global structures collapse under an old era of suppression, performance, and patriarchy, Vail has the chance to model the new era of presence and collaboration. There is a way. Please let me know how I may help. 209 Sincerely, Clare Hefferren West Vail resident since 2010 (and 1997–2000) Professional + Inspiration Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -St. Francis of Assisi 210 From:Alexandra Gove To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Soul of Vail Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:49:50 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello Town Council, As a local Vail Valley business owner, it is sad to see some of the most soulful, iconic and local establishments threatened by redevelopment. Not only the Red Lion but also Blue Cow and Big Bear Bistro. How do we protect the established soul of Vail that so many have enjoyed for many years while at the same time encouraging new, young local businesses to contribute to maintaining this special soul of Vail? I wish I had the answer but I hope the town council continues to fight for this. I do believe that the local community, visitors and 2nd homeowners would get behind a cause to keep local businesses alive. Could we do a fundraising event to buy back the real estate of some of Vail’s iconic establishments or help local businesses buy their spaces? A lofty idea. Personally, we have considered bringing our business to Vail several times but the landlords we encountered were ruthless and the rents scary high. We chose to put our business elsewhere - a safer, less stressful alternative - but we keep the hope alive that a space will open up with a decent landlord. We are cheering you on and would be happy to get behind this cause in any way that is helpful. Thank you! Thank you, Alexandra Owner at Hygge Life 211 From:Romina Stahl To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Eli Subject:Please stop vail from becoming a duty free terminal Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:51:23 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi, Please dont let the Red Lion and Blu cow go.. If you dont put a stop to this the type of people who visit vail will change and only new rich people will visit. No old timers.. This season I already felt the change…nobody needs more luxury stores and they are the only ones who will be able to afford the rent!! Thanks, Romina Stahl 212 From:Amy McDowell To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please keep The Red Lion as it is Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:52:40 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi, As a Colorado native who has been coming to the Vail Valley for 49 years, and now owns property here, I am imploring you to keep The Red Lion the way it always has been - a Vail landmark and institution. I know there are many pressures, but please heed the wishes of the community in this matter. Amy McDowell Sent from my iPhone 213 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Amy Feldman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red lion - family establishment ! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 1:59:45 PM Hi - I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to advocate on behalf of saving the red lion space in vail village. It has been a family favorite of mine since the 90s, and of my families for more than a decade before that We love to apres and sing along with friends after a day of skiing I love to go with my family And I love to even pop by alone to grab my favorite chicken tenders Please reconsider maintaining a 3 generations favorite of the town of Vail Thank you Amy R. Feldman Phone: 713.248.4823 Email: afeldman92@gmail.com 214 From:Jad Elias To:Public Input Town Council Subject:KEEP THE RED LION Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:00:23 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council, My name is Jad Elias and I’m from California but have worked seasonal jobs in the food and beverage industry for years now. The amount of opportunities and connections that The Red Lion has provided for me and many others like me isn’t something I can put into words. Jen who is the owner has gone above and beyond to not only make me feel welcomed as an employee but also as part of the community. The core staff at The Red Lion are also long time Vail residents, some of whom have worked at The Red Lion for 15-20 years if not more. No luxury retail store can employ as many people as The Red Lion and will never be able to sustain the livelihood of each individual that is apart of the red lion family please don’t forget this impacts everyone in the community and we demand that you keep the doors open at the red lion. Sent from my iPhone 215 From:Suzie Halle To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep Red Lion!! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:03:47 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Its an institution. C’mon Vail. Thanks, Suzie 216 From:Chris Leyendecker To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:04:12 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please do not allow for the redevelopment of the Red Lion building as proposed. The restaurant is an icon and major draw to tourists and locals alike. This would be a tragic blow to the vail atmosphere. Putting the restaurant on the shaded side of the street will ruin this. No restaurant will survive in the newly proposed location if this goes through. -Chris Leyendecker 217 From:Regan Beall To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:04:46 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello- I know this email will likely never be read, but my family has been coming to Vail for nearly 60 years. My Dad has spent ever major birthday at Lancelot’s in the village, and my grandfather’s ashes were spread at the trees between Lost Boy and Dealers Choice. With all of that, the Red Lion has continued to be our favorite place in the village. It’s where my Grandmother and her best friend Mrs. Lippard, were dancing with some much younger men when her oldest daughter and my Aunt walked in (a story we still laugh about every year). It’s where my friends took me when I went through break ups, celebrations and life milestones. It’s unfortunately been the scene of one too many Beall Family sing alongs, which to be fair no one should be exposed too. I know that rents are high, I know that the town could make more money with another reasturant, but I also know the stories and memories I have are just like hundreds of other people’s out there. Please do not close the Red Lion, it means too much to too many. Thanks, Regan Beall Sent from my iPhone 218 From:Leslie Duchscherer-Mashburn To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:04:52 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The Red Lion is possibly the most iconic venue of all! Please Respect Vail’s history and do not approve the building reconfiguration! More retail is not needed there anyway. Retail stores come and go but Iconic venues stand out as making the village something besides a tourist trap! Thank you, Leslie Duchscherer Sent from my iPhone 219 From:Georgina Lopez Guerra To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion Vail Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:09:21 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The Red Lion is iconic in Vail and part of its identity. It would be a pity to have luxury brands take its place. It is also a risk to the safety, security and ambience of Vail, as this sort of brands would attract wrong money and different people to whom make Vail what Vail has always been. Sent from my iPhone 220 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:marla feldman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:14:02 PM Dear Town Council members, Please consider keeping The Red Lion in place. I’ve enjoyed going there since my first trip to Vail in 1971 and for almost every year thereafter. It is an iconic Vail establishment that would be missed by so many. As a part time Vail resident who spends many months of the year in Vail I hope you will strongly consider the many residents as well as visitors who would be sad to see The Red Lion close. Thank you, Dr Marla Matz Feldman 221 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alex Whitmore To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:20:48 PM count this as a vote to reconsider the designation of red lion keeping's its roots in the heart of vail village Alex Whitmore Juniper Bee Floral 222 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ava Jaksha To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserve the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:28:40 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to encourage you to do everything possible to preserve the Red Lion. It has long been an iconic gathering place and an important part of Vail’s character. Protecting places like this helps maintain the authenticity that sets Vail apart from any other mountain destination. Thank you for your consideration. Ava Jaksha 223 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Emily Hackett To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion – Preserve What Makes Vail, Vail Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:32:59 PM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the potential loss of the Red Lion. The Red Lion is not just another bar or restaurant — it is a local institution and a cornerstone of Vail’s identity. It represents the character, history, and community spirit that made Vail special long before it became a destination dominated by luxury branding and corporate interests. We are steadily driving out the very businesses that give this town its soul. For what purpose? To replace them with more high-end, corporate concepts that cater almost exclusively to short- term, high-end tourists? That path may look profitable on paper, but in reality it erodes the town’s long-term appeal, weakens our local economy, and pushes out residents, workers, and loyal visitors who return year after year because Vail feels authentic. A town without unique, locally rooted businesses is a town without identity. If this trend continues, Vail risks becoming interchangeable with any other luxury resort — expensive, polished, and ultimately forgettable. The community deserves a real voice in decisions that shape the future of this town. Allowing iconic, locally owned establishments like the Red Lion to disappear reflects a troubling lack of consideration for what makes Vail special and sustainable long term. I urge you to reconsider and to take meaningful action to protect businesses that give Vail its character. Once these places are gone, they are gone forever — and no amount of luxury development can replace them. Please do better for the community you serve. Sincerely, Emily Thompson 224 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:katie mullins To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserving the Red Lion and Heart of Vail Village Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:33:14 PM To Whom It May Concern, My family and I spend our summers in Vail, escaping the southern heat and returning year after year because of the unique character and sense of community that make Vail Village so special. There are several true “institutions” that define the village experience—Pepi’s, the Sitzmark, Up the Creek, and the Red Lion to name a few. The Red Lion, in particular, holds countless memories for our family and so many others. Afternoons on the large patio filled with laughter, children running by to the candy store, hikers and bikers coming off the mountain, and brides and grooms passing through with their wedding parties. In the evenings, live music drifts through open windows as friends gather, dance, and celebrate. These moments are woven into the fabric of Vail Village. The loss of the Red Lion and its existing building would be a tremendous loss—not just of a structure, but of the experience, history, and memories that make Vail what it is. I respectfully ask that you consider not approving the current plan to tear down the building, and instead pursue permitting options that would allow for a thoughtful remodel and preservation of this iconic space. Thank you for your time and consideration. Katie Mullins Fort Worth, TX 225 From:Judy Mucasey To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:57:18 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I’m not a fan of changing the history of Vail to put in a few more un affordable shopping experiences for the visitors Judy Mucasey Excuse misspellings; Sent from my iPhone 226 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Peter Shelton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:57:46 PM Hello, How do I join the Red Lion petition? Peter Shelton REALTOR® DRE#: 01944609 m: 970.376.6087 227 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Patricia Foxwell To:Public Input Town Council Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 2:59:43 PM We are losing the heart and soul of our town and its sad to see. As a pioneer child, its our duty to keep the vision our parents developed. We dont need more retail on bridge street, we need spots where skiers, locals, families and tourists can congregate and meet. Some changes have made sense, moving concerts to Solaris, adding the ice rink , renovating Donavan ice rink, but this makes no sense to destroy a local venue that has existed since 1962 and is world renowned as part of Vail. Please keep the building as is, music etc can still happen in the downstairs part of the red lion, an area that hasn't been used in years but changing the location and losing the red lion restaurant will be detrimental to everyone. 228 From:J McCann To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:03:35 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To Whom It May Concern, I grew up coming to my parent’s condo starting in 1967, and have been a Vail home owner the past 30 years. I have many fond memories of what Vail used to be like, and I have also benefitted from changes that have taken place over the years. However, the proposed Red Lion redesign plans have hit a chord for me. Please don’t allow this proposal to go through. I am writing in response to today’s Vail Daily article about the Red Lion remodel submission. I hope that the design and review committee will think long and hard about what this design will do to one of the few remaining Vail local and iconic businesses. Red Lion LLC’s idea of changing the Red Lion restaurant access, sunny outdoor patio, and exterior windows along Bridge Street is a death sentence for one of the last remaining places that locals AND tourists enjoy visiting for lunch, apres ski, music, and dinner. I can’t think of any time that I’ve passed by the Red Lion that it hasn’t been hopping with business. All you have to do is look in the windows along Bridge Street to see and hear all the revelry. Taking away the Bridge Street windows and visual draw that brings in restaurant customers is a death sentence for not only the Red Lion, but also obviously the small businesses on the Hanson Ranch Road side. No one wants to go into a dark bar with no windows to the outside, nor do they want to sit on an outdoor patio that’s in the shade. The last thing skiers want to do at the end of the day is walk down a flight of stairs in their ski boots to a windowless dark bar or restaurant. I can only assume that the proposed addition of retail space along Bridge Street will demand high rent that only high end stores can afford. Vail doesn’t need more shops like that with inventory that can easily be purchased online and has absolutely no personality. People want to shop for fun, different items they can’t fine elsewhere. The old Mug Shop or the Betty Ford Gardens shop are examples of places that were great stores that were forced out by high rent. Please ask Red Lion LLC to reconsider their design and try to work with Linafelter for a better design that will benefit them both. Sincerely, Janene McCann 229 From:Mark Wheeler To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Mark Wheeler Subject:Save Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:06:34 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council. We am property owners in Vail and we would like to express our disapproval of the plans to redevelop the Red Lion building. This will certainly be a negative for Vail. We do not need any additional high-end retail. The town needs to keep the charm of the Red Lion, the Blue Cow and small informal eating establishments that have a long history in Vail. Also, the outdoor eating areas at these restaurants is very pleasant and should not be erased. Regards, Mark and Maureen Wheeler Sent from my iPhone 230 From:dustin phillips To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:07:39 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The Red Lion is an absolute staple to the community of Vail and the tourists who visit. Losing this place would not only be detriment to the families and friends of this community, it would fundamentally change the fabric of what Vail’s legacy and what it has to offer. Please consider doing everything in your power to keep The Red Lion, and save Vail from the widely unpopular proposal of change. Thank you. Dustin 231 From:Desha Roos To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:09:49 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please consider abandoning the plans to turn red lion into retail space. Red lion is an integral part of the village. Sent from my iPhone 232 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kendall Beall To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Redesign Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:19:28 PM Hello Vail Town Council, My name is Kendall and I am writing you to urge you not to redesign the Vail staple of the Red Lion. My family and I have been coming there since it first opened and every trip the highlight is Red Lion. To redesign such a historic tavern would be a disservice to your loyal regulars and any new people who visit. The ambience is unmatched with the live music and to move it downstairs would change the vibe completely! I urge you to listen to the voice of the people and keep Red Lion as it is. Thank you and I hope you consider this and the many other requests to keep it the same! Best regards, Kendall (Vail regular of 24 years) 233 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Bill Watson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:20:53 PM I have been coming here for years and now live here as a full time resident. I have stopped coming to Vail on a frequent basis, as it seems that it only wants to cater to the ultra wealthy. The Red Lion and Bart& Yetis are the last remnants of what Colorado ski culture was all about. I started going to Aspen in 1971 and quit when they started catering to the ultra rich. I realize times change, but we must not forget our heritage. if the visitors need Louis Vuitton, send them to Aspen or Telluride. I can assure you that if this is allowed to happen, I will never set foot in the Village again. Billy Watson Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad 234 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Andrew Duany To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:32:01 PM Good afternoon town council, You should reconsider what the red lion is worth. This town has continually ignored the character it was built with, and what makes the town great. Designer stores are the exact opposite of what drove so many people to this town. Losing the red lion would reduce Vail’s vibe immensely and would lose the heart of what makes the town great. Reconsider the towns priorities. Thanks, Andrew 235 From:Will Hatton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE RED LION!! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:32:19 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Red Lion Restaurant is a Vail icon, removing it would be both a disservice to the community and in total disregard to everything that makes Vail unique! Vail is more that a corporatized mountain town, its a tight nit community with real local success stories and iconic meeting places. Please take into consideration the voices of the local community and KEEP RED LION RESTAURANT around!! Thanks, -Will Hatton (414)517-2656 hillwatton@gmail.com 236 From:Brian Katz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:33:50 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Say it ain’t so. The Red Lion is Vail Village. Just what Vail needs, another high end retail facility (sarcasm intended)…… Brian D. Katz Herman Katz Gisleson & Cain, LLC PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE MOVED: 909 Poydras Street, Suite 1860 New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 504-680-0564 (direct) 504-561-6024 (fax) bkatz@hkgclaw.com www.hkgclaw.com CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT This e-mail message contains confidential, privileged information intended solely for the addressee. Please do not read, copy, or disseminate it unless you are the addressee. If you have received it in error, please call us (collect) immediately at (504) 581-4892 and ask to speak with the message sender. Also, we would appreciate your forwarding the message back to us and deleting it from your system. Thank you. Sent from my iPad 237 From:Steve Boros To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:36:06 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department As a longtime Vail skier with many hours having been spent enjoying apres at Red Lion, I am stunned the town council would even consider the current redesign plan as it stands. I strongly encourage the board to scrap the current plans and work on a plan to save one of the cornerstones of Vail and it’s culture in a way that allows for it to remain in it’s current location on Bridge Street with open air access. Sincerely Steve Boros 238 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Melisa MendezSickelsteel To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:36:29 PM Hello I just read the story about a plan to revamp the Red Lion building in Vail village. The Red Lion is an icon. I was born in 1962 just like Vail. I have skied the Rockys for years. We have two weeks in Vail every year since 2002 but had been coming for years before that. We never miss at least one apres ski at the Red Lion. It is also great for a little more casual dinner. It will break my heart to see the restaurant change. So many memories, at the Red Lion. Please let it stay the same. 239 From:Amy DAltrui To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Disappointing Decision Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:42:10 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department As someone whom grew up skiing Vail and enjoying Bridge Street the loss of The Red Lion and The Blu Cow is a huge disappointment. For the many years I lived and worked in Vail it was always so much fun to go into ‘town’ and enjoy dancing at Sheika’s and Nick’s and having a beer at Hong Kong Cafe. Now, as a visitor, I love bringing my kids to ski and enjoy the charming restaurants in Vail (the lion and the cow are two of our family favorites!). We don’t come to Vail for the shopping. It is sad to see Vail turning into such a cookie-cutter environment. I hope the town of Vail reconsiders… Amy Bevilacqua D'Altrui 240 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:nlavire@gmail.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion and Other Restaurants Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:48:25 PM Dear Members of the Town Council and/or whom it may concern, I am writing as a longtime local, small business owner, and active contributor to Vail's tourism and economy to express my strong support for preserving the Red Lion Restaurant etc and its iconic storefront as plans for renovation move forward. Please help save these iconic restaurants in Vail! Thank you so much, Natalie 241 From:Janie H Arnold To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Restaurant Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 3:50:06 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department We have been coming to Vail for the last 30+ years. Usually staying at the Christiania and the Red Lion is our very first stop. What a shame that the building owners do not see the gem they have. It would be so sad to see the lovely Village turn into cold Lionshead. What is next? Pepis, Vendettas…maybe The Lodge is next. Janie Arnold 242 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Maria Manley To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:09:27 PM To whom it may concern, I grew up skiing in Vail since 1971 and have owned a home in since 1995. The Red Lion is an iconic part of the Vail tradition and experience. The people who visit Vail, to ski and enjoy time with their friends and family during the winter and summer months , make the Red Lion part of their dining and entertainment experience every single time they visit Vail. The town council should seriously consider the decision to get rid of it. I do believe it needs a much needed renovation but you should absolutely keep the name, the casual atmosphere and the live music from 3-6pm. Respectfully submitted, Maria Manley 732-241-7297 243 From:Sophia Giliberto To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:16:05 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear town of Vail, I’m writing to express my concern over the impending closure of the Red Lion. Vail is not Vail without it- if it closes, the resort loses the last bit of its soul. How will yet another luxury store benefit Vail? People don’t come to Vail to buy Gucci, they come to ski and to participate in ski culture. The Red Lion- the family that owns it, the live music that rings through its wood paneled rooms, is part of that culture. On a personal level, I will absolutely stop purchasing tickets to Vail if this plan proceeds. Please reconsider. Sophia Giliberto 244 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Nick Puglisi To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep Red Lion rewstaurant in Vail Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:34:05 PM To whom It may concern, I am writing to strongly oppose the destruction of the Red Lion restaurant in Vail and its replacement with luxury retail. This decision would erase a beloved, historic gathering place that has served locals and visitors alike for generations. The Red Lion is more than a business. It is a cornerstone of Vail’s culture. It is where families celebrate milestones, workers unwind after long days, and visitors experience the authenticity and hospitality that make Vail special. It offers something increasingly rare in resort towns: an affordable, welcoming place where people from all walks of life can break bread together. Replacing this iconic restaurant with luxury retail sends a message that exclusivity matters more than community. Vail’s charm has always come from its balance of world-class amenities and genuine, local character. The Red Lion embodies that balance, and once it is gone, it cannot be replaced. I urge you to preserve the Red Lion as a living part of Vail’s history and culture. Protect this space for locals who depend on it, for visitors who adore it, and for future generations who deserve to experience the heart of this town, not just its storefronts. Please choose people over profit. Keep the Red Lion as it has been for the last 60 years. Sincerely, Nick Puglisi Edwards Resident, Engineer, Musician npug97@yahoo.com 245 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karen Conley To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:36:14 PM Hello, We moved to Vail in 2014 and The Red Lion quickly became our favorite spot to hang out after skiing and meet friends. It was a safe space to go watch a Patriots game when many other places in Vail hated us Patriots fans! The food, drinks and music is the best and the location is fantastic. I also want to add that Blu Cow is another favorite of our kids. A quick Swiss dog lunch or for after skiing always fueled them and tastes delicious! We don’t understand how Los Amigos was taken away from the locals to make an unaffordable club- really? Not what Vail needs. Please do not do this to two amazing establishments like the RL and BC. Sincerely, Karen Conley 246 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jen Locarno To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE RED LION Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:43:21 PM Save the Red Lion! Dont replace it or other restaurants with retail stores, we have enough of those. Restaurants are were people connect, memories are made and communities form. The Resturant experience helps stimulate the "vail ski culture" and apres experience. Don't turn Vail into other "exclusive" ski resorts. Dont sell out ! With kind regards, Jen Locarno 247 From:Dale Zurbay To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion building Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:56:43 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I will keep this short and sweet as all my points will be covered by the masses that oppose this project. I will simply ask the question “what are we doing if we don’t have places like the Red Lion, Los Amigos and Blu Cow in favor of high end crap?” Thanks, Dale Zurbay 3002 Basingdale blvd 661-247-6813 Sent from my iPhone 248 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:w2horner@aol.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:07:02 PM Dear Vail Town Council: I was dismayed to read about yet another Vail Village restaurant under attack. We have lost Los Amigos, one of few family affordable restaurants in the village. We have lost Fall Line to yet another retail space. And now you have to decide whether to lose yet another family affordable restaurant, the Red Lion. Please don’t turn Vail into a retail dominant village with only expensive restaurants, do not let the Red Lion go away. Please do not approve the redesign of the building in which the Red Lion Restaurant is located. A remodel makes more sense for the village than this redesign. It is important to continue to offer restaurants and apres ski places which families and young people can afford. Without them, there is no night life in the village. Wes Horner East Vail 249 From:Michael Feldstein To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:15:04 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Save the red lion! It’s the best place to apres in vail. Live music is great. Thanks! Mike 250 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Gretchen Hartlieb To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:15:39 PM Good Evening, My name is Gretchen Hartlieb and I am emailing you to let you know that saving the Red Lion restaurant would be most beneficial to the citizens in Vail and those who come to visit. Vail lacks in restaurants that are affordable to most people, and therefore getting rid of this establishment would be very detrimental to many of us. Think of the wait staff and the bartenders that work here. If you knock this down and put luxury retail stores (That already are prevalent in Vail), you would be doing a disservice to the community. Sincerely, Gretchen Hartlieb 251 From:Graham Blackburn To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:18:08 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Absolutely do not do this. This is coming from an authority figure. -Mr. Graham Sent from my iPhone 252 From:Peter Mansfield To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:20:30 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The red lion is an iconic staple of this town. Everything else here is already boujee, we don’t need more high end stuff. We need fun places for people to gather at an affordable rate. The red lion is just that. We can’t shut it down or else we’ll lose what’s left of original vail. Loyal vail visitor, Peter Mansfield 253 From:mikeschwartz12@gmail.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:21:15 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Ive been coming to the Vail valley for over 20 years. I’m also a property owner in Beaver Creek. We always make it to the Red Lion. Allowing the restaurant to go under or to lose all of its character with the proposed changes would be a travesty. Save The Red Lion Mike Schwartz Sent from my iPhone 254 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Maggie Pavlik To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:24:46 PM Greeting Council Members, I've worked in Vail for the last 25 years - and skied many days in Vail as well. The Red Lion building is quite iconic and the proposed changes are of concern. For tourists and locals alike, dining street level, in the sunshine, people watching, hearing live music in the streets - it adds to the vibe and energy of the town. No one wants to eat and apres in a basement unless you're 25 and under. With the advent of The 62 (exclusive), there is no longer a Los Amigos, and to now get rid of the Red Lion seems like you're trying to chase your average tourist and local out of town... I'm hopeful that the Council will reconsider the proposal. When the town is so busy with tourists, I'm not sure that luxury retails is going to be key - getting a burger and beer in town seems to fit our market and be welcoming to all sorts of humans - not just those who are looking to spend a grand on a purse. Don't allow Vail to be Aspen. With thanks, Maggie Pavlik 255 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alex Coleman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:38:15 PM Eliminating things like the Red Lion are 100% the reason that Vail is not what it was 20 years ago. I was fortunate enough to move here as a child and experience the amazing community that this once was. I love this place and am so tired of everyone talking about how bad it is, but it is so hard to defend TOV and VR when they make decisions like lets get rid of the two most Iconic restaurants on Bridge street in 2 years. I spend a lot of time in Whistler in the summers and every afternoon is a party at the restaurants in the village, doesn’t matter what day it is. Which is weird for me to comment on because that is 100% not my scene, but when you take the fun out of an area for the young crowds you loose them for life, and they find somewhere else to go. That is how Vail used to be and there was a community that people were proud of. Every year we waited for the SKI magazine to come out and say Vail is number #1 and now no one cares about the community or what it is becoming. Creating a building that four families will use 3 times a year in the most prime location is a horrible idea and will only validate everyone’s opinion that Vail is just for the old and super rich. More high end clubs and residences, great that is exactly what downtown needs. I am sure this is just an email address that is out there so people think that their voice counts, but I am willing to bet that no matter how many emails you receive about this the decision will not change. I hope Barry and the new council can make this town what it once was and not destroy it with high end housing development opportunities. Alex Coleman P.O. Box 4724 Edwards, CO 81632 Alex@Colemanvail.com 970.376.4900 256 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Pam Olson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Changes to Vail Village are destroying the town’s character Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 5:54:43 PM I’m writing to express my dismay at the actions that will result in the closure of (more) local Vail institutions. We’ve already lost Los Amigos. Now we’re losing Blü Cow and Red Lion. And for what? Designer chain stores. How can we trade local businesses beloved by the community for more global chains? That’s just wrong. I’ve owned a house in Vail for more than 10 years. What gives Vail its charm is the variety of local businesses. We don’t need another designer chain store hawking wares that 99.9% of the population cannot afford. What we need is more local institutions providing opportunities for community, just as Red Lion, Blü Cow, and Los Amigos have done for decades. Thank you for the opportunity to express my views. Very truly yours, Pam Olson 257 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:jeff meador To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion needs to stay Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 6:21:47 PM Save the Red Lion! The Red Lion is part of the history of Vail. I lived in the valley and Vail for many years in the 90’s and would look forward to my of days and evenings at the Lion. I go back and visit numerous times a year and look forward to my visit back to a good ole familiar place. Keep the Lion! 258 From:Brad Thomason To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 6:31:36 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department My family and I have been going to Vail for decades and have countless memories there. The Red Lion is the first restaurant we ever ate at on our first visit. We loved the ambiance, the atmosphere and the down home feeling that reminded us so much of our hometown. We visit vail at least twice a year from Texas and eat at the Red Lion at least twice per visit. We would hate to see a part of Vail’s history close down. Red Lion is what Vail should thrive to be. Home-y. If glitz and glamour is what you are thriving for just look any direction you want in the village. There’s plenty. Red Lion is a place of community we all share with our family. We have invited countless family members to dinner here over the year and have most likely spent thousands of dollars at this place. Worth every penny for the food and memories Red Lion provided for us. Whether it’s inside on a bench table or the patio or by the bar there isn’t a bad seat or vibe in that place. Let it continue to be a part of mine and countless other family’s memories for years to come. Don’t close this place down please. Thank you, Brad Thomason 259 From:Jennifer Shay To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion remodel Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:05:07 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To Vail Town Council: I have enjoyed going to the Red Lion restaurant for apres ski since 1992 as the restaurant is part of the Vail experience. The proposal for more “high end” retail and a ridiculous underground restaurant -music venue and losing the Red Lion Restaurant is very, very unappealing. Vail is losing its soul and its history. It seems that nothing is sacred and, like the ski industry itself, Vail is pricing itself out of the reach of the vast majority of people. Very short sighted. Very sad. Jennifer Wallace Shay jenniferwshay@gmail.com 260 From:Mark Roberts To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:07:59 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Sir, I first visited Vail and the Red Lion in the late 1990s in my single days. I was a member of the Atlanta Ski Club. Vail is indeed to me the most beautiful place in the world as I am sure you are aware. I believe the building etc does need improving and expanding but to keep the unique atmosphere along Bridge St is very unique to the atmosphere of a truly one of a kind place that I enjoy taking my family to this day. I think the place should be expanded upon or seasonally have expansion as it is a very unique place to drink, eat, listen to live music, enjoy the end of the day and watch everyone go by. Nothing like it in the world that I have seen. Literally the memories over the years at the Red Lion have kept me coming back for so many years. Sincerely, Mark Roberts 404-386-9234 cell 261 From:Terri WOELLNER To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:09:31 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello Town Council, Thank you for taking the time to read this email in support of keeping the Red Lion in place in Vail. History matters. Thanks, Terri 262 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Michael Hammell To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion / Save our Small Business Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:14:36 PM Good day and thank you for taking my email: I’m a full-time resident of Vail and wish to express my concern over the recent and anticipated changes in our village core. We are losing the heart of our town with small businesses being displaced only to be replaced by private clubs, ski lockers and more high end retail. The Red Lion and adjacent businesses are Vail institutions and should be protected and cherished. We have lost too many restaurants and bars in the Village. When these and other unique small businesses are gone the center of our town will no longer be a destination to gather, visit and welcome residents and guests alike. Our full-time residents are moving, gathering and spending down valley where these displaced business are now setting up shop. I respectfully urge the Vail Town Council to deny the plans for a redevelopment of the space and maintain the current layout of the existing Red Lion building. Please protect the charm, character and history of our Bridge Street core. Make our Bridge Street and surrounding village a place where locals and tourists alike can frequent a keep the heart and soul our town alive. Respectfully submitted, Michael Hammell 401 Beaver Dam Circle, Vail 263 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lynn Godman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:RedLion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:33:33 PM Please don’t let this institution be shut down so you can build some shopping for the ultra wealthy. At least some part of Vail should remain about the people who live and work and raise families there. LG 264 From:Kelly Fink To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the red lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:51:15 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Our family has been coming to Vail for 10 years. The Red Lion is a staple for us. We come to enjoy the music, food, and community. It would be a devastating loss to Vail village if the Red Lion closed. Sent from my iPhone 265 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jennifer Dorn To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Former Manager Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:52:19 PM Hi Vail Town Council, I was a manager at the Red Lion from 2012-2014. I spent 3yrs before that as a server. I now live in Australia and one of my favourite times of my life was taking my New Zealand fiance to The Lion summer 2024. I made hundreds of friends during my time at The Lion and relationships with customers that I hold dearly to this day. To say the place carries history/memories is an understatement. Please do not do this. There are few places left in the world that carry such happiness and joy when people think of them and The Lion is one of them. Kind Regards, Jennifer Dorn Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer 266 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Olivia Scholl To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:55:17 PM Me and my family love coming to vail all the time. We come to listen to the live music, eat food, apres ski, and hang out and meet new people. Vail will not be the same without the red lion. 267 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:lisamrich1968@gmail.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 7:57:04 PM PLEASE, do not take Red Lion from the loyal customers and Vail visitors. It is such an iconic restaurant/bar and it is establishments like this that make Vail so special. The proposed changes would ruin it, so it’s not even a realistic option to appease the loyal fans of RL! -- Lisa Richardson 268 From:Mona Markus To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:12:05 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi. As someone who has been coming with her family to the Red Lion for 20 years, we are really disappointed to hear that there is a plan to demolish the space that it is in. Please reconsider approving such a plan. Thanks. Mona Markus 1910 Hurd Lane Avon, CO 269 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Julie Wicklund To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 8:28:54 PM Hello As an annual Vail visitor coming in winter and summer, the Red Lion IS Vail! I've been there with my kids sitting outside on bridge street enjoying a sunny summer lunch or for apres skiing with my girlfriends in the bright and cheery restaurant and bar. So many of our favorite spots have closed recently like Los Amigos and Fall Line. It would be so sad to lose another longtime institution. My son still proudly wears his 5 year old Red Lion t-shirt and even packed it for his study abroad trip to Italy. Please help preserve the charm of Vail and keep the current configuration. Please do not approve this redesign. Thank you Julie Wicklund 1446 West Minnehaha Pkwy Minneapolis, MN 55419 612-868-2902 270 From:Jorge Iragorri To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion: Penn Station NYC Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:04:06 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear All, Please do NOT make the mistake New York City did when they demolished the original and iconic Penn station. The red lion is the ICON of vail. It’s the plaza. The gathering spot. It’s what you see pre and post ski. It’s vail history. So this is not about nostalgia. It’s about protecting an ICON and one of the reasons vail is vail. Best, Jorge Sent from my iPhone 271 From:Alexandra Conant To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:04:15 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi, As a Colorado resident and frequent visitor of Vail, I can’t stress enough how important the red lion is. My family and I have been coming to the Red Lion after ski days for my whole life. My fiancé and I are getting married in Vail next fall and can’t wait to celebrate with our friends and family, hopefully with some drinks and live music at the red lion! Alexandra Conant Sent from my iPhone 272 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lauren Imparato To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Lauren Imparato Subject:What Makes Vail Great. Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:05:31 PM Hello, The first time I arrived to Vail, I was a pre-disposed to dislike it. I assumed, at the time incorrectly, that it was like every other high end ski resort - snobby, lacking character, full of chain stores, expensive, and thus, above all, banal and boring. Ie. a waste of time, energy and money. The reality is, though, that Vail has been, and up until now is, anything but that. As a result, Vail has become a place that my family and I are proud to love, a home with friends from all walks, an escape from today’s norms to a time that was friendlier, safer, and about the ‘we’ than the ‘I.’ Like the Back Bowls, Vail Village is open, generous, textured and above all, free. It is a place where you can stroll being whoever you have been, who you are that day, and whoever you want to be in the future. Local institutions that appeal to all socio-economic and cultural groups allow that to happen. They bring out the best in all of us. Family run and historic establishments are not relics - they energetically nourish the village just as water, snow, and sun feed the Bowls. Both are hidden gems that allow adventure and joy to permeate in the most innocent and pure ways. They are life itself. Replacing decades old institutions with chain stores, let alone high end establishments afforded solely by the elite, destroys the village, and in doing so, the very essence and core of its Mountains. It ruins one of the few places left in America that is pure. My family, friends and I sincerely hope you put as much effort into protecting the Blu Cow, Red Lion, and other establishments that define the village as you do protecting the surrounding nature - because these are nature - human nature. And without that, we have nothing. Sincerely, Lauren Imparato LAUREN IMPARATO HalseyNeck Recent Publications: BetweenTheWaves Recent Press: GQ | Entrepreneur 273 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ted Gravlin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Protect the Historic Red Lion — The Heart of Vail Since 1963 Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:20:39 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to reject any proposal that would eliminate or fundamentally displace the Red Lion. The Red Lion is not simply a bar. It is a living piece of Vail’s history. Located in the very first building constructed in Vail in 1963, the Red Lion predates the town itself. For more than six decades, it has been a gathering place for locals, ski instructors, lift operators, musicians, visitors, and families from all over the world. For countless people, the Red Lion is not just something they remember about Vail — it is Vail. Vail is internationally known not only for its mountain, but for its character. That character is built from authentic places that cannot be recreated once they are gone. Retail can exist anywhere. The Red Lion exists only here — and only because previous generations understood the importance of protecting what makes Vail unique. Once a landmark like this is removed, it is gone forever. No plaque, no renamed retail space, no “tribute” can replace an original institution that has organically shaped the culture of the town for over 60 years. People return to Vail decade after decade because it still feels real. The Red Lion is part of that feeling. Removing it would not be progress — it would be erasure. I respectfully ask the Town Council to reject any plan that would destroy or displace the Red Lion and instead work toward a solution that preserves this irreplaceable icon while allowing Vail to move forward thoughtfully. Please protect the soul of Vail while there is still time. Thank you for your service, your consideration, and your stewardship of a town that means so much to people far beyond its borders. Sincerely, Ted Gravlin 274 From:Aileen McConnell To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion! Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 9:43:58 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Vail Town Council - As someone who has been skiing in Vail since the 1980s and a current part-time resident in the Vail Valley, I have seen the area change quite a bit over the years. The Red Lion is iconic and is one of the few places remaining (along with Pepi’s) where one can have an authentic apres ski experience with live music (that does not resemble a thumping night club) and reasonably priced drinks and food. I would hope that the city council would consider keeping this iconic restaurant in its current location and work with the Red Lion and existing businesses on a simple renovation if the council feels the area is in need of that. It’s important to continue to appeal to all types and economic classes of people who choose Vail as a ski and vacation destination. The Red Lion attracts locals, but it is largely a ‘go-to’ spot for many out of town visitors (this is readily apparent if you read the comments on the various social media platforms discussing this topic). I believe it is important to maintain at least some of the character of Vail and not turn it in to the US version of France’s Courchevel. Finally, from what I have read regarding the plans, adding space below grade is generally unappealing to visitors. People come to Vail for the views, outdoors, sunshine - nobody wants to be in a windowless room in a basement. I hope you take the community feedback and the overwhelming desire to keep the Red Lion into consideration as you consider this development. Thank you - Aileen McConnell Edwards 275 From:Mary Jo Blythe To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 10:31:47 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council, I have been coming to Vail for 25 years The Red Lion is not just another ski town bar. It’s a fixture of Vail, a gathering spot for fostering friendships and making lasting and fond memories of Vail village. Vail without The Red Lion is like Vail without the mountain. It’s a part of the fabric and soul of this magical place. As always, money is the driver of all business deals. I ask if anyone has actually researched how many groups will venture to other destinations if the Red Lion is gone- The guys and gals ski trips, family reunions, bachelorette and bachelor parties, wedding parties, etc. When these groups search which location to hold their events, The Red Lion factors into the into itinerary. Remove the Red Lion and Vail will certainly lose a tremendous amount of business to competitive towns with more options to have fun after skiing or summer sports. The Red Lion should be considered an historical monument of Vail and if need be, subsidized by The Town of Vail to remain as is. Someone needs to do the math. Regards, MJ Blythe 276 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lauren Heinke To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion Date:Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:07:30 PM Hello, As a former community member who lived in Vail, CO, worked in and for the Town of Vail, I am here to ask that we save such a crucial part of our community. As a once local for over 10 years and moved a little over a year ago, the Red Lion was one place I could always say, “it has never changed”. It’s a landmark to so many locals and visitors alike. They know to say, “hey, let’s meet at red lion when we got off the mountain”. It’s special. It’s a tradition. And it definitely doesn’t need to be replaced by something that we don’t need, especially a fancy store. So, I ask again, please do not take away the Red Lion. It takes away jobs from people who have worked there for years. It takes away precious memories, and it takes away from the Vail we know and love. Thank you, Lauren Merck Heinke 277 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sydney Birtwhistle To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Saving the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 12:21:52 AM Hi! I think it would be a very big mistake to get rid of one of the most historical restaurants in Vail and I stand with the Red Lion. They have been amazing every time I’ve been and I love the culture. Do better than designer store. Sydney 278 From:Angie Stokes To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:49:27 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department As a someone who visits Vail yearly since 1975 I couldn’t agree more with the disadvantage's of the proposed changes to the building. While the building may need an update, taking away the Bridge Street seating and/or entry is a huge downfall and that one detail will hurt the draw of whatever restaurant or venue is to follow in the space. This building is iconic and the staple of the village. It is a shame that anyone is proposing to tear down and start over. Why would you fix something that isn’t broke? Going in here is like going home. Every time I enter I meet someone from near my home town that is visiting Vail- even last October which is a very quiet time of year. A pray those voting recognize the above and many more reasons to vote against allowing this change. Angie Stokes Sent from my iPhone 279 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Niki Mattioli To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION!!!! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:09:49 AM Dear Vail Town Council, Please, please do not tear down the building so that the Red Lion is not able to operate any longer!!! I lived in Vail during the late 1980’s into the 90’s and still go to Vail regularly for winter & summer activities, concerts and events. My best friend worked at the Red Lion during those years while I worked at the Sport Stalker and Blu’s. While both of the establishments that I worked at are long gone, nothing says Vail like the Red Lion. It is THE place for après. It is THE place to meet all your friends. It has been a community and visitor’s gathering spot for years and years. The cold Coors Lights there are the best after an epic day skiing. The food and entertainment is amazing. If you get so lucky to be on the patio, that is the absolute best. I’ve met people from around the world at the Red Lion. From CEO’s to landscapers from Australia to Sweden. I have the best times at the Red Lion, and I am not the only one who thinks and feels this love for the Red Lion. Yes, whatever you want to put in there will be beautiful and hip and expensive, but truly the Red Lion is the heart and soul of the Village. Please, please reconsider and save the Red Lion whatever you do!!!! Niki Mattioli, former Vail resident/lover of Vail and the Red Lion ..................................................... Niki Mattioli Real Estate Consultant / Realtor® Compass Colorado Serving Boulder / Denver for over 20+ years mobile: 720.320.7783 nikimattioli@gmail.com www.compass.com 280 281 From:Kelly Nowlin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep the Red Lion OPEN!! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:39:44 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To the Vail Town Council, My mother, stepfather, sister, niece and nephew have spent their lives in the Vail Valley and there are so many memories at the Red Lion. This is a Vail icon and there are few places left like it. Keep the Red Lion OPEN!! It is a place of gathering for aprés ski, a lunch with friends, drinks after a long day. It is a staple of the Vail experience and it would be a terrible loss if it were to close. Please don’t let that happen. Thank you, Kelly Nowlin 282 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Joseph Raiti To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Opposition to Red Lion Building Redesign Plan Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:41:35 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I received word on the proposed redesign plan from a friend of mine. We are both in New York, and avid enjoyers of Colorado’s many mountain towns for several years. Friends like these, who I’m able to keep up with on the east coast, are my strongest connection to the fondness I grew for these towns during my undergraduate studies at Colorado College. The Red Lion, as it exists, is a town cultural staple to which nothing could compare to. As word continues to spread, I’m positive several of our east coast based friends and colleagues feel the same and would find it an absolute shame if these plans were introduced. On behalf of incoming tourists, I can assure you, the proposed clientele for the redesign can find outlets for shopping…frankly anywhere. The Red Lion, however, is a one of a kind; standing the test of time in memory for everyone who comes to visit and enjoy Vail. I am urging Vail Design Review board to unequivocally throw away the current monstrous design plans to preserve the historical integrity of the iconic Red Lion, and opt for a standard remodel which maintains the current configuration and works in tandem with its current owners. Please preserve this restaurant. In earnest, Joseph Raiti 283 From:Debbie Stenzler To:Public Input Town Council Subject:New plan for Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:45:26 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The whom it may concern, I’ve been coming to Vail for years and years from Texas. Your current plan to redo the building and re-orient a restaurant to me is a horrible one. Red lion is iconic and walking down Bridge Street and seeing everyone sitting outside in the sun and hearing music is a huge part of Village. To re-orient a restaurant that one has to go downstairs to get into and for it to not face bridge Street I feel is a huge mistake for Vail. Change can be good and at times needed, but this sounds like a very bad plan! I think it needs to be reconsidered. Sincerely, Debbie Stenzler 469.767.0355 debbie.stenzler@gmail.com PS. My husband and I recently sold our three story home in Silverthorne and moved to Frontgate and Avon, which is eleven minutes from Vail. We are excited to be a part of the Vail community and we’re looking forward to spending more time at Red Lion than we have in the past because we were so much closer. We spend about 12 or 13 weeks in Colorado in the summer and then an additional 6 to 8 during other parts of the year. Sent from my iPhone 284 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ana Holschneider To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserve the Red Lion – Say No to More Luxury Brands Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:51:01 AM Yo whom it may concern: I am writing to urge the Town of Vail to protect the Red Lion and the character it represents, and to reject further replacement of local, community-rooted spaces with high-end luxury brands. The Red Lion is not just a building or a business—it is part of Vail’s identity. For decades it has been a gathering place for locals, workers, families, and visitors who want an authentic mountain experience. It represents live music, affordable meals, and the kind of welcoming spirit that helped build this town long before designer storefronts arrived. Vail is rapidly becoming a corridor of luxury retail that serves only a narrow audience. Every time another local institution disappears, we lose a piece of what makes this town real and livable. A community cannot survive on boutiques alone; it needs places where everyday people can afford to meet, celebrate, and feel at home. Growth should not mean erasing our history. Economic success should not require turning Vail into a copy of every other high-end resort. We need balance—spaces for locals, culture, and character alongside visitors and investment. Preserving the Red Lion is a chance to show that Vail values its soul as much as its property values. I respectfully ask town leaders and decision-makers to protect the Red Lion and to place limits on the spread of luxury brands that push out the very community that built Vail. Once these places are gone, they are gone forever. Save the Red Lion. Save the heart of Vail. With gratitude, Ana Holschneider 285 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Maggie A To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:02:01 AM Good morning, I am writing to urge town representatives to consider the impacts that the upcoming redevelopment plan would have on the community and culture of Vail. The proposed building redevelopment plan would permanently erase the character and charm of one of vail’s most coveted local gathering place. Please do not sacrifice culture for luxury retail. The Red Lion symbolizes the many people and stories of the town— and pushing it out would be devastating to the town’s values. I urge town representatives to save the Red Lion. If a Gucci is to replace the Red Lion, what’s next? Thank you, Maggie Allen 286 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Erik Bowman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:03:42 AM To city county: I am very disappointed in the redesign of the Red Lion building. The Red Lion restaurant is an icon of village and one of the few remnants of history of Vail. Reducing space, putting their venue in the basement essentially and removing their slope facing patio is not what skiers want. Skiers are what brings people to Vail, not luxury shoppers. You cannot continue to just feed to the ultra wealthy and not give back to those that feed you. It seems there has been no input by the current businesses for the redesign. That makes it seem like no one cares for the business and is looking for the highest bidder. These decisions made by YOU and the out of touch realtors of the region are affecting everyone and their love for skiing. Stay true to the roots and the history of these wonderful places. If you do not, you will have a ghost city with time. Erik Bowman 287 From:Heidi Hardin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Redesign Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:11:25 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Members of Vail Town Council, We have owned a home in Vail for over 20 years and are preparing to retire in Vail in the next few years. I am writing to express my disappointment in the proposed changes to the Red Lion project and to ask you to please reconsider any approval. First, the Red Lion is an institution, a Tourist draw and a Locals mainstay. The restaurant has a huge following and its atmosphere provides a lively and fun experience for both restaurant patrons and for those walking on Bridge Street every afternoon. The proposal to move the restaurant and reduce its street exposure will have a negative effect on the overall character of Main Vail. Second, Vail is not Aspen and we don’t want Vail to be Aspen. Vail has its own unique character which you should work hard to protect. Adding more high end retail and removing the very good and affordable Locals owned restaurants located within the overall building with the Red Lion is a terrible idea. Tourists and Locals alike love the Red Lion and the other restaurants in the complex. However, mainly Tourists will shop at the high end retail stores envisioned in this project. While Tourism is a very important part of Vail’s economy, they should not be prioritized over the local residents (both permanent and part time) who live in Vail and want to eat and shop in Vail. Shouldn’t one of your considerations in approving projects be the pros and cons of a project on Vail residents? How would the proposed changes benefit Locals? I encourage you to reconsider the Red Lion LLC proposal for the benefit of the town. Sincerely, Heidi Hardin 3897 Lupine Drive 288 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Franz Z To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion has to stay Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:25:17 AM Importance:High Please reconsider the plan to remove a real local icon. Don't take away the iconic place! Best, Franz Zarda 289 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:DANIELA DE HARO To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:50:33 AM Hi, Please don’t let the Red Lion and Blu Cow disappear. The Red Lion is iconic in Vail and part of its soul. Places like these are what give Vail its identity, its warmth, and its sense of community. It would be a real loss to replace them with more luxury brands that add nothing to the culture or spirit of the town. If this continues, the type of people who visit Vail will change. There will be fewer locals, fewer “old timers,” fewer families who have loved this town for generations. Only big luxury brands will be able to afford the rent, and with them will come a very different energy—one that risks the safety, atmosphere, and authenticity that make Vail what it has always been. Nobody needs more luxury stores. What Vail needs is to protect the places that make it feel like Vail. Please take this into serious consideration. Thank you, Daniela De Haro Sent from my iPhone 290 From:Richard L Michaux To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:59:09 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Greetings, I’m devastated that the iconic Red Lion Restaurant may be designed away by the building owner. As an over 40 year resident in Vail, I can offer that most of us have made many family memories there and hope our grandkids will do the same. The Red Lion offers exactly the wholesome apres ski environment that Vail stands for — lively music, fun family friendly food, affordable drinks and convenient location. It is hard to think of Vail without mentioning good times at the Red Lion. Please consider the loss of the Red Lion as a degradation of the overall Vail experience and deprivation of positive future family memories like those I treasure with my family. Ski vacations are family vacations. Our popular refrain is meet me at the Red Lion. Thank you for serious reflection and consideration, Dick Michaux 291 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Francesca Guerrero To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:06:46 AM I started going to the Red Lion 20 years ago with my family for aprés. My sisters and I were young but it was always a fun environment to sit in the sun and listen to the music while being able to run around town. Now that I’m older, it is one of our go to spots to grab a drink when going out on the town. It’s current location is such a draw with the bar windows being open onto bridge street to make it feel like one big party. Vail has changed so much over the years to try to become more high end and it is pushing us locals out who love this town for the skiing and the community. I understand that tourism is what keeps us alive but taking away the most historic bar and adding high end retail will make it so this town is even more unsustainable for locals who work the the mountain and restaurants be able to stay and put roots down. Francesca Guerrero (720)383-1000 292 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Haley mccann To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:29:17 AM Vail Town Council, I’m writing to urge the Council to reject the proposed redevelopment plans for the Red Lion that will be reviewed on Wednesday. All of Linafelter’s points in the 1/18 Vail Daily article are spot on. The new configuration of the restaurant will draw significantly less apres ski clients. No one wants to sit on a patio in a heavily shaded area, it won’t be as visible, and we already have sufficient live music venues in the area. There’s also value in retaining a historic, cultural icon like Red Lion. If we continue to push out restaurants and stores that people have always loved and associated with Vail, the Village will become just like Lionshead and Beaver Creek - soulless, boring, corporate. We do not need more Brunello Cucinelli-type retail taking over Bridge Street. We need restaurants that target the casual, apres ski or post-hike crowd that will drive more people to stay in town, spend money, and contribute to a vibrant ski town culture. Linafelter’s proposal to instead renovate the existing Red Lion space (while keeping the same configuration) and put in new high end retail on Hanson Ranch Road will achieve much better results. The Red Lion could certainly benefit from improvements - while keeping its existing location. This plan would also still allow the developer to bring in more high end retail to the top of bridge street - thus achieving higher revenue for property owners - while protecting an icon of Vail Village. Kind regards, Haley Leyendecker (Part time resident in East Vail) 293 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:G P To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:29:23 AM The Red Lion is a Vail institution. It is part of the over all marketing for the town of Vail. Known internationally and talked about around the world. 294 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alicia Aleman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion & Blu Cow Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:29:51 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and The Blu Cow and what they represents to our community. The Red Lion and the Blu Cow are not just a business — it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail’s cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. And how can you think about getting rid of the Swiss Hotdog? A place where locals AND tourists come to enjoy a snack? Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail’s character and history. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely A Valley Local, Alicia Aleman 295 From:Jeff Dallin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:32:00 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Council Members I am writing in support of the Red Lion. As a family we have been visiting Vail during the winter and summer for over 20yrs and the Red Lion is an institution we frequent every time. The Red Lion’s character is intricately woven into the fabric of Vail. Vail does not need a high end, boutique shop and restaurant who only serves a few. I urge you to not allow this to proceed. With Best Regards, Jeff Dallin 4737 Drew Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55410 296 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Debora Creel To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Mauricio Doporto Subject:Community Concern: Preservation of the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:34:45 AM Town of Vail Council Members, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the closure of the Red Lion and the possibility of its replacement by luxury retail brands such as Louis Vuitton or Chanel. The Red Lion is a true Vail institution. I first came to Vail more than forty years ago, when I was three years old, and it has been a constant presence throughout my life here. My family has owned a residence in Vail at Scorpio Condominiums since I was six years old, and we have witnessed firsthand how the town’s character has been shaped by its local businesses and long-standing gathering places. One of Vail’s greatest strengths has always been its balance; a town that values authenticity, community, and locally rooted establishments alongside its international appeal. Replacing a historic restaurant like the Red Lion with additional luxury retail risks shifting that balance and eroding the unique identity that sets Vail apart. Vail has never sought to define itself through luxury brands, and many residents and long-time visitors value that distinction. While luxury retail and local establishments can coexist, this particular location represents an irreplaceable piece of Vail’s history and community life. I strongly believe that if the Town of Vail were to seek public input, the overwhelming majority would support preserving long-standing local institutions over introducing additional high-end retail. I respectfully urge the Town Council to take the community’s voice and 297 Vail’s heritage into serious consideration before any final decisions are made. Thank you for your time and service to the community. Sincerely, The Creel Family Scorpio Condominiums, Unit 106 . debora creel lerdo de tejada taller 1+1 casa.broca c. +(521) 55 14908814 t. +(525) 55 63811153 www.deboracreel.tumblr.com www.casabroca.com www.facebook.com/CasaBroca 298 From:Jaimee Rindy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:39:36 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern at Vail Town Council, I am writing this letter in urgency requesting that you do not approve the proposed redesign to the building that houses the Red Lion restaurant. I was born & raised in the Vail Valley, so Vail is unequivocally my home. What has always been a staple in my life growing up in Vail, and to the town itself, has been the Red Lion restaurant. That establishment has been in that spot for 40 years, welcoming guests after a great day of skiing, and even served as the venue for my bachelorette party in 2024. I have a personal connection to it, as do so many locals & visitors alike. While the new plan says it will include a restaurant, that restaurant won’t be the Red Lion. What makes the Red Lion special is that iconic patio, the sounds of music and laughter pouring from it and inviting people to come and discover it. It’s a down to earth place, a place anyone can feel comfortable in. Reorienting the restaurant completely misses the point. The point is that it is not just a place for those ‘in the know’, it’s a place for everyone. The Red Lion is an iconic piece of Vail’s history, a vestige of the humble, community oriented ski town of Vail’s early days. Removing the Red Lion would be yet another step towards isolating the very community that makes Vail great. I hope that Vail Town Council will do the right thing and protect a beloved & historic establishment. Sincerely, Jaimee Rindy 299 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Shannon Sullivan To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:45:44 AM Hello, I have been coming up to Vail for girls trips for 30+ years. Apres Ski has always been part of it. Many hours have been spent enjoying The Red Lion. Change is inevitable, but reading what they are wanting to do makes no sense to me for Vail Village. If I want to shop Louis Vuitton, I'm not coming to a ski resort to do it. To travel for it, I'll go to Las Vegas or Paris. Hopefully some compromise. It would be a shame to lose such an institution that has brought so much to the Village and enjoyment to so many all these years. Thank you. Shannon Sullivan Denver, CO beach_sss@yahoo.com 300 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Andrew To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:50:23 AM In the 16 years I have lived here VV has changed significantly. While I understand that the market drives the use of certain spaces, the availability and affordability of food/drinks which drives the over vibe/atmosphere of the village has gone downhill significantly. The Red Lion has been a bridge street staple since long before my first time visit vail in the late 90's, and while I frequent it less than I used to, still love stopping by for a plate of nachos, a burger or a bloody mary from time to time. I do recognize how much ambiance it provides to bridge street with people regularly pouring out the doors while listening to a local musician or enjoying an apres snack & drink. I liked the initial sound of this remodel in the previous article the Vail Daily published 2 weeks ago but the last article had a very different vibe. Removing two long time establishments (Big Bear and Blue Cow and then significantly reducing the size and prominence of the Red Lion will have significant negative effects of the feeling and buzz of Bridge Street. The new music venue sounds like a great idea but will not be an afternoon apres spot with its windowless location underground. Vail needs to maintain the vibe of a ski town and locker rooms, real estate offices and high end retail does not contribute to that vibe. Lets keep vail a ski town and not turn it into a Rodeo dr. where only 1%ers can afford to visit and shop. We have already lost many blue collar restaurants/bars where locals used to hang out and if this trend continues, the people that work in this town will have less reason to be here and all but the wealthiest tourists will cease to frequent the village for anything other than skiing. Vail simply can't afford to lose 2 1/2 more of the establishments that keep the buzz in the village alive, save the Red Lion, or see to it that this remodel benefits more than just the developers. Andrew Armstrong Long time local, business owner and patron of VV establishments. 301 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:pwdrhnd@aol.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Re: Red Lion Redevelopment Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:56:41 AM To the Vail Town Council: Hello, My name is Stan Jeranko, and I have been a property owner in Vail since 1987 and a visitor since 1979. Over the years I have seen many changes to the town, some good and some bad. When I heard about the redevelopment plans that would eliminate the Red Lion, in lieu of high end retail, I was sad but also angry. We have lost so many places in town that gave Vail its character and charm, recently Los Amigos closed in favor of a private club catering to the ultra rich, and now the Red Lion in favor of high end retail. Part of the lure and charm of Vail are these places that people can go hang out , listen to music and have affordable food. Its what made the town great and why I have continued to go there for over 40 years. But this trend of just catering to the ultra rich is not good for the town. We have plenty of places to buy a $10,000 purse or a $100 martini, and don't need private clubs that only billionaires can afford. We have lost most of the affordable retail in town, and now the casual restaurants and entertainment too it seems. Lets stop letting high real estate prices run these businesses out of town. Stand up and say enough for this icon of a business for the sake of the personality of the town, money isn't the only thing that's important! Sincerely Stan Jeranko, 302 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Craig Tetreault To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:56:58 AM Vail doesn’t need more characterless, high end retail store frontage. Please help maintain the culture, history, and soul of Vail by keeping the Red Lion alive. We need to preserve the history of these storied establishments, not pave them over for a Gucci store. Please keep this in mind when voting this week. Thank you! 303 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Andrea Stillman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:57:41 AM Hi. I am opposed to having the Red Lion leave the Vail Village. It is an iconic restaurant that is fun and casual. Let's not turn Vail into a high end che che place like Aspen. The new "club" that is taking over Los Amigos is more than enough to turn off the people who have made Vail home. I don't want to see my beloved town turn into a place where only the rich can enjoy. Yes, the Red Lion could use a face lift but PLEASE keep the casual fun bar/restaurant just that. Thanks, Andrea Stillman 304 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Rae Jensan To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:10:12 AM To allow anyone to push out the Red Lion, Blu Cow and Big Bear out would be akin to replacing Pepis with retail shops. Lionshead has already lost its soul—don't let that happen to the village. Especially with Los Amigos being replaced by an abominable elitist club. -- Rae K. Jensan 305 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:slentz@back40ranch.net To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep the Red Lion as is Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:10:55 AM I’m writing to implore the Town of Vail Council to take a breath on the redesign of the Red Lion Building and subsequent loss of the Red Lion Restaurant and re-evaluate what this means. In 1969, my husband’s parents brought him to ski Vail as a little boy. Their trips were always filled with many excursions to the Red Lion for family dinners. This began his love affair with Colorado and especially Vail and his goal to one day live in this amazing place. In the early 90’s my husband brought me to Vail to ski for the first time and over the next several years these ski and summer visits were topped off with dinners and Après at the Red Lion, and this further increased our resolve to move here. In the early 2000’s as we continued the family tradition and began to bring our own small children to Vail to ski in the winter and play in the summers. This family tradition rolled with first night dinners at the Red Lion and last night dinners at the Red Lion. It was during this time over drinks and dinner at the Red Lion with a real estate agent that we wrote the offer for what would be our valley home. Over the last 20 plus years as we’ve lived and raised our children in the valley, the Red Lion has been one of our family staples, for random family dinners, to birthdays, to Après. The amount of chili, burgers, nachos, and chicken tenders consumed at the Red Lion by our family is too much to even begin to quantify. As we look at our children who have remained in the valley start their own lives and families with other valley natives we are heartbroken that a fourth generation of our family won’t know the joy of a day of skiing ending at the Red Lion. Frankly, to hear that the town council is even remotely entertaining a planned renovation that will destroy the look and feel of such an iconic building and the destruction of a mainstay family memory maker, The Red Lion Restaurant is just sickening. This goes well beyond heart breaking and into appalling territory. We already lost Los Amigos to another high-end plastic monstrosity, if the Town Council doesn’t take a stand and act and declare the original core of the village a historic landmark then what is next, where will this end. Will Pepi’s, Vendettas, Gorsuch, the Clock Tower buildings and others also be torn down or renovated beyond recognition before we look back and ask ourselves what we have done. Do you really want this to be your legacy to our town, our valley? We all know that progress is a necessary evil in towns as is necessary updating older buildings. However, it can and should be done with extreme care and vision and without losing icons and memories. Change and progress should be done in support of long-time business mainstays and the families that own those businesses of the town, as they are the heart and soul of Vail. If it is not then we become just another plastic version of the same corporate garbage you see in so many other ski towns across the country. Let us keep our heart and the core of Vail 306 intact. Thank you from a long-time local family, The Lentz Family Bob, Shannan, Gretchen, Patrick Shannan Lentz, CRFAC, CRFAU, CPA P.O. Box 19 Edwards, CO 81632 561-215-8027 307 From:LEE ELMORE To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Lee Elmore; Marguerite Willis Golden Subject:The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:14:31 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Town Council Why don’t you ask the towns people and visitors what represents the soul of Vail, a pocketbook store or a 1/2 century institution where family, friends and visitors can gather and share a meal or a libation. Frequent visitor Anna (Lee) Elmore Executive Director Carolina Youth Symphony PO Box 534 Greenville, SC 29602 308 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Melissa M. Cordova To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:28:01 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and what it represents to our community. The Red Lion is not just a business — it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail’s cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail’s character and history. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Melissa M. Cordova 309 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kaylie & Chris To:Public Input Town Council Subject:THE RED LION IS A LOCAL LEGEND. Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:38:38 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to URGE you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and what it represents to our community. The Red Lion is not just a business -- it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail's cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail's character and history. Sincerely, Kaylie Evans, a Vail native. 310 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kaylie Evans To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:39:06 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to URGE you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and what it represents to our community. The Red Lion is not just a business -- it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail's cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail's character and history. Sincerely, Kaylie Evans, a Vail native. 311 From:andrew williams To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:51:21 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Vail is currently one of the most boring resorts for apres ski in North America. Its pretty tragic that its only iconic apres spot is going. We don’t need more luxury, vail needs a soul, fun, somewhere to have drinks and tell stories. Somewhere for skiers not the ultra wealthy. I’m an instructor and a Harvard business school graduate.I get asked repeatedly where to go for fun apres. You must remember the big picture. Choice of resort is about the whole experience. You can get a prada bag anywhere. Sent from my iPhone 312 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jay Jamison To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion is a Vail Icon, and it should be preserved Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:51:35 AM Dear Vail Town Council, I am a long-term homeowner in Vail Village, active in our community as the President of one of the largest HOA's in town. I am writing as an individual concerned with the redesign plans under consideration currently that would effectively mark the end of the Red Lion restaurant and patio, according to a recent Vail Daily article. The Red Lion has been a Vail Village icon for generations, and it would be a shame if it were no longer available. The Red Lion adds to our community with an ideally located patio, affordably priced meals and great burgers, TVs to watch big sporting events, and its musicians -- all these factors combine to provide a shining beacon of fun, service and personality for Vail. Vail is undoubtedly a world-class resort and ski town. I assert it needs a few distinct establishments of a scale and tenure as the Red Lion to reinforce what is unique, classic, and timeless about Vail. I think this interest is more meaningful to our town than getting another high end fashion boutique in Vail Village. I am hopeful that the Red Lion is able to continue in its current format for generations to come. -- Thanks. Jay 313 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Alvaro Garcia de Quevedo To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:09:53 AM Hello, As a lot of people from Mexico, I have been a frequent traveler to Vail for the last 45 years. I received a communication that says the Red Lion is closing to give it´s space to boutique shops. Is that true? As a community member and property tax payer I oppose to such change. Is there anything we can do to have our voices being listened and preserve some of the essence of our town. Thank you Alvaro 314 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:P Walton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:19:29 AM This is a real travesty. I started going to the Red Lion with my Dad around 1970. He would take me there after long, great days on the mountain. It's quite sad and very disappointing how the Vail Town Council view their decisions as progress with nil regard for history and tradition. RE developers do what they do. And much is good. But it's the responsibility of VTC to protect and preserve. And while they may have their guidelines, if those guidelines include turning a quaint classic ski town full of experience into a tourist retail destination spot, then unfortunately the wrong people have been elected into their roles. The town needs places for experience where memories are created not shopping. (Sorry, shopping did not count as an experience.) I would assume the developers are actually the decision makers with the council members serving as their formality puppets. Economics - with only marginal attention/concession to the preservation of historic "details" - drive their decisions. For the most part, Solaris was the beginning of the end with Los Amigos being the most recent. Certainly plenty in between. Sadly, it sounds like we'll need another 4th qtr comeback from Bo to pull this one out ‍ I remain hopeful that decisions will be made that will first satisfy those favoring history, tradition, and experience. This includes The Red Lion Restaurant ownership and its lifelong patrons. Phil Walton phw363@gmail.com 315 From:Mary Middleton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:24:57 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Renovate as is. You know what you are doing is wrong. The Red Lion is the only real apres in town. Please leave it where it is. Thanks - Sent from my iPhone 316 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tina Engberg To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to give real consideration to the Red Lion, Blu Cow, Big Bear and what these long standing establishments represent to our community. They are not just businesses — they are long-standing local gathering... Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:33:29 AM 317 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Diego FC To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Opposition to the Closure of Vail’s Historic Restaurants Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:34:13 AM To whom it may concern, I am writing to express my firm opposition to the potential closure of historic restaurants such as the Red Lion in Vail. As a Mexican, a long-time visitor, and a proud real estate owner in Vail, this issue is deeply personal to me. During my recent visit in late December and early January, I spoke with members of the Red Lion staff who informed me that the restaurant may close. This is deeply concerning and unacceptable. Vail’s identity is rooted in its history and its iconic establishments, not in luxury retail or global brands. Restaurants such as the Red Lion, Pepi’s, Sweet Basil, and others are essential to the authentic Vail experience and cannot be replaced by generic commercial concepts. Losing the Red Lion would mean losing a meaningful part of Vail’s history and soul. I sincerely urge those responsible to consider the cultural and emotional value of these establishments and to prioritize preserving what truly makes Vail special. Sincerely, Diego Fernández Cueto 318 From:Susie Tjossem To:Council Dist List Subject:Red Lion reconfiguration Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:40:45 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Has anyone considered reducing the size of the fountain in Seibert Circle so fire trucks can still pass through to accommodate a Bridge Street facing deck for the Red Lion? The fountain has never worked properly anyway. Maybe it’s time to fix it. Win win for everyone Susie Tjossem Full Time Vail Resident Former Town Council and PEC member 319 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Attorney Scott Rubenstein To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserving the Red Lion Restaurant in Vail Village Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:44:40 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing after seeing recent discussion on social media suggesting that a proposed development project in Vail Village may not include the Red Lion restaurant. Although I am no longer a resident of Vail, I lived there during the 1995–1997 seasons, when I was employed at the Red Lion. I wanted to take a moment to convey how much that establishment means—not only to me personally, but to generations of visitors and regular patrons who associate it with the character and history of Vail Village. During my time working there, it was common to see the same guests return year after year, making the Red Lion a familiar and welcoming touchstone in an ever-evolving resort town. Even now, whenever I return to Vail, visiting the Red Lion is a priority. The sense of nostalgia, continuity, and shared memory it provides is increasingly rare. Vail has understandably changed a great deal since I lived there. Some of those changes have been positive; others have altered the feel of the village in more complicated ways. Through all of that, the Red Lion has remained one of the few enduring gems—an authentic, iconic part of Vail’s identity that connects the past with the present. I respectfully ask that you take the significance of the Red Lion into account as future development plans are considered. Its value cannot be measured solely in square footage or revenue, but in the role it plays in preserving the unique character and spirit that draws people back to Vail year after year. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Scott Rubenstein Scott A. Rubenstein RUBENSTEIN & THURMAN, L.P.A. 125 East Court Street, Suite 1000 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1212 Mobile: (513) 260-2099 Office: (513) 241-7460 Fax: (513) 684-7777 320 This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is confidential and protected by law from unauthorized disclosure. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. 321 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kara Greve To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Project Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:51:47 AM Good morning, I am a long time local of the Eagle Vally as I have lived here all my life. I email you to advocate for the Red Lion Restaurant in light of Saturday’s Vail Daily article. Adding more high-end retail space at the expense of the Red Lion, a long time staple of Vail that offers experience and community, is deeply concerning to me. It would be devastating for Vail to replace local spaces with stores void of soul. Who are we choosing if we do? We are not choosing locals or regular visitors. We would be choosing the elite rich, the people who care about designer names, not the ski town feel of Vail. Please choose locals, community, and culture over vain consumerism. Thank you, Kara Greve 322 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Justin Lucas To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:58:09 AM To whom it may concern, I strongly urge you to dismiss the idea of replacing the red lion with a retail outlet. The customers that would use your proposed retail outlet are drawn to vail due to the reputation it has as a top-class ski and snowboard mountain. Without spaces for true skiers and snowboarders to connect, such as the red lion, you will cripple the reputation of your resort beyond the damage already done in recent years. Without consistent true skier traffic a resort is unable to survive. You will lose important workers like ski patrollers, Snowmakers, and groomers that form the backbone of a ski mountain if you continue to alienate these individuals. Mountain workers rely on a strong mountain culture centered around community. By destroying community spaces, you destroy that community. A luxury outlet is a waste of that location and further saturates your base area with retail opportunities for a select few guests. Support your mountain community and the ski and snowboard industry and culture. Save the Red Lion. Sincerely, Justin Lucas 323 From:Ryan Carlson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Redevelopment. Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:59:35 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern; I am writing to voice my concern over the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion building. I’m an Eagle county resident, but live in the Roaring Fork Valley side. I have witnessed the sad demise of any local character / charm that Aspen once had. Cooper Street, Little Annies, The Red Onion, etc, etc, etc… They are all purse shops, boutiques, and over priced oyster bars now. Disgusting. You have the chance to make a difference and keep an important local meeting place. I strongly urge you to halt the proposed redevelopment and avoid the fate of so many other ski town institutions. Sincerely, Ryan Carlson Sent from my iPhone 324 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karin O"Quinn To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:04:39 AM To Whom It May Concern: I am writing concerning the rezoning of the Red Lion in Vail Village. I first lived in Vail in 1984/85, had a second home in Vail for many years prior to moving here full-time in 2007. I have watched the Vail community grow and develop from a small ski town into the expansive resort it is today. I have been to many ski resorts all over the world. My kids went to the Vail Ski Club Academy, so we traveled extensively for training and competitions. I have always been proud to call Vail my home town. Change and growth is inevitable. Without the proper Town Council decisions, we could lose the charm of our community, if we are not careful. We could turn our Town of Vail into something that no longer resembles the reason we all came here to live; a ski community with great outdoor adventures, great restaurants, friendly outdoor eating in the summer (and winter), skis and snowboards placed outside restaurants while you grab a bite to eat after a fun day on the mountain. Again, without the proper direction of the Town Council, the Town of Vail would not resemble the Vail that it was developed to be in the first place. I would hope that the original spirit of this ski town will not get lost in the "consumer mall shopping" atmosphere. The keeping of some of the original businesses of Vail that have people coming back year after year is a benefit of this community. Losing our past will lose our identity as the Vail we all know and love. Our history is what makes the story of Vail so special. I would hope that our Town of Vail character and historical past would be preserved by our Town Council and that we move forward with the founding fathers ideals as a ski town at the forefront of progress. Please be careful in your decisions when making plans to change historical places in Vail. You can do more harm than good.... -- Karin O'Quinn Broker Associate m: 303.570.3399 141 E. Meadow Dr Suite 203, Vail, CO 81657 325 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tara Thompson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:zoning public spaces Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:16:44 AM Dear Vail Town Council, We are reaching out to express our concerns with how the Village of Vail is being developed around the base of Gondola and the Lionshead Gondola. These areas should have an abundance of planning and zoning so that Vail Village can keep landmarks and public spaces in these areas. The development currently happening to Los Amigos was a travesty and definitely a major lost opportunity for the Village. Vail Town Council let this happen. Now we are all looking down the barrel at the loss of Red Lion. Zoning is the only way to steer the development and you are the only ones that have the authority to do it. If nothing is done, this will leave a platform for a new council to certainly run on and leave the old guard behind. We all wonder why these individuals voted for by the people for the people would bow to development in this manner. We have been property owners and since 2001 and work here full-time, and have seen the flavor of Vail quietly and quickly deteriorate. Please do something, please do not refer us to the property owner as zoning is the only option. Sincerely, Tara Thompson 326 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Chelsea L To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion building proposal Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:25:50 AM To Whom It May Concern, I am writing regarding the current proposals for the building that houses the Red Lion restaurant. The Red Lion is not simply a business,it is an iconic cornerstone of Vail, woven deeply into the town’s identity for decades. To see it altered or disappear would be a profound disservice not only to visitors from across the state, the country, and the world, but especially to those who call Vail home in one way or another. Some of my earliest memories of Vail are tied to the Red Lion. In the early 1990s, my winter weekends were often spent driving up from Denver with my dad to ski. I would spend half the day in ski school, the other half tackling Boomer and Tin Pants with my dad by my side. But what often became the highlight of the day was heading into Vail Village afterward,setting our skis down on the Red Lion patio, grabbing a seat for après ski, sharing a famous plate of Red Lion nachos, and listening to Phil Long play live music. Those memories followed me through every stage of my life. As a teenager, I brought friends up for spring break as a snowboarder. Later came the iconic 21+ years, enjoying the later Phil Long shows in the bar, and tossing balled-up dollar bills into the tip jar, still ordering that skyhigh plate of nachos. Over the years, things naturally changed: owners, musicians, and yes, finally some much-needed bathroom upgrades. But one thing never changd, the feeling. The Red Lion has always been the very first place I recommend to anyone visiting Vail, no matter the season. Not a high-end boutique or a particular store, but the Red Lion. Whether it’s a girls’ trip, a family reunion, a ski trip for adults, or a multigenerational vacation, I know the Red Lion has something for everyone. It is a place that creates lasting memories, gives people a reason to linger in town after skiing or hiking, and most importantly gives them a reason to come back. To lose the Red Lion as it stands today, with its open patio, welcoming atmosphere, familiar afternoon music, and comforting, casual food, would be more than a disappointment to those of us who have spent decades making memories there. It would be a loss to the future of Vail itself the future memories that have yet to be made. While I understand and respect the building owner’s desire to develop and expand, I truly believe that what lies in the best interest of Vail is preserving the heart and soul of the Red Lion as it exists today. Once a place like this is gone, it cannot be recreated. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your dedication to the long-term spirit of Vail. Sincerely, Chelsea Linafelter 327 328 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Carmen Eubanks To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:30:41 AM Dear Vail Town Council, As a Spa Owner in the Solaris Residences in Vail, I ask for this to be highly reconsidered- as many returning guests and RESIDENCES here have been very disappointed of this news! This place needs to STAY! Also as a long time local, MANY of us are saddened and very upset by this decision! Please keep it the way it is- we do not need another retail store! I am writing to urge you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and what it represents to our community. The Red Lion is not just a business — it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail’s cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail’s character and history. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, 329 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Hannah Kennedy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:34:10 AM Hello, The Red Lion is a local treasure. Do not get rid of it. Many people feel at home in this place. Thank you, Hannah Kennedy 330 From:Malusa Gonzalez To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Local Legend Save Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:41:16 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern, We were very saddened to hear the news that the Red Lion will be replaced by a luxury store. We understand that the town of Vail wishes to continue meeting the high standards of quality for which it is known; however, the Red Lion is an iconic place that has represented the true essence of Vail for decades. The Red Lion is an important part of Vail’s wonderful culture, reflecting its family-friendly, mountain atmosphere. It has always been full of laughter, music, and unforgettable moments, and all of us hold very special memories of our vacations there. We truly hope that something can still be done to preserve the essence of our beloved Vail and to protect the places that represent its history, spirit, and identity. Warm regards, Malusa Gonzalez Sent from my iPhone 331 From:KayW To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Don"t close the Red Lion! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:41:41 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Vail is not just a destination for the wealthy, it is a community, a HOME, for people who want to have a good life. Removing affordable places like the Red Lion from our community just hurts the people that keep Vail running. What happens when these people are forced to leave? Who is going to operate everything to keep the wealthy people coming in? Keep the Red Lion and keep your dignity. Kay Wynarsky 332 From:Tina Wilson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:53:03 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, I will be brief, but I wanted to add to the chorus of locals who DO NOT want to see Bridge Street lose its soul and become lined with high end shopping. You are doing such a great job building affordable housing so that more locals will be able to live in Vail. Now please keep the community feel in our village, and make Vail Village a destination for those of us who live here year round. We need more Blue Cows, Big Bear Bistros and Red Lions, not luxury shopping. This remodel as presented would kill the Red Lion, or any other restaurant that would try to come into the smaller space on Hanson Ranch Rd. Please don’t approve the remodel application. Thank you, Tina Wilson Full time local since 1989 and former Red Lion waitress :) 333 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Brad Greenblum To:Public Input Town Council Subject:RED LION Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:58:03 AM Attachments:image001.png Our family (now expanded by three children and their families) has been spending summers and ski weekends in Vail since 1985 and have owned a home in Vail since 2014, and always greatly enjoy our time in the Vail Valley and especially, at the Red Lion. As you already know, it is the most famous and long standing mainstay ‘gathering spot’ in the Vail Village. I would even go so far as to call it (together with Pepe’s, Gorsuch, Lancelot, and other long established businesses), one of the ICONIC establishments in Vail. While I appreciate the desire to “upgrade” the property, and maximize profit (fyi, I am in the commercial real estate business and understand the dynamics of the owner’s decision), I would implore you to consider the impact of the application on this long established business. Additionally, the proposed redevelopment will also cause the departure of the popular Blu Cow (open since 1967) and Big Bear Bistro. The proposed project will cause the closure of three long time and locally owned food service establishments. Recently another long time mainstay, Los Amigos mexican restaurant was forced to close by a nearby ‘upgrade’ of a property. Vail needs to seriously consider the overall impact on the food service/ hospitality industry (and resulting impact on tourism and locals needing to locate food options) in the Vail village due to the ongoing and unrelenting real estate pressures triggering redevelopment of properties. Accordingly, I would ask that you either require a reconfiguration of the layout to accommodate the Red Lion restaurant (and possibly also Blu Cow and Big Bear) or deny the application. 334 Vail already has many high end/ high street retailers and to cause the closure of the Red Lion after 60 or so years in operation for another clothing or similar store is a travesty. Little by little the family oriented nature and environment of Vail is being diminished by the closure of these important family run businesses. I sadly also recently heard about the upcoming closure of the Little Diner in Lions Head due to ‘reconstruction” of that property. Many cities including Austin are facing similar issues as real estate values rise and the ‘highest and best use’ (valuations) of iconic properties impacts their abilities to continue operations. Vail might consider what Austin has done by implementing a program to protect such properties. Below is attached a summary of what Austin has successfully implemented. Protecting iconic properties in Austin involves a combination of legal designations, community-based advocacy, and new policy frameworks aimed at balancing rapid growth with the city's cultural heritage. 1. Legal Designations and Review Properties recognized as "iconic" often fall under several layers of legal protection that regulate alterations or demolitions: City of Austin Historic Landmarks: Buildings at least 50 years old that meet significance criteria (e.g., architecture, community value) can be designated as landmarks. Owners must submit a Historic Review Application for exterior alterations, additions, or permanent site work. Local Historic Districts (HD): These provide the strongest degree of protection. Changes to any building within an HD require approval from the Historic Preservation Officer or the Historic Landmark Commission. State and National Designations: State Antiquities Landmarks (SAL): Provide legal protection under the Antiquities Code of Texas; any work requires a permit 335 from the Texas Historical Commission. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP): While listing alone doesn't prevent demolition, Austin often applies local review standards to properties in these districts. 2. Strategic Policy: The 2026 Equity-Based Preservation Plan Adopted in late 2024, Austin is currently implementing a 10-year Equity- Based Preservation Plan that expands the definition of what is "iconic": Legacy Businesses: The plan introduces tools to recognize and protect long-standing businesses and public artwork, not just residential architecture. Transfer of Development Rights (TDR): A feasibility study ending in summer 2026 is exploring a TDR program. This would allow owners of small-scale historic properties in high-density areas to sell their "unused" development capacity to developers in other zones, providing a financial incentive for preservation. Equity Focus: The city is prioritizing properties in underserved communities; currently, only 16% of Austin's landmarks have known associations with communities of color. 3. Advocacy and Funding Preservation Austin: The primary nonprofit advocate, currently operating its Winter 2026 Grants Cycle (applications due January 15, 2026), offering up to $10,000 for "bricks and mortar" restoration and planning projects. Tax Incentives: Owners of designated historic landmarks can apply for property tax exemptions to offset the costs of maintaining iconic structures. Conservation Easements: Voluntary legal agreements, such as those held by The Nature Conservancy and the City for Shield Ranch, permanently protect large historic estates and natural landscapes from development. Key Resources for Property Owners Historic Property Viewer: Check the designation status of any 336 property in Austin. Preservation Austin Grants: Funding for restoration and documentation projects. Texas Historical Commission Atlas: Database of state-level historic sites and landmarks. I know this is a difficult time for Vail businesses and certainly a difficult decision for City leadership. Thank you for reviewing and considering my opinion and the above information. I hope you find it helpful. Lets hope this trend does not cause Vail to become Aspen. J. BRADLEY GREENBLUM 3345 Bee Cave Rd. Suite 208 Austin, Texas 78746 Main: (512) 610-6600 Direct: (512) 610-6602 Fax: (512) 391-0918 brad@greenblum.com CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message and its attachments are covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. The information contained in this transmission is confidential and intended only for the personal use of the intended recipient(s) named above and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, copying or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this communication or other use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the sender (only) by reply email or by telephone, (512) 610-6600, and promptly delete/destroy the original and any copies of this message. Unauthorized interception of this email is a violation of federal criminal law. Thank you for your cooperation IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: Any federal tax advice contained in this email and any attached document is not intended or written to be and cannot be used or referred to for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending any partnership or other entity, transaction, investment plan, or other arrangement. 337 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mason Lenehan To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 12:08:21 PM To whom it may concern, I have lived in Vail my whole life, and The Red Lion has been there the whole time. As we see Vail transition more and more into a high-end resort town, fewer and fewer local spots remain. Upon hearing the possibility of The Red Lion having to close its doors, I am very saddened. Particularly following the closing of another local spot, Los Amigos, this is really upsetting to my entire family and our fellow Vail residents. The Red Lion is an institution with value and history that makes Vail better. Please value the locals and please save The Red Lion. Sincerely, Macy Lenehan 338 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Carrie Marsh To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 12:18:03 PM Hello. I am a former resident of the Vail Valley and former Executive Director of the Vail Symposium. Vail was founded in 1961 giving the community the opportunity to foster means to attract visitors and build community and culture -- like the Town of Vail founding the Vail Symposium. Without culture and history, a vibrant and healthy community cannot exist. You have the power to retain what makes Vail special and unique -- not fall away to the 'modern pressures of modernization' which will lean into sameness. If you take away things that make Vail special, it will remove the reasons why visitors and future residents will choose Vail over any other ski town in the world. Dare to be special! Don't lean more into the plastic, cookie-cutter ski community found everywhere else. Carrie Marsh ...for good carriemarsh.org create | connect | transform 339 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kim Dallin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 12:41:48 PM Dear Vail Council Members, I am writing in support of the Red Lion. Our family has been visiting Vail in the winter and summer for over 20 years. My father-in- law is 86(he joins us every year), and he has been skiing at Vail for 61 years and will be with us, staying in and skiing Vail in a few weeks! We love the Red Lion and can't imagine Vail without it. We are sad to see these iconic Vail spots start to close due to private developments that cater to the 1%'ers. These places are an integral part of the historic and current fabric of Vail for many people. Please do not allow this to proceed, and save the Red Lion for all! Thank you for all that you do to preserve Vail's heritage and community. Kind Regards, Kim Dallin Minneapolis, MN 340 From:ana@pilipet.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 12:43:57 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department We don’t want fancy stores!!! The red lion is a tradition. You need to stop this!!! Ana Enviado desde mi iPhone 341 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mark Severseike To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Proposed Changes Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:17:30 PM I am writing to comment on the upcoming decision to allow for the redesign of the Red Lion property in Vail. As a skier who frequents Vail, the Red Lion is always on our agenda as a stop for apres ski. Removing this iconic location will affect the atmosphere that is part of Vail and has been for 60 years. Please consider the meaning of this historic building to the community, guests and culture of Vail when making your decision on the proposed changes. Mark Severseike 342 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jerónimo Lebrija To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:34:14 PM Hello, this place is part of the history at Vail and different people from all parts of the world share this place no matter if you are average/millioner/billioner having a great time and amazing atmosphere. Jerónimo Lebrija 343 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kimberlee Rhiner To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:35:46 PM Hello town council! The thought of Vail without Red Lion mortifies me. I work at the Remedy Bar in 4 Season and even our residents and hotel guests go to Red Lion. Yes it’s not the most boujee thing but my guests actively seek out the local down to earth divey spots, probably because there are not many left. The Red Lion is a piece of Vail history. People from all over the world that have come the Vail know the Red Lion and love it. Please consider not letting yet another walk of the mill shopping/restaurant gig go in the space, we need excitement and history to show what Vail used to be. -Kimberlee Rhiner 344 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Virginia Walton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:40:07 PM Please, please consider saving the Red Lion. How sad it would be not to walk by during apre and hear the music and see the people bopping along inside and out on the patio. Vail is not just a ski hill. It's so much more, including the restaurants we know and love that have been there since the beginning. Please no more luxury stores that most of us can't afford and don't care about anyway. Virginia Walton Couples & Family Therapist Specializing in Stepfamilies www.denverstepfamilytherapy.com virginia@denverstepfamilytherapy.com 720.583.5847 To schedule an appointment please visit https://virginia-walton.clientsecure.me. Greenwood Village 6021 S. Syracuse Way, #111 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Regarding the Use of Email -- Although I use a firewall and my computer is password protected, my emails are not encrypted. Therefore, I cannot guarantee confidentiality of email communication. If you choose to communicate confidential information with me via email, I will assume that you have made an informed decision and I will view it as your agreement to take the risk that email may be intercepted. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. The contents of this e-mail may also be protected by state and federal law regarding client privilege and confidentiality. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender by email and delete and destroy this message and its attachments. 345 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Bailey Keeler To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion and Save Vail"s Soul! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:47:27 PM Dear Vail Town Council, The Subject Line is a paraphrase from the movie 'You've Got Mail" used in a local paper to try to save one of the last independent book stores in NYC, and it is not hyperbole to use to Save the Red Lion on Bridge Street in Vail Village. I have had the privilege of visiting my grandparents, Dick and Mary Cabela, at their condo in Vail since I was a teenager in the early 2000s. Now, in my 30s, I have watched Vail change, and not for the better. It has become a playground for the ultra-rich, and has lost most of it's spaces for normal people looking for a casual, fun, and authentic time. For the past 10 years, my family has said repeatedly, "At least the Red Lion is still here!". It is the last AFFORDABLE family restaurant and bar, with live music that features local talent (not focusing on bringing in out-of-town bands, or charging cover), and is casual and right on Bridge Street in Vail Village. It's location on that street gives it the light and life and has made it a part of what is left that still makes Vail (mostly) great. It now costs less for me to fly to Europe to ski than it does to visit Vail, this is a sign things are deeply wrong. Do this small thing to help preserve the hope that Vail can still be a ski town for the people. Do not miss this opportunity to save a piece of Vail's soul. If you don't, you mortgage the future of the town. Please be reasonable, the last thing Vail needs is more high-end retail! REJECT the plans for the Red Lion Building redesign. Thank you. Sincerely and with hope, Bailey A. Keeler 346 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Rob Farris To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Killing the Red Lion bar is a VERY BAD idea Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:50:43 PM I have been an Epic Pass holder for the past 6 seasons - after having moved to Colorado in 2018. I regularly go skiing at Vail and also Breckenridge. But in a typical ski season I will go to Vail about 8 out of 12 ski days. Why do I go to Vail more often than Breck even though it's a bit longer of a drive from my home down in Highlands Ranch? The primary reason is the Red Lion bar and restaurant. This place is the heart and soul of the Vail village. The atmosphere can't be beat. The sunny patio and sunny front room are awesome after a long day of skiing. The music is always fun and the musicians that play there - such as Jonny Mogambo, Brian Spotts and Andy Cyphert - all contribute heavily to making this the best bar in town. And the drinks and food are excellent for the laid back atmosphere. If you guys are going to get rid of this venue and replace it with "high end retail" you will be killing one of the main things that makes Vail great, not to mention putting in something lame in it's place. The world does not need another fancy bag or fur store. Leave that shit to Aspen. Surely Aspen has enough of that crap for the whole state. If Red Lion is gone I will definitely be going to other ski places that are more convenient - since there would no longer be anything unique to make me go to Vail. This move should not be looked at as "progress". Instead it should be looked at as a very bad idea that is extremely detrimental to the whole character of Vail. Rob Farris 817-680-2980 347 From:Lily Moritz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 1:54:50 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department The Red Lion is so important to Vail. I have been going to The Red Lion my whole life. It holds a very special place to the locals from Vail and shutting it down would be very disheartening. SAVE THE RED LION ! 348 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jean Mitchell To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:03:40 PM Attachments:Outlook-vea5qtsi.png Outlook-fg3zt1sa.png Town council, I am writing in regards to the new design plan for the Red Lion building. I have reviewed the new design and am sending suggestions on how the space could be utilized differently and satisfy the developer and the save the integrity of the Red Lion. Why does retail have to be on Bridge Street ? I have been in real estate for 30 years in Vail and I never get tired of seeing the après music through the window at the Red Lion. It makes the soul of our town. Bridge street has gained so much new high-end retail it is losing its character and what brought people here to begin with. We have lost Los Amigos, The George is up for sale, Red Lion might have one more year and Fall Line is gone. Wow! We are losing what made Vail great to begin with. People want to eat in the sunshine (which is Bridge street side) customers do not want to eat downstairs in a basement Like Vendettas (how many times do you go downstairs) there are so many high end restaurants that we need to preserve restaurants that families can afford to take their children too or that the younger generation can afford and will continue to be able to bring their children to Vail in the future. Can the two parties can work together to come up with a better design to accommodate a successful stay of the Red Lion and still upgrade the building? I think the approval of this design needs more time to come up with a better solution. Please encourage the parties to continue talking and working together. Why lose such a successful entity when it could be saved now. Jean Mitchell | Broker Associate, GRI Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate l Four Seasons 970.331.3236 | jmitchell@slifer.net www.jeansellsvail.com 349 Please Note: Slifer Smith & Frampton will never email you wire instructions, please call your broker if you are asked to wire money. . Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast, a leader in email security and cyber resilience. Mimecast integrates email defenses with brand protection, security awareness training, web security, compliance and other essential capabilities. Mimecast helps protect large and small organizations from malicious activity, human error and technology failure; and to lead the movement toward building a more resilient world. To find out more, visit our website. 350 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Chris Phillips To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:05:29 PM To the Vail Town City Council, I am writing to ask you to save the Red Lion. I know I am clearly not alone and not even close to the level of many folks reaching out. That said, I am a Developer and I understand the dynamics of development. I also am a native who has come to Vail since I could, someone who worked in the ski industry, and someone who has a brother who is currently a firefighter for your town. What I also understand is that some places need to remain for the people, the soul of the area, and for the memories it has creates. A place like the Red Lion is not just a restaurant/bar. It is part of what made Vail the special place it is. It is part of the soul, part of the fabric and part of why people want to come. It simply is Vail and if you allow it to be destroyed, you are killing that soul. Sure, an Owner has the right to want to do what they want to do, but you also have the responsibility to protect what is best for the town, best for the history, best for what makes it special. Unfortunately, you all probably could care less these days and like many of us all know - you probably benefit from approving these types of things so that you personally benefit. We all know how that works and its absolutely disgusting. If you let this happen, you will always go down in history as someone who is part of destroying Vail. Everything good you have every done in your life will be for naught. You will be part of destroying something special, destroying something that truly brings joy to the people who have gotten to experience it. You will be part of a group of people who will destroy the happiness of a town built around that. If you let this happen and don't simply do the right thing, why would you want to ever walk around that town again? Everyone that means anything there will always look at you as if you killed what they built. Do the right thing. At least then, you can actually be proud of what you do on that council, and you can go have a beer at the Red Lion and say you were part of saving a part of what makes the place where you live so special. Not really sure how you could ever live with yourself if you approve this. Or, how you could ever look family members, friends, kids, parents ever in the eye again. You have chance to do what is right, to make a difference when it counts. Your decision 351 From:kbenysh@vail.net To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion (et.al.) Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:11:31 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Members if the Vail Town Council, You have the power and the duty to put an end to the plundering of Vail's identity, character and history. Kathryn Benysh 51-year East Vail resident ' 352 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mari Jo Grace To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Redevelopment of Red Lion Block Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:13:05 PM I have been a resident of Vail for 11 years, I am a docent with the ski museum who gives Village Walking Tours & I have to say that the recent redevelopment plan for the block is a disgrace, an abomination, & will destroy the history/vibe/panache of Vail. We do not need another high- end shopping center for tourists. We need local historical places for tourists and locals to eat & enjoy. It is bad enough that you converted Los Amigos into a private club now this??? Please stop & reflect on how Vail came to be and why. Mari Jo Grace 353 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Brian Gustavson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Vote no on red lion project Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:19:40 PM Dear TOV, I am an owner of a townhome in west Vail and have been coming to vail for 20+ years. I think the TOV has dropped the ball on development in the Village and needs to assert itself and vote no on the Red Lion development. The town does not need to turn into a suburban mall. The town needs to preserve its independent bars and restaurants that make trips to Vail memorable. No one talks about what they bought at Lulu or Vuori to their friends back home. They will talk about the great Apres’ experience they had a Red Lion or Blu Cow. It is what made Vail special to me in the early 2000s. Clearly, the TOV dropped the ball by approving the 62 Society which will prove to be a dramatic failure and a terrible use of terrific real estate. Please do not do the same with the proposed Red Lion project. Brian Gustavson 1710 Sunburst, Unit 7 Brian J. Gustavson, CFA 312-361-3359 (work) 773-793-0935 (mobile) bg@1060llc.com 354 From:amy martinez To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:25:05 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and The Blu Cow and what it represents to our community. The Red Lion and Blu Cow is not just a business — it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail’s cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion and Blu Cow as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail’s character and history. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Amy Martinez 355 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jenn Bruno To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Opposition to Proposed Red Lion Redevelopment in Vail Village Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:25:49 PM Dear Mayor Davis and Town Council Members, I am writing to express strong opposition to the proposed redevelopment that would eliminate the Red Lion Restaurant from Vail Village. Vail is an iconic year round destination, and our visitors’ experience depends heavily on vibrant, accessible food and beverage options. Quite simply, Vail Village already suffers from a shortage of dining and après-ski spaces relative to demand. Removing one of the most successful and consistently full establishments in the Village will only exacerbate this problem and diminish the overall vitality of our core. The Red Lion is not just another restaurant, it is an institution. For decades, it has served as a gathering place for locals, seasonal workers, families, and visitors alike. It is one of the few places where generations overlap, stories are shared, and the character of Vail is on full display. Losing the Red Lion would mean losing an authentic piece of Vail’s identity, replacing it with something that may be newer, but not necessarily better or more needed. From an economic and operational standpoint, the removal of an iconic, high-volume restaurant defies logic. Peak ski weeks, summer festivals, and holiday periods already strain the Village’s dining capacity, leading to long waits and frustrated guests. When visitors cannot find places to eat, drink, and gather, they do not linger, they leave. That is not a recipe for a thriving Village, nor does it support the local workforce or business ecosystem that depends on foot traffic and energy. Progress should enhance what makes Vail special, not erase it. Development that comes at the expense of proven, beloved community anchors is not progress - it’s a step backward. I urge the Town Council / Design Review Board to reconsider any proposal that results in the loss of the Red Lion and to prioritize preserving the character, functionality, and hospitality capacity of Vail Village. Some traditions are worth protecting, and this is unquestionably one of them. Sincerely, Jenn Bruno 356 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Legg, Barry To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion restaurant Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:29:27 PM Town Council As a winter visitor for 3 decades, I ask you to not lose the OG of restaurants. Way too many times we feel change is needed and updating. For many of us not so true. Those of us that visit return because of the sustainability of our reliable go to's after skiing. Red lion, first restaurant many of us stepped into on our first visit and we continue to return. We already lost the best chimichangas in vail with Los Amigos big loss for many of us. Family gasped when I told them no meeting there for lunch anymore. Let's remodel but not loose what is great. Thanks for listening to a faithful annual returner. Barry Legg Get Outlook for iOS 357 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lauren To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Proposed Redevelopment of Red Lion Space Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:32:54 PM As a property owner in East Vail, I urge you to deny the redevelopment application as proposed. The purpose of the ordinance change was to preserve food establishments, as well as the character of the Village. The current proposal does not preserve this iconic location. Allowing the proposed development will destroy the character and vibe of Vail Village and ruin its appeal for locals and tourists. The Red Lion is a landmark with international regard. It is a symbol of Vail as a vibrant, fun destination with plenty of activities for all to enjoy. An underground restaurant with little or natural light is not desirable for dining, drinking or hanging out. Losing the restaurant-bar anchor will irreparably damage Vail’s reputation as a well-rounded resort. The first floor of the building must stay as the restaurant/bar in order to preserve the character of the Village and this iconic corner. Require the retail to be underground, with the entrance in the back of the building off Hanson Ranch Rd. The spirit of the new ordinance mandates you reject the current proposal. Don’t let Vail Village lose its soul. Sincerely, Lauren Davis 4031 Big Horn Rd 9i Please excuse any typos. This was sent from my Phone. 358 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Matthew Golden To:Public Input Town Council Subject:In Support of The Red Lion and its Continued Presence in Vail Village Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:34:10 PM To the Vail Town Council and the Vail Design Review Board, My name is Matthew Golden, and I am writing to you today as a loyal visitor to Vail for the past 40 years. Like so many others who consider Vail their second home, I was deeply saddened and concerned to learn of the redevelopment plans for the Red Lion building that do not include the restaurant itself. For four decades, the Red Lion has been more than just a restaurant to my family and me; it is the heartbeat of Vail Village. From the iconic patio to the live music and the welcoming atmosphere fostered by Rod Linafelter and his staff, the Red Lion represents the "Old Vail" soul that draws people back year after year. While I understand the necessity of modernizing infrastructure and the rights of property owners to redevelop, Vail’s success is built on its unique character and sense of place. Replacing a historic, vibrant gathering spot with luxury residential units or high-end retail that lacks the same community spirit diminishes the guest experience. It risks turning our vibrant village into a quiet corridor of storefronts rather than a living, breathing community. I urge the Town Council and the Design Review Board to consider the following: 1. Cultural Preservation: Recognize the Red Lion as a vital cultural asset to the town’s history and identity. 2. Incentivizing Legacy Tenants: Explore all possible avenues to ensure that redevelopment plans include a space specifically designated for the Red Lion to remain in its historic location. 359 3. Community Impact: Consider the long-term impact on Vail’s brand if its most iconic establishments are priced out or built out of existence. Vail is changing, but change should not come at the cost of our heritage. Please stand with Rod Linafelter and the Red Lion to ensure that future generations can enjoy the same traditions that have made Vail so special to me for the last 40 years. Sincerely, Matt Golden Matthew Golden Palo Duro Capital, LLC (214) 769-2221 mgolden@palodurocapital.com 360 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Rebecca Peeler To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:41:46 PM Save the Red Lion! 361 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Grace Moritz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Supporting the red lion- a place that means so much to my family Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:43:14 PM Hi Vail Community, I hope you are doing well. I’m reaching out because I wanted to bring attention to a place that means so much to the Vail community—and to my family personally—the Red Lion. My dad’s side of the family is from Colorado, and the Red Lion has always been a special part of our memories growing up. Every time we visited Vail, it was one of those places we always looked forward to. It’s more than just a restaurant—it’s part of what makes Vail feel like Vail. Over the years, the Red Lion has been a favorite for locals, visitors, and employees in town. It brings people together, supports local jobs, and adds so much character and tradition to the community. Right now, it’s facing challenges, and I truly believe it’s a place worth fighting for. I wanted to encourage anyone who can to support the Red Lion—whether that’s stopping by for a meal, sharing their story, attending events, or simply spreading the word. Every visit and every bit of support matters. Vail wouldn’t be the same without the Red Lion, and I hope we can come together as a community to help keep it going for future families and future memories. Thank you so much for your time and support. Warmly, Grace Moritz 362 From:Thomas Weir To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:45:48 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To Vail Town Council Ladies and Gentlemen, I understand you are considering a redevelopment plan to essentially eliminate the Red Lion. This year will be my 31st year coming to Vail. I have owned at the Austria Haus for 9 years and come into the Valley 3 to 5 weeks every year, summer and winter. The Lion is one of the places everyone looks forward to when they come to the village. With the closing of Los Amigos, there are fewer and fewer casual places to go. I love Vail, love the Village, but wouldn’t want it to resemble a shopping mall. I would strongly support an update to The Lion, but a total closure would be detrimental to the atmosphere of Bridge Street. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion. Sincerely, Tom Weir Sent from my iPad 363 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jynx Messacar To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:50:28 PM I am a long-time patron of the Red Lion - at least the last 30 years. I am a Colorado native. The Red Lion is an institution of Vail. It is quintessential to the landscape of this iconic mountain town of Colorado. Please do what you can to keep this legacy intact. Its location at the crown of Bridge Street is part of the magic of this town. Thank you, Jynx Messacar 364 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:John Donohue To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:55:55 PM Hello, I have just become aware of the threat to the existence of the red lion in vail villlage yesterday. This is a VERY bad idea and there many reasons why. Ive been coming to vail for about 27 years being an original buddy pass and now epic pass holder. One of the reasons i come to vail is not just the skiing but the apres ski experience. I could choose to go elsewhere but the experience and the staff at the red lion make it top notch. The music entertainment eg johnny mogambo, brian spotts or andy cyphert has always been terrific and with the patio facing bridge st in the sun on warmer winter days make this a must. This place really is the heart and soul of vail village. My friends and i always come here and its a family top favorite as well. When im away from home, i shamelessly gush to anyone who will listen and is thinking of visiting vail. I always bring out of towners here. Also,literally anyone who knows vail knows the red lion.I live in highlands ranch but to me the red lion really makes vail worth the drive each time. Generations have enjoyed this location for decades and so should dozens more to come. Replacing this with additional " high end"retail is a fools errand with over 250 retail spaces already in vail. Surely there are better solutions to this while preserving a piece of history. As you are well aware, the red lion has been there since february of 1963. Id call that a historic site at this point that is part of the very fabric and character of vail. Simply put, it is part of its charm. Any plan going forward should preserve the red lion existing foot print. If this proposed plan is implemented i believe this will be very detrimental to vail itself and send skiers to consider other resorts including myself. The fact is skier days and visits are down as are epic pass sales. I think a bad decision like this could push that arrow further in the wrong direction and tarnish vails reputation as well. John Donohue 303 961 7674 Get BlueMail for Android 365 From:Andrea García de Quevedo To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 2:57:58 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, I wanted to email you because we can’t stop hearing all about new changes in Vail town. One of them being replacing the amazing and very loved Red Lion restaurant for a duty free. That is the main reason of my email, I want to let you know that we are very angry, disappointed and most of all willing to do anything so this change doesn’t happen. We have no idea in what moment you decided that it was a good idea replacing the charming and local atmosphere of the town with stores that don’t represent the identity of the town. Vail is a skiing mountain, it’s full of nature, history and memories. Don’t ruin something that is already amazing by bringing stuff that clearly doesn’t belong. If people want a Duty Free they can go to another place. Don’t forget what the town was made for, who lives there. Prevent things from going out of control. We love our little town. And take it from a teenager who loves shopping and modern stores. We don’t what that. We come to Vail to ski, to appreciate nature, and to respect the local life. If we wanted a duty free we would be going somewhere else. Don’t transform Vail into something that is not. Sincerely, Andrea Garcia 366 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:William Carroll To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Redlion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:03:14 PM Dear Councilors. Please accept this letter as a plea from a long term second home owner to vote to preserve the Redlion restaurant. We come for the winter and occasionally in the fall. We frequent the RL because it is quintessential Vail. It's been around almost since Vail was created. It has a local vibe while serving the many tourists that visit. Don't let it slip away like many of the Vail landmarks. Don't let Vail become Aspen, loaded with high end retail shops and no place for locals to eat and gather. The Tap Room disappeared. Los Amigos is gone. The George is going. Rumor has it that Vendettas is going too. Is Vail village to become a retail center with no character ? Save the Redlion. Please ! William J. Carroll, III Tel: (508) 523-7282 wjcarrollatty@gmail.com 367 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:hudson harris To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:22:47 PM To whom it may concern,     My name is Hudson, and I am a 20-year-old college student at TCU. I was notified by my family, who frequents the Red Lion, today that there is a plan in place to redevelop it into a luxury retail area. This caught me extremely off-guard, because as far as I know, that is not only my favorite restaurant in Vail and one of my top 5 ever, but also a favorite of the many tourists and locals who are lucky enough to experience Vail. Below, I will outline a couple of reasons why shutting down the Red Lion would be devastating for my family and I and catastrophic for the community.     Erasing the Red Lion would mean erasing the countless memories that my family and I have had there. Nothing beats taking my skis off at the bottom of Gondola One and walking back to the hotel, hanging up my jacket only to brave the cold again for a trip to an iconic Vail restaurant with my family. Filling up our bellies with the delicious World- Famous Nacho platter and anticipating juicy burgers in our future is one of our favorite ways to connect with each other. We sometimes think about going to another restaurant after a day shredding Ramshorn and Whistle Pig, but something about the homey tradition of the Red Lion always keeps us coming back, no matter the wait. It's where my little brother, Chase, fueled himself before a long day of burning his quads in the "pizza" position. Where my Dad and I shared many a profound conversation, connecting like the strings of cheese on my flavorful chicken quesadilla. Where we laughed and reminisced under the warm lighting, singing along to the live music in the other room. Where we watched the Broncos in the glory days of Peyton Manning and Demaryius Thomas tear up opposing defenses; like the way we tore up our juice-soaked burger buns, trying desperately to keep our fingers away from the relentless tongue of our late Australian Labradoodle, Vader. Like the way that I was told they would tear up the Red Lion. You see, this action would leave years of tradition, connection, and warm happy memories in the rubble, replaced with a materialistic plaza filled with meaningless, expensive, shiny junk. I believe that I am not the only person who feels this way. Additionally, the Red Lion does not just serve as a refuge for cold, hungry skiers; it often gets them up to the mountains in the first place. Just the thought of a Red Lion burger with queso dripping down the sides gets my mouth watering, beckoning me to choose Vail over another mountain on the Epic Pass. Yes, a day trip to Vail might be a bit of a 368 longer drive than to Keystone or Breckenridge, but the skiing is not what brings me there: it's the restaurant. Many a time, there have been busy days my family and I chose to ski, and we walk by the Red Lion with the line out the door, and the wait time posted. But our stomachs are never too hungry to wait; after all, it's why we came. Removing the Red Lion would not only take away revenue from the restaurant- it would dip out of the bucket of the whole village. Inevitably, without the Red Lion, we will choose Keystone or Breckenridge more often than not. The village will be less lively, and there will be less families frequenting the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a sweet treat after a rich, exquisite meal. There would be less tourists splurging in the luxury retail shops, not more. Because there would be less tourists in general. The heart of the town would instead be a pile of ruins.     This cannot be so. You, the Vail Town Council, have the opportunity to reverse this tragic news and save the restaurant that holds so many memories for me and for others. You will regret demolishing a place that the town values this highly, only to replace it with something the town has too much of. You will not regret saving the Red Lion.     Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. If a college student like me cares so much, I doubt that I am the only one who wants to see this restaurant stay in operation. I urge you to listen to your constituency. All the best, Hudson Harris      369 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Suzie Harrison To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion restaurant legacy and integrity of Vail Village!!! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:23:58 PM Dear Vail Town Council/Vail Design and Review Board, Please, do not compromise the heartbeat of Vail Village by destroying the Red Lion restaurant, the price is too high to pay for something irreplaceable. Vail and the Red Lion restaurant will forever have a place in my heart having shaped my early 20s and 30s, as a ski bum and Red Lion hostess and later as a snowboard instructor. There’s no other place like it for apres ski. The views and deck are second to none. In the summer, watching the 4th of July parade from the deck at the Red Lion is a favorite pastime too. And all those days in between, meeting with family and friends, kicking back and enjoying a 20 oz. cold one, conjures the best memories and times I will never forget. To this day, The Red Lion always delivers with its acoustic soul and endless sunshine, a true beacon of good times for everyone who steps foot onto its deck. In fact, for 63 years, the Red Lion restaurant has been the heart and soul of Vail Village, there’s no justification to why it should not continue its legacy. It’s simple. It’s your responsibility to deny the proposed redesign plans and demand keeping the current configuration the way it is for the Red Lion to continue its legacy for years to come. Save the Red Lion and save the future, integrity and legacy of Vail Village! Sincerely, Suzie Harrison former Vail resident/ski bum/Red Lion employee/ snowboard instructor/forever a Vail and Red Lion restaurant fan and patron 370 -- SUZIE HARRISON /// COPYWRITER CONTENT STRATEGIST 949-395-9996 Copy/Content, PR, Journalist SuzieHarrison.me@gmail.com www.suzieharrison.com 371 From:Susan To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:29:05 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please please please don’t let The Red Lion go away. We have been going there every year since the late 60’s -early 70’s. It is a local legend. So many fun times. Have a heart. Thank you in advance for helping to save this wonderful place in history. Susan Sent from my iPhone 372 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Gail Smith To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Ted Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:37:45 PM Please Please don’t take away The Red Lion……much less move it to the basement. The restaurants that were and are at the base of the ski lift are wonderful gathering places. Greed will spoil all of that. Just a very sad proposition. Sent from Gmail Mobile 373 From:leticia dominguez garcia To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:45:23 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I just want to share my disagreement on the closing of The Red Lion. I’ve been going to Vail since I was born, and I’m 45 Years old. Vail is my second home, and The Red Lion my favorite spot in Vail . It is a legend, too many memories from all the people that loves Vail. They can’t close it to put retail, that’s not Vail, they are changing so many things that are not good. Please keep Vail as the Magic Town it has been for all these years. Leticia 374 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:judie harrison To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Don’t lose the iconic Red Lion Restaurant Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:47:23 PM Dear Vail Town Council, It would be a huge mistake to go forward with the current proposed redesign plans and erase the Red Lion restaurant as we know it and love it,, as we have for the past 60+ years. There’s no turning back if you make the wrong decision. I have years of memories with my family and friends at the iconic Red Lion restaurant. Some of them are the best of my 83 years on this planet! Please don’t destroy the heart and soul of Vail Village by accepting the redesign plans. They need to accommodate the Red Lion restaurant, period. It’s that simple. Thanks for taking time to really consider what is best for Vail Village and its future…its legacy. Judie Harrison 760-702-3735 judiesecretgarden@gmail.com 375 From:Yvette TRACHTENBERG To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 3:51:54 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern. I am extremely opposed to getting rid of The Red Lion. I have been going there since it opened and have carried on the tradition with my children. When I have guests to Vail they too love Red Lion and everything it stands for. Fun, friendship, apres, music, and most importantly nachos!! This change is not a good one for the town. It’s changing everything about what makes Vail so special!!! Please reconsider!! Best regards, Yvette Trachtenberg 376 From:Megan Heyne To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion reconstruction project Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 4:08:50 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To Vail Town Council- Greetings. I am a former 13 year veteran of The Red Lion restaurant. I am imploring you to reconsider this proposed construction project. The Red Lion has meant so much to me for so long, and so much to countless others that I’ve met during my time there. I met my husband there, I’ve made lifelong friendships with co workers and patrons of the restaurant. The Red Lion is not just a restaurant to anyone who visits or works there. It’s a family, it’s a place you go to be with people who you make memories with. The owners treat everyone who walks through the door like family, and it has always been this way. It’s not just a restaurant-it’s a place people go to listen to music and meet new friends. It’s a place people meet up with friends they already know and want have fun. It really is a place that makes the heart of Vail beat. I lived in Vail for 18 years, and like a lot of people I met there, it was just supposed to be a stop, stay for a season, check it out, ski, and move on to something else. But like many people, I stayed. I stayed for 18 years, and a lot of that is because of the Red Lion. The experiences that I had, the people I met from different cultures and countries, and the way the owners and management treat their staff. Like a family. I can tell you that I am not alone in this thought, to take away what the Red Lion is currently would not only be taking away a big part of the soul of Vail, but also a part of my soul, and many others who both have worked and patronized it. I’m imploring you to reconsider, on behalf of my Red Lion family, its soul, the soul of Vail, and my own. Thank you for your time. -Megan Heyne Sent from my iPhone 377 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Rachel Nelson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion redevelopment Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 4:13:43 PM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to urge you to give real consideration to the Red Lion and what it represents to our community. The Red Lion is not just a business — it is a long-standing local gathering place and part of Vail’s cultural identity. Many residents value the Red Lion as a space that brings locals together year-round, not just during peak tourism seasons. Decisions about its future deserve thoughtful community input and transparency. Please take into account the voices of residents who care deeply about preserving Vail’s character and history. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Rachel Nelson - Born and Raised in Vail. 378 From:Ann Carroll To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 4:14:18 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Members of the Vail Town Council, It saddens me to see the plan for the new building being proposed to replace The Red Lion. The Red Lion is a restaurant that has been in Vail since its opening and it’s a literal Vail tradition, which is certainly worth treasuring for years to come. I understand that buildings need renovations and updating, but placing the Red Lion on a side street with no visibility from Bridge Street will change the ambiance in Vail Village. Seeing people eat outside and seeing the inside of the restaurant with the crowd in the Red Lion adds character to Vail. Having a high end retail store replace the Red Lion would make the end of Bridge Street sterile. I would hate to see Vail become like Aspen where all retail stores are designer and restaurants are unaffordable for the locals. I hope the town council recognizes that the locals are what makes Vail the welcoming place it is. We have lost Los Amigos, and The George which were two affordable restaurants. Loosing the Red Lion would be devastating to many locals and tourists who have frequented that restaurant and since Vail’s inception. Sincerely yours, Ann R. Carroll 1030 Lionsridge Loop Vail Sent from my iPad 379 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tammy Filbert To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 4:18:53 PM To whom it may concern: I was disappointed to hear of the plans for the Red Lion building. The current restaurant/ entertainment venue is popular and profitable. My family and friends have spent thousands of dollars having fun in the Red Lion. I can guarantee you that not one of us will be spending money on high end shopping in Vail. There are already many shops that cater to the wealthy. I’m sure that those of us who appreciate the reputation and history of the Red Lion will avoid the new businesses. Thank you for your time, Tammy Filbert 303.328.6642 380 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Annie Blakslee To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion!! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 4:21:27 PM To Whom it May Concern, The Red Lion is the heart and soul of what Vail means to both locals and visitors—it is quintessential Vail. Our town has undergone so much change in recent years, and so little of its original character and history remains. The Red Lion continues to keep Vail’s charm alive: a place filled with smiling après-goers and hungry skiers, all eager to be part of Vail’s culture. Please do not take that away. Kindly, AB 381 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Micah Olson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion redevelopment Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 4:52:07 PM Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion building, which would eliminate the Red Lion restaurant from its historic location in Vail Village. Based on publicly available information, the existing restaurant space will be replaced by high-end luxury retail. I cannot independently confirm specific tenants, but names such as Chanel have been repeatedly mentioned in community discussions surrounding this project. Whether or not that particular brand is accurate, the broader direction is clear and deeply troubling. Replacing one of the last authentic, locally rooted gathering places in Vail Village with luxury retail is not progress. It is a statement of priorities. It signals that Vail now values transactional prestige over cultural continuity and brand recognition over community life. Vail Village is increasingly resembling a curated luxury shopping district rather than a living mountain town. Decisions like this accelerate that transformation. When legacy institutions like the Red Lion are displaced in favor of interchangeable luxury storefronts, Vail loses the very character that once differentiated it from every other high end resort destination. The Red Lion is not simply another commercial tenant. It is social infrastructure. It is a place where locals, seasonal workers, and visitors intersect in ways that cannot be replicated by retail. Once spaces like this are removed, they do not come back. No amount of architectural detail or luxury branding can replace what is lost. This is not an argument against investment or redevelopment. It is a warning about erasure. A village optimized solely for luxury retail becomes a place people visit briefly and forget quickly. A village that protects its cultural anchors remains relevant, human, and worth returning to. I urge the Council to reconsider a redevelopment path that sacrifices authenticity for prestige and to actively defend the remaining institutions that still make Vail feel like a real place. Respectfully, Micah Olson Eagle, Colorado 382 From:GABRIELA GONZALEZ To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:01:57 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi my name is Gabriela Gonzalez. I am writing this email since I am one of the many people who are very concerned about Red Lion being closed. I have been going to Vail since I was 5 years old... I'm 50 now. We love that town and it is very sad to see that the nicest stores and restaurants have been replaced for expensive stores... Loro Piana, Brunello, etc... For example the toy store in front of Solaris ( which by the way many of us miss the little cinema, the supermarket and the ice creams) , Rucksack, General Store, and many other little gems that made Vail such a nice town. This will change everything Vail is! I heard The Red Lion was going to be replaced..... please please consider the opinion of the people who really love and know Vail. The Red Lion is an iconic and loved place such as Pepis, Blue Cow, The pizzeria, etc... It would be so sad to see an expensive store there. I hope someone can rethink this idea. As a person who loves and respects Vail I thought it was worth writing this email. Thank you for your support. Gabriela Gonzalez Sent from my iPhone 383 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:ryan golden To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion is Vail Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:09:06 PM Dear Members of the Vail City Council, I am writing with a heavy heart regarding the proposed closure of the Red Lion Restaurant. This is not just a business under consideration—it is a living, breathing piece of Vail’s identity, history, and soul. The Red Lion has been a fixture in Vail for as long as many of us can remember. For decades—many, many years—it has been the place people go when the lifts close and the day on the mountain ends. Skiers still in their boots, families with tired kids, locals, students, longtime residents, and visitors alike all gather there. It is where stories are shared, traditions are passed down, and memories are made. It is where Vail feels like Vail. I went to the University of Colorado and had a student skiing pass. I grew up coming to Vail every year. I lived in Colorado for many years, and spent months in Vail, and I still have family who in Vail. The Red Lion has always been part of that experience—part of the rhythm of life in Vail. It is one of those rare places that transcends generations. Parents who once went there as young adults now bring their children. Kids grow up knowing it as part of what makes a ski day complete. That kind of continuity cannot be rebuilt once it is gone. Replacing the Red Lion with “fancy stores” may increase short-term commercial appeal, but it comes at a profound cost. Vail is already at risk of losing the character that made it special in the first place. When landmarks like the Red Lion disappear, so does the sense of authenticity, warmth, and shared history. Vail becomes less of a community and more of a curated shopping destination—interchangeable with countless other resort towns. 384 The Red Lion is one of the few remaining landmarks in Vail that people instantly recognize, remember, and emotionally connect to. It is not just a restaurant; it is a gathering place, a tradition, and a symbol of what Vail has meant to generations of skiers, families, locals, and visitors. Once it is gone, it will be missed in a way that cannot be measured in dollars or square footage. I urge you to consider not just development plans, but legacy. Please consider what kind of Vail you want future generations to experience—and whether it includes the places that gave it its heart in the first place. Losing the Red Lion would not just change a street or a business lineup. It would change the culture of Vail. It would change its identity. And it would be a loss that many of us will feel deeply for years to come. Thank you for your time and for considering the voices of those who love Vail not just as a destination, but as a place that has shaped our lives. Thank you. Ryan Golden Ryan Golden (202) 744-7740 385 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Maddie Schin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:19:57 PM Dear reader, Frankly, I will not return to Vail if the Red Lion is pushed out of business. I’m aware that you may not care about me, seeing as I am only one person, but I can assure you that I am not the only person who shares this stance. I implore you to reconsider your decision, as it would be devastating to the character and authenticity of the town. Thank you, Maddie 386 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Traci Sidon To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please SAVE the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:32:41 PM Hello, i’ve been going to red lion for over 50 years and I am devastated by the thought of it not being here. I’m also a local Taxpayer as I have a home in Vail and I think to put in a high- end retail store is a travesty! Red lion is an icon at Vail and we spend much of our time off the mountain there. Part of why we brought our property there is because Vail had a warm feeling to us not Aspen! We don’t want another Aspen! If we wanted an Aspen, we would’ve bought our home in Aspen! People come from all over the world to Experience the vibe of Vail. That’s one of the things they talk about. Please please please don’t make it into a Louis Vuitton or a retail store. We have plenty of those. If people wanna go to those stores they can go to Aspen. We don’t want them in Vail. Thank you for reading this. Traci Please note my new email address and phone number. Traci Sidon tracisidon@gmail.com 303-995-0291 387 From:corrie bledsoe To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:33:34 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Council members, Vail Village has lost so many charming iconic buildings in the past 25 years. Let’s not lose another! There is a way to preserve the old while still progressing. Let’s keep the vintage feel alive. I hold out hope that the old western ski town values will survive and you all will keep further encroachment from private equity and corporations away from another icon of Vail Village and this valley. I urge you to keep the old school ski town vibe and save the Red Lion before it’s too late. Sincerely, Corrie Halas tel:970-471-1322 388 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Traci Sidon To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:40:49 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to respectfully urge the Town Council to take all possible steps to preserve the Red Lion restaurant and to oppose its replacement with another retail store. The Red Lion is more than just a business—it is a long-standing community gathering place and an important part of Vail’s identity. For decades, it has brought together locals, seasonal workers, and visitors in a way that few establishments can. Its live music, welcoming atmosphere, and accessible pricing contribute to the authentic mountain-town character that makes Vail special and distinct from other resort destinations. While retail plays a role in Vail’s economy, the town already has a strong retail presence. What is increasingly rare—and increasingly valuable—are locally rooted establishments that foster connection, culture, and community. Replacing the Red Lion with another retail store would further tip the balance away from the vibrant, lived-in character that residents and visitors alike cherish. From an economic perspective, the Red Lion supports local employment, nightlife, and tourism in a way that complements surrounding businesses. It keeps people in town longer, encourages repeat visits, and enhances Vail’s reputation as a place with genuine character rather than a generic shopping district. I respectfully ask the Town Council to consider the long-term cultural and community impact of this decision and to support efforts that keep the Red Lion operating as a restaurant and music venue. Preserving spaces like this 389 is essential to maintaining the soul of Vail. Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued service to our community. Sincerely, Traci Sidon Resident Traci Sidon, Owner Trips by Traci, LLC traci@tripsbytraci.com 303-563-6238-Direct/Efax 303-988-0505-Office 303-995-0291-Cell 390 From:Emily Sobotova To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the red lion and the blue cow Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:42:20 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Vail, As a long time resident of over 20 years, I find it despicable to replace these authentic Vail establishments for them to be replaced by more designer stores. 1. All the tourists travel from cities that have these stores. 2. People who care most about shopping should go to Aspen. 3. These places give Vail their character and without them it becomes a place with no story, authenticity, or character. 4. The Blu Cow is one of the best F&B establishments in the town. 5. Why should these big brands be getting tourist spending instead of long run family and local businesses. These are only a few points happy to discuss more. Thanks for listening but no thanks for this needing to happen. Best, Emily Sobotova 391 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kate Stavisky To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please stop chain retail expansion in the village Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:43:51 PM To Vail Council, I’m writing this to encourage you to make a decision that’s better for the culture and community of the Vail Valley and also for the business side. Reject the proposal for the new developments impacting historic locations in Vail. Vail was founded on promoting small, local owned businesses and keeping away larger corporate and chain stores. This is one of the ways Vail keeps its magic and is such a unique and refreshing business model. Please don’t lose sight of that vision to sell out and modernize every restaurant and add more chain retail no one asked for. If you cannot dictate specific tenants at least stop them from turning an amazing dining location into retail. Lately we have seen many classic restaurants and historic buildings closing down for new development and it’s hurting vail for a couple reasons. The first is that there is a community in Vail of people and families that have lived in the town for decades and these spots mean a lot to everyone. There are so many photos, memories, and stories within those restaurants that mean a lot to a small town and add a ton of charm for those visiting. It’s also going to be worse for tourism and business if Vail keeps losing its (somewhat) affordable and iconic dining locations. It’s fun to have some high end restaurants and hotels for certain visitors but it also provides so much to the village to keep restaurants like los amigos, the red lion, the little diner, and blu cow for the locals, the younger demographic, and tourists who don’t always want a fancy meal. It would be such a shame to lose these places and I am really hoping the town of Vail can step in and help protect some of these businesses from development greed. Thank you so much for your time!!! From a born and raised vail valley resident. 392 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Marichu Hernaiz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:44:51 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, My name is Marichu Hernaiz , and I’m writing as someone who has been coming to Vail every year for more than 40 years. Vail has been part of my life for as long as I can remember — a place tied to family traditions, friendships, and some of my best memories. Over the decades, I’ve watched Vail grow and change, but what has always made it special is that it still felt like a real town — not just a high-end destination. That feeling comes from the people, and from the local places that bring everyone together. One of those places is the Red Lion. The Red Lion isn’t just another business. It’s a piece of Vail’s personality — a place where locals and visitors mix, where stories get shared, where generations have gathered, and where the town still feels welcoming and familiar. Some of my best memories from Vail is singing along at the Red Lion bar. It’s part of what makes Vail Vail. I understand that change is inevitable, and I respect the challenges that come with growth. But I truly hope the Town will consider what gets lost when iconic, long-standing establishments are pushed out. When the unique places disappear and are replaced by the same luxury brands found everywhere else, the town becomes less memorable, less authentic, and less connected to its roots. We already lost the Rucksack, the Toy Store, Los Amigos and so many places that were part of our childhoods. Please let our kids build the same 393 memories we did in this special special town. Vail does not need more luxury storefronts to be successful. What it needs is protection for the places that create community, character, and warmth — the places that people return for year after year. I’m asking you, sincerely, to do what you can to support and preserve the Red Lion and other local institutions like it. Once they’re gone, they cannot be replaced. Thank you for your time, and for your service to the Town of Vail. With appreciation, Marichu Hernaiz marichuhernaiz@gmail.com 394 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Francisco Canton B To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:52:14 PM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to respectfully express my concern and strong disapproval regarding the proposed changes affecting the Red Lion. The Red Lion is not just another business; it is an iconic part of Vail’s identity and a cornerstone of its community. Places like this give Vail its warmth, character, and sense of belonging. Replacing them with additional luxury retail risks eroding the cultural fabric that has made this town special for generations. If this trend continues, Vail risks losing its locals, long-time families, and the authentic atmosphere that defines it. Luxury brands may add revenue, but they do not replace community, history, or soul. I urge the Council to seriously consider what the Red Lion represents to Vail and to protect the places that make Vail feel like Vail. Thank you for your time and consideration. Francisco Canton. 395 From:Lori Allen To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 5:55:39 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department This is so sad. The Red Lion is iconic to Vail. We have had a home in Vail for over 30 years. Vail is getting rid of everything that makes Vail VAIL. A family place to dine. No one comes to Vail for more retail. They come for family time and with children easy dinning. Already lost the Mexican Restaurant to a private Club. Please reconsider this horrible decision to eliminate a family friendly establishment. Like Vail needs anything that resembles the horrible Moon Rabbit. No more retail please. Thank you for your time, Lori Allen 318-458-4444 Sent from my iPhone 396 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Gregory Olson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:03:11 PM To the Vail Town Council - I understand your jurisdiction may be limited in regards to the changes to the Red Lion building reconstruction/renovation but implore you to take any action possible to prevent the loss of this historic establishment. The Town of Vail should fight to keep local eating/drinking establishments on street level as opposed to high end retail. I'm sure you can get creative in finding a resolution to this sad sad proposal that is putting high end retail profits over any sense of community. Sincerely, Greg Olson 397 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sheri Dirksen To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:21:54 PM Hello, I heard The Red Lion might be closing and I hope it’s just a rumor. I lived in Vail working as a nurse 1994-1999 and remember spending many an aprés ski night going there with a large group of friends listening to Phil Long. I have come to Vail every winter since and so enjoy bringing my family and friends to this historic location on Bridge Street. We always order the World Famous Nachos and the blue cheese burger with grilled onions and steak friend and it never disappoints. Please consider keeping the restaurant alive with live music and good old fashioned American food. Thanks, Sheri Ryan Dirksen 398 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Danny Galloway To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Do the right thing. Save the red lion. Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:27:53 PM Please save the red lion! It’s a staple of vail! If you lose the red lion, you lose so much of the community that vail is. Do the right thing for the city. There's already enough selling out going on, please do one thing to stand up for the community. Danny Galloway Jr. Cell: (303) 809-8866 E-mail: DannyBGalloway@gmail.com 399 From:Tyler Beckum To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion and Development Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 6:46:02 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Town of Vail, As a person born and raised in the Vail Valley and who is friends with the daughter of one of the owners of The Red Lion, I and many others, feel it is our duty to speak out about things that impact our community. You may read this email and brush it aside with the plethora of others I’m sure you’ve been receiving on this topic and think to yourselves “it’s out of our hands.” And to that I ask, please don’t be complacent, please don’t let a vision of materialism and status supplicate what The Red Lion symbolizes to locals and returning tourists alike — time to hangout with family and friend through apres and/or time to mingle with people from all walks of life. Please consider the soul of Vail and please don’t let this place be redeveloped to accommodate a luxury store that could very well be somewhere else. Vail is not Aspen. Keep The Red Lion. Best, Tyler 400 From:Cassandra Mahoney To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion/Blu Cow Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:06:17 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern: I eloped in Vail. I got married onboard the Lionshead Gondola by the light of blackberry because the wonderful team at Arrabelle spoiled us rotten at the spa and we were late getting to the Mount of the Holy Cross lookout point at sunset. A generous lifty paused the nighttime ski bikers so we could have our own gondola, albeit smirking at two young people dressed up in Vail in February. A couple that sat next to us at dinner that evening at Larkspur paid our bill secretly and the staff honored their request not to tell us who they were or where we could send a thank you. A bus driver asked the whole bus full of people to use their phone lights to help my husband find his brand new wedding ring which he dropped accidentally. The frontman of the band at the Red Lion asked the whole bar to raise a cheer to us. It was perfect and it was Vail. Vail brought me to Colorado. Not on vacation - Vail made me want to move and I did just that. After eloping, my husband and I moved across the country to Denver and we lived there, entirely in love with Colorado, for over a decade. We started paying for an RV site at Tiger Run to better enjoy our Epic Passes, Belle’s camp BBQs, and Phil Long’s delightful shenanigans each Apres. We held our breath for the restaurants of Vail when Michelin came to town and celebrated Sweet Basil’s win. We never miss stopping in the Little Diner or Vendettas or hitting an apres at three amigos and cheering on the end of day skiers risking yard-sale. We have whiskey from 10 Barrel aging in a mini barrel to celebrate our anniversaries. My wedding band is from the Golden Bear and during Covid the team at La Tour managed to make a lost 10th Anniversary party with friends and family turned couples dinner in a glass gazebo feel like we hadn’t missed anything in level of experience. We never skip the Red Lion. We never skip Blu Cow. We do skip Patagonia. We skip chain retailers. Never once have I spent a dime at one. Those chains are not what makes Vail a community with a heartbeat. Over the years I’ve watched with dismay and anger as Vail Resorts degrades what makes our ski communities so special - employees aren’t paid enough to live where they work and create that sense of place for the visitors. Passes are oversold meaning the mountains are more dangerous than ever and ski patrol is overworked. Each year I consider ending my Epic Pass because I don’t wan to support this, and I will admit each year I continue to buy one because we always make the trip back to Vail for our anniversary even if we can’t come out more than once from Seattle where we live now. This February marks 15 years since we eloped on that gondola. We have a trip planned. A trip with 20 friends. Learning that the town is trying to force the Red Lion and Blu Cow out in favor of a Gucci is quite possibly the disgusting, disappointing nail in the coffin to me. The town would rather cater to affluent visitors than preserve the legacy of the people who gave everything to make it a thriving 401 community of neighbors. It’s far easier for us to take that money to Whistler where it goes much further. Or if we want to take that money away from VR, we could go to Baker or Bachelor. But we wanted to take that party and that money “home.” I can’t in good conscience do that knowing that Red Lion and Blu Cow are being forced out and the PR spin is to say they wanted to go. I especially despise thinking that I’d ski down to a Gucci store on the corner of the square. No music. No friends connecting over a patio beer. No one being introduced to a Swiss dog for the first time. Gucci. I am strongly urging the town of Vail to reconsider this plan. Reinstate the leases of these two mainstays of Vail. Protect the heart of the community by fighting for your local businesses. Support one another the way the founders of Vail did. Save the Red Lion and Blu Cow. Should this go another way, I will understand that to be the message that Vail as so many of us know it is dead, and you want it that way. I won’t return if that’s the case. I’m hoping you do the right thing. Cassandra Mahoney 402 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Christy Lippert To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please consider Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:19:19 PM Dear Council members, Count me as another long time Vail resident who is extremely concerned about the loss of character and community in our town. The redevelopment of the Los Amigos building to cater to wealthy clientele, the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion building to add more retail to Bridge Street - is this our vision for the future? There are aspects of the proposed plan for the Red Lion that are more visually appealing - replacing that enclosed patio for example and the music hall might bring some vibrancy to the non- existent night life on Bridge Street. However, has there been any consideration given to the fact that long time local business owners such as The Blue Cow and Big Bear Bistro are being evicted? So where will they go? Replaced by some high end retail so we can look like Aspen? Please proceed with caution and preserve some of our character and consider the locals. Secondly, can we please step back and consider how many "affordable" units are being added in those monstrous buildings being constructed on the North Frontage Road? Who exactly are we appealing to - seasonal workers? When has Vail Resorts or another large employer such as Vail Health added any inventory for employee housing? Why are we citizens bearing the brunt of providing housing? Age old problem with Vail Resorts. oh, and what will they be contributing to the parking structure improvements/additions? If we're trying to get families and professionals back within town limits, I believe you need to be adding more family oriented housing such as the West Vail development above the fire station (name escapes me). I personally know numerous people who have left the valley in the last few years - studies about the amount of housing needed over the next decade were made in what year? Times have changed. Thanks for your consideration and thank you for your service - being a 403 public servant is a challenging job in times such as these! Christy Lippert 404 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Blake LaPlante To:Public Input Town Council Subject:THE RED LION Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:28:13 PM To whoever this may concern, I have been going to the Red Lion since as long as I can remember. This is the local spot that brings back the times of when my grandparents took me here. This is my father and I's spot when we are in town. It would be a HUGE bummer to wash away a local legend that helped create what Vail is. I cannot believe it is even a thought to get rid of The Red Lion. Take Care, Blake LaPlante -- -- Blake La Plante Investor | Realtor Wealth By RE M- 303-619-8288E- Blake@WealthbyRE.com WealthbyRE.com 405 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Siena Miller To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Protect Vail’s Local Restaurants and Community Character Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:34:23 PM Below is a clear, passionate, and respectful email that reflects the urgency and emotion in your message while remaining effective for Town Council outreach. I kept the tone firm but civic- minded so it’s more likely to be taken seriously and entered into the public record. You can copy/paste this directly or tell me if you want it sharper or more measured. Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing as someone who was born and raised in Vail, and who remains deeply proud of my hometown and the community that shaped me. That pride, however, is now accompanied by real concern and disappointment over the continued push to replace locally owned restaurants with additional luxury retail and top fashion stores in the Village. Establishments like the Red Lion, Blue Cow, and Big Bear are not just businesses — they are staples of Vail’s identity. They are gathering places where locals and visitors connect, where memories are made, and where the true character of our town lives. The Red Lion in particular is Vail’s oldest and longest-running restaurant, and its contribution to our town’s history, culture, and sense of community cannot be overstated. Local restaurants are what make Vail special. They are the heartbeat of the Village. Replacing them with more corporate retail strips away the authenticity that has always set Vail apart from other resort towns. We do not need more luxury storefronts that exist in every high-end destination — we need to protect what is uniquely ours. As someone who grew up here, it is deeply upsetting to watch corporate greed increasingly dictate the future of our town. Decisions that prioritize short-term financial gain over long- standing local institutions undermine the very spirit of Vail and risk turning our Village into something unrecognizable. I urge you to take into serious consideration what these locally owned restaurants mean to the people who live here, who grew up here, and who love this place. The future of Vail should be guided by the voices of its community — not by outside corporate interests. Once these institutions are gone, they cannot be replaced. Please do not allow the continued erosion of Vail’s character. Protect the local businesses that have helped define this town for generations. Thank you for your time and for listening to the voices of those who care deeply about Vail’s past, present, and future. Sincerely, Siena Miller 406 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Sara Henley To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Do not get rid of the red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:49:48 PM Hello, Please see below for a message from me, a current vail valley homeowner. The red lion is part of the identity of vail. I’ve been coming to vail since 1993, I buy an epic pass every year and ski about 25 days a year at vail. I represent much of the core clientele of vail village and we want the red lion to stay. Getting rid of the red lion robs vail of its identity and what makes it unique and special. The result would be losing customers as the village becomes more and more soulless and catered to the uber wealthy. Thank you, Sara Henley 407 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Charles L. Green To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:53:21 PM I have been coming to Vail since the 1970s. I can't even begin to imagine Vail without the Red Lion. I hope it will remain in Vail long after I am gone. Thank you. Charles Green 917.373.1055 408 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Annie Rapson Johnson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 7:59:33 PM I have been going to Vail for as long as I can remember. I love the Red Lion and the fact that it feels like “old time vail.” I’m not sure if your job is to preserve history or if it is just building approval, but I figured I’d let you know that people love it. Thanks. Anne 409 From:Brittanie Hansen To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:08:20 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department We need to preserve the red lion. Nothing is more important for a ski resort than history and a place of history that brings everyone together. I hope we do not turn the Red Lion into something that every other place has, we need something special. I see pictures of groups that say they’ve been going there for 50 years. Please and thank you for reading. Brittanie. Sent from my iPhone 410 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Tyler Johnson To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Keep the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:16:12 PM I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed demolition of the Red Lion. Tearing it down would mean losing a piece of Vail history that cannot be replaced by modern development. Walking past the Red Lion with my girls on the way to get our first view of the Gondola running up the mountain is a sign of comfort and joy. The Red Lion shows that Vail is fun, not just an expensive hobby. Please figure out a way to keep the character in Vail. Tyler Johnson - Red Lion fan 411 From:Emma Hall To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:23:01 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Another vote to save red lion. Let’s not lose the shreds of a local feel we have left !!!!! Emma Hall Sent from my iPhone 412 From:Michelle Murphy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:SAVE THE RED LION Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:27:37 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Please reconsider any plans of changing the Red Lion into yet more retail space man. We don’t need another mall! Help Vail maintain its character and save the iconic spot! Michelle Murphy 303-514-2627 413 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Jessica Denman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Restaurant Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:35:54 PM Hello, I am writing to express my concern for the development activity happening in Vail. I am a Colorado native. I own property in Denver and Vail Valley. I grew up going to the Lion and continue to frequent as one of my favorite spots in Vail. It’s a place for friends, family, local music, catching a game, and eating good food at a reasonable price. Ski towns need places like this to keep the culture. White table cloth establishments are too frequent now and retail isn’t needed where there is plenty. Please do what you can to keep a local favorite. Don’t let these businesses ruin our favorite places and push out people and businesses who love this town. Keep Vail a Colorado gem and protect the places that make it special. Jessica Denman 414 From:Kreston Rohrig To:Public Input Town Council Cc:White Room Adventures Subject:Stop killing Vail for more money Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:48:36 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern While I appreciate the desire to make money, sometimes retaining the soul of the town is more valuable than dollars. I grew up in Vail. I’ve lived in Vail off and on my adult life. I’ve watched our town go from the best ski town to hangout anytime of the day or night to a sterile environment where only the wealthy want to spend time. Not only did I stop buying a ski pass, but the only time I go to Vail is for events at the Ski Museum or fundraisers. We are losing our heritage all around the valley and this is just one more blow to the beautiful existence we once cherished. I implore you, please do not destroy yet another one of Vail’s historical sites in the name of making money. Isn’t heritage, catering to the locals and keeping Vail fun and a ski town more important than capitalism. Thank you for your time, Kelli Anthony Rohrig 415 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:briurton@me.com To:Public Input Town Council Cc:Brian Harris Subject:SAVE The Red Lion PLEASE Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 8:57:59 PM Dear Vail Council Members, I’m writing as a Colorado resident and longtime Vail visitor. I want to express my strong support for preserving The Red Lion restaurant and bar in Vail Village. This restaurant and building is a historic establishment that has been central to Vail Village’s identity since it first opened in mid-February 1963. My family and I have cherished The Red Lion for food and drink après ski or after a hike up Berry Picker since 2000. It is my hope you all recall that The Red Lion — originally the Red Lion Inn — was built in 1962 by Marge and Larry Burdick and quickly became Vail’s original hot spot for meeting, eating, and gathering. For decades, The Red Lion has hosted locals, visitors, and skiers alike, serving not just food and drink but creating community connections, and a welcoming place that no other venue in the Village can match. The Red Lion has remained a vibrant part of the social life of Vail — a place where locals and visitors experience a genuine slice of Vail’s history. Dining at The Red Lion is a must anytime we visit. Learning the restaurant may be replaced, or severely minimized around the corner, out of view of the main plaza, is heartbreaking. As Vail continues to grow and evolve, it’s understandable that development brings new economic opportunities. However, replacing treasured local institutions like The Red Lion with additional high-end retail and shopping not only erodes the character and vibrancy that make Vail Village so special. It also erases another (recall Los Amigos) community and visitor gathering space that has defined your town for over sixty years. In my opinion, The Red Lion is not just another business — it is part of your cultural heritage and a living link to Vail’s early days as a destination ski town. Visitors from around the world come to Vail. I would put money on the fact that they don’t remember or return to buy the next new handbag or sweater from a high-end shop on Bridge Street. But they do remember and desire to return for the Vail mountain experience followed by: The Red Lion’s World Famous Nachos, the fun conversation they had with a local skier on The Red Lion Patio, being drawn into the western bar by Andy’s live music, only to stay for the rest of the set and feeling that sense of belonging with Colorado’s locals over a draft. 416 Preserving landmarks like the Red Lion strengthens the social fabric of Vail, supports a diverse and welcoming visitor experience, and honors the history that makes this community unique. I urge the Council (you) to consider protections, designations, or incentives that ensure its continued presence in Vail Village — not as another generic retail space but as a place where locals and visitors can continue to gather and make memories for years to come. Please vote to retain Vail’s local heritage and community and work to keep The Red Lion in its current location and open for decades to come. Thank you very much for your time and your service to our community. Sincerely, Brian Harris and family Englewood, CO 303-870-2489 417 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Christine Ford To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion. Preserving The Red Lion While Allowing Thoughtful Redevelopment Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:03:18 PM Vail Town Council Vail , CO Re: Preserving The Red Lion While Allowing Thoughtful Redevelopment Dear Mayor and Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to respectfully urge the Town of Vail to protect one of the most iconic and culturally significant establishments in our community: The Red Lion. The Red Lion has been part of Vail since 1963, opening during the town’s earliest years and growing alongside the community itself. For more than six decades, it has served as a gathering place for locals, visitors, families, ski instructors, lift operators, business owners, and generations of Vail residents. It is not just a restaurant or bar — it is a living piece of Vail’s identity. I grew up here coming to Vail to learn to ski and learning what it is like to part of ski culture of Vail. I want to be clear: redevelopment and modernization of the corner is not the issue. Progress is healthy. Investment is welcome. Updating infrastructure and improving the built environment makes sense. However, redevelopment must not come at the cost of eliminating The Red Lion. The building can change. The footprint can evolve. But the institution — the culture, the name, the live music venue, the community gathering space — must remain. 418 Vail is increasingly at risk of losing its evening vitality and authentic social spaces. We are watching long-standing local character slowly replaced by quiet luxury, high-end retail, and businesses that close early and do not serve as true community hubs. The Red Lion is one of the last remaining places where people naturally gather after skiing — boots on, jackets off, laughter in the air, live music playing, stories being shared. Après ski is not an accessory to Vail — it is part of the culture. It is where memories are made: families celebrating great ski days, friends reconnecting, visitors experiencing the warmth and soul of the town. These shared moments build loyalty to Vail, not just tourism revenue. Removing The Red Lion would not simply remove a business. It would erase decades of tradition, community memory, and one of the few remaining authentic live music and social venues in Vail Village. I strongly encourage Town Council to: Require preservation of The Red Lion as part of any redevelopment plan Protect its ability to host live music and community gatherings Recognize its historic and cultural value to the town Ensure modernization does not sterilize Vail’s social heart Vail can grow without losing its soul. It can redevelop without erasing legacy institutions. It can modernize while honoring the places that helped build this town’s identity. Please choose thoughtful progress — not cultural loss. 419 Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to protecting what makes Vail special. Respectfully, Christine McFarland Vail homeowner and long time family wonders in Vail Christine_ford@icloud.com 303-526-8431 Sent from my iPhone Philippians 4:13 420 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karsen Williams To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Preserving the Red Lion as a Vail Landmark Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:04:18 PM Dear Vail Town Council, I am writing to express my strong support for keeping the Red Lion restaurant and bar in Vail exactly as it is. I grew up in Vail and still live here today, and the Red Lion has always been a defining part of the town I call home. It is not just another restaurant or bar. It is a local landmark and a recognizable trademark of Vail itself. For decades, it has served as a gathering place for locals, seasonal workers, and families who have shaped the community. In a ski town that has seen constant development and change, the Red Lion represents continuity, authenticity, and local culture. It is a place where residents feel at home and where the character of Vail is genuinely preserved. Once something like this is lost or significantly altered, it cannot be replaced. I strongly encourage you to consider the importance of preserving the Red Lion as the local haven it has always been. Protecting institutions like this helps ensure that Vail remains a real community, not just a destination. Thank you for your time and consideration. Regards, Karsen Karsen R. Williams (970) 390-5575 | karsenwilliams18@gmail.com 421 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Laura Roosevelt To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 9:39:46 PM Dear Members of the Town Council, My name is Laura Roosevelt. My family has been part of the Vail community since my grandparents purchased a residence in Golden Peak in 1972. I am writing to express my formal opposition to the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion building. While I understand the Council’s responsibility to review this proposal, I am concerned that the transition toward luxury retail will negatively impact the character and functionality of Bridge Street. Specifically, replacing essential establishments such as the Red Lion, Blü Cow, Big Bear Bistro, and Shakedown with high-end brands risks turning this vibrant area into a space devoid of the community atmosphere that visitors and residents value. The loss of legacy businesses, including the closures of the Rucksack, Moose’s Caboose, and Los Amigos, as well as the relocation of others (Golden Bear, chocolate factory, toy store), demonstrates a concerning trend. Although the proposed dining square footage may remain equivalent, moving these spaces to less visible locations, such as a basement level, diminishes the area's vitality. I urge the Council to prioritize the preservation of local businesses that sustain Vail’s unique identity and ensure it remains a welcoming destination for multi-generational families. Thank you for your time and for considering these concerns. Best regards, Laura Roosevelt -- Laura Roosevelt (303) 638-0766 422 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Zella Gorsuch To:Public Input Town Council Subject:RED LION MUST STAY Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:04:55 PM To whom it may concern on the council, I have grown up going to the Red Lion ever since I could crawl. This place has shaped the entire valley into what it is today. The history, the culture, and the vibes at Red Lion are one of kind to Vail. To see it go would be a heartbreak to the entire community. It’s disappointing to find out that one of this towns most legendary hotspots would be replaced by a Gucci, Prada, or Louis Vuitton… what would be worse is all three! We are NOT Aspen, and we must protect our roots and traditions at ALL COSTS. Please for the love of god do not give up the Red Lion for the locals sake. This place is apart of all of us now. Sincerely, Zella Gorsuch 423 From:Linda Lane Soper To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Don’t Change the Red Lion! Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:11:37 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department For God Sake, Please keep what makes Vail special in place. The Red Lion is one of those places that makes Vail so iconic. Do not change the village anymore, especially this historic corridor. It makes me truly sick that you’d even consider it. PLEASE, just NO to changing a thing. Let there be some history remaining…. If not, why come back to Vail? Saddened lifer of Vail Linda Soper Linda L. Soper President Linda Lane PR & Marketing 612.308.4159 linda@lindalanemarketing.com 424 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mike Denenberg To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 10:20:53 PM Vail without The Red Lion is not Vail. Simple as that. -- Mike Denenberg | (847) 337-0167 | mike@denenberg.net 425 From:Franny Viola To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Monday, January 19, 2026 11:11:01 PM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department is such a special place. i traveled from sf to be here with my girls for a special weekend pre my wedding. i have taken my kids here, gone with pals and have had so many laughs. you always feel like home with good music and good vibes. pls consider. my best. Sent from my iPhone 426 From:FH To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 5:47:33 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department To whom it may concern, The thought of losing an iconic place like the Red Lion in Vail has made a lot of people upset. The Red Lion is a huge part of Vail’s history. It was the first clinic before the hospital was built. The Red Lion has been a Vail staple when it comes to listening to live music and grabbing a drink with friends. Having high end brands is for Aspen. Vail has always been known for the local stores and non chain stores and restaurants. The Red Lion is one of these places. Would love nothing better than to see the Red Lion stay exactly where it is! Francesca Hetfield Sent from my iPhone 427 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Stefanie Turk To:Public Input Town Council Subject:How Much More Ugly Retail Does Vail Need??? Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 5:51:06 AM To The Town Council of Vail, I have spent countless years in Vail Village. I have worked at the Sonnenalp and even worked to get the Double Tree open. I watched as the town transformed into some gaudy travesty, spearheaded by your lover boy Peter Knobel. It truly was the greatest disappointment in the history of the town when the grocery store and movie theater were eliminated, and then the much-needed deli and grocery store in Willow Tree was converted into... more hideous fashion that no one asked for, and has changed shops 4 or 5 times now? Read the room: No One Wants More Ugly Overpriced Under Quality "Fashion". But this latest news is just the crap cherry on this whole crap cake. Taking a staple in the village and turning into more hideous retail that no one will ever buy? Do you want to turn prime restauruant real estate, with a perfect patio, open doors to enjoy live music in one of- what?- 2 places in the village anymore into just another vacant warehouse? So that grifters can just breeze through and laugh at how ridiculously priced these sweatshop garments are and laugh in the poor cashiers' faces? A restaurant employs many, a retail shop employs 10 at best. The Red Lion has done more good for the town of Vail in all of its years of operation than any clothing store has ever done, and I would even hedge to say that about Patagonia and Burton (Ride On Jake). At this point I would rather spend my money at Copper Mountain if this is how legends are treated. -- Stefanie Turk - They/Them 845-901-1085 stefanie.a.turk@gmail.com 428 From:Casey Esbin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Building Construction Complaint Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 6:45:30 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello, Please reconsider the plans for the building reconstruction that would eliminate the red lion restaurant. It is a vail village staple. We don’t need more luxury stores, we need to keep the integrity of our town & its local spots. I have been a partial resident of vail my entire life and to see this proposed plan come to fruition would be heartbreaking. Thank you for taking this into consideration. Best, Casey Esbin 429 From:Jaden M To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red lion reorientation Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 7:48:33 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department This plan is not good and won’t work. The red lion needs to not be shoved underground so people can look at high end stores. That makes no sense. Thank you Jaden Sent from my iPhone 430 From:Paige Eaton To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the RED LION Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:14:07 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I have lived in Vail 35 years and have seen our town go through many changes, some good but it is hard to see all the changes. Vail is nothing like it used to be, it has become extremely international as far as visitors and workers. I used to feel like a local and say hi to so many when walking up and down Bridge street and on the slopes. Now I barely know anyone or recognize the “vibe” that I had grown up with the old Vail. The Red Lion is truly an iconic spot and probably one that locals and any visitors know and love. It would be heartbreaking to make it another high end clothing store for tourist needs only. With Los Amigos gone, we need to keep a mass volume restaurant at the top of Bridge street. By changing Vail’s vibe and looking at what the future brings for Vail it makes me want to consider moving from the place I loved. Please consider keeping the Red Lion as you will be keeping a true sense of the iconic Vail and what it used to be and why I,and most of the locals and visitors were drawn to it in the first place. Paige Eaton Sent from my iPhone 431 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Mary Sue Katz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Re redevelopment application at Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:17:55 AM Dear Town Council, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed changes to the Red Lion property. First, I believe recent articles in the Vail Daily have caused public confusion regarding the specifics of this project. Furthermore, social media discussions have raised several legitimate questions that deserve attention. I personally found the property's branding misleading, as the Landmark project adopted the Red Lion name despite having no affiliation with the iconic restaurant. While I recognize that this is a private property and the owners have the right to determine their tenants, the public is understandably dismayed by the loss of yet another familiar landmark. It is not in the Town’s best interest to diminish Vail's vibrant curb appeal. Maintaining a visible, lively street-side restaurant and patio is crucial to our community's character. I ask that you allow the developer to choose their tenants, but please do not permit such a drastic change as the relocation of the restaurant away from the street front. Best regards, Mary Sue Katz Mary Sue Katz Mailing address: 1881 Lions Ridge Loop #14, Vail, Colorado 81657 cell # 970-331-3327 mspkatz@gmail.com 432 From:John Hess To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:18:18 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Town of Vail Leadership, Please reconsider actions associated with the closure of the Red Lion. I have witnessed first hand the positive and at times the dramatic changes to Vail over the last 45 plus years, however at some point heritage and authenticity matter to many of your lifelong residents and visitors. The Red Lion has been an iconic Vail Village meeting place for many of us throughout the decades, and it links the past, present and future of countless Red Lion current and new patrons. As Vail continues to evolve, it is vital we don’t loose our roots completely! Regards, John Hess 433 From:PAM AND DAN SHELTON To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:19:45 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I have lived in the Vail area for over 50 years and watched the whole town being torn down and redeveloped and yes, it does look better but can’t we leave a few monumental, historical and sentimental values? Do we really need more high end retail stores? We’re not Aspen, nor do we want to be! Let the Red Lion be and don’t let the greedy landlords control the Town Council. 434 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Grace Linafelter To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:29:57 AM Dear Members of the Town Council, I am writing as a member of this community to express my deep concern regarding the proposed redevelopment plans for The Red Lion building. This building and establishment have had an unquantifiable impact on the community and me personally. On a personal level, the Red Lion has shaped who I am. I quite literally grew up within its walls. I spun around on barstools, asking bartenders to add extra whipped cream to my hot chocolate after long days of DEVO. I danced with my dad to Phil Long’s cover of “Brown Eyed Girl” in the brief moments when he wasn’t greeting customers or checking in with employees. As an impatient five-year-old waiting for adults to finish their conversations, I cleaned the mirrors lining the stairway to the bathroom with Windex just to pass the time. As I got older, my role in the restaurant grew with me. I helped servers as an “assistant” long before I was officially employed, and my first real job—the summer after my freshman year of high school—was as a hostess. I remember being nervous that I was far younger than my coworkers and worried they might not treat me seriously. That fear disappeared the moment I walked through the door. I was treated not only as a coworker, but as a valued member of a family—met with patience, respect, and genuine care. Many of the employees have been part of my life since I was born. They are my family. Whether someone has worked at the Red Lion for decades or joined more recently, the restaurant's culture creates an immediate sense of belonging. It is a place where people are welcomed, supported, and valued—not just as workers, but as people. That sense of community extends far beyond the staff. The sound of live music and the unmistakable smell of nachos draw people in from Bridge Street. Once inside, customers become part of something larger. You can feel the energy of connection—between locals, visitors, employees, and friends—simply by being there. This is a place where people gather, celebrate, unwind, and truly experience the town. Our town is often described as being “like nothing on earth.” That distinction comes from its people, its culture, and the spaces that allow community to flourish— not from high-end retail chains that can be found in nearly any resort destination. Replacing a long-standing, locally rooted establishment with luxury retail risks erasing the very character that makes this place special. When I was younger, I was once deeply upset when the French fries were changed because I feared the place wouldn’t feel the same. I quickly learned that it 435 was never a specific menu item that made this restaurant feel like home—it is the cultural institution that makes this a gathering place. Losing this place would not only be devastating to me personally but also to the broader community that has found connection, stability, and belonging within its walls. I respectfully ask that you oppose any decision that would force this restaurant—and others like it—out of our community, and instead explore solutions that preserve both economic vitality and cultural heritage. Kindest Regards, Grace Linafelter 436 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karen Tobin To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Inn Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:46:05 AM For the record the thought of Vail Village without such a staple as the Red Lion Inn is horrible. We bring everyone visiting from out of town to this long standing relic and cannot imagine why anyone would want to change that at all! DO not take away Red Lion Inn from us! Karen Tobin 51 W Main Street Frisco CO 437 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Lexi McCann To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion! Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:04:44 AM To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to strongly encourage you to fully consider the Red Lion’s irreplaceable contribution to Vail’s history, culture, and future as you deliberate on decisions that will affect its fate. For decades, the Red Lion has been far more than a business. It has been a gathering place where locals and visitors alike have shared music, stories, celebrations, and community. It represents a living piece of Vail’s identity—one that cannot be replicated once lost. Places like the Red Lion are what give Vail its soul, setting it apart from other resort towns that have traded authenticity for uniformity. I urge you to take the Red Lion's long standing role and cultural significance into serious account as decisions are made. Thank you, Lexi McCann (Denver native, Vail enthusiast) -- Lexi McCann, Principal 303-916-1223 merchantsco.com 438 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Evan Malloy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:15:52 AM To whom it may concern, I implore the council to deny the current plans to renovate the existing Red Lion building. Losing the original building of the Red Lion will ruin bridge street’s charm. The last thing Vail needs is another cookie cutter “luxury” building. Ski towns need affordable local hangouts. The George is already being sold, so how can we afford to lose another space for people to gather? Not to mention, this would send a terrible message that local businesses being around for 60+ years hold smaller priority to the Town of Vail than developers with more money. We have a chance to save a landmark, and I hope we can find a solution here. Sincerely, A concerned Colorado resident. Evan Malloy 439 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Steve Gaal To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion support Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:22:11 AM There is very little left in town in the way of affordable or even publicly accessible apres restaurant. We have lost the Red Lion (TBD), Fall Line (Ore House), Tap Room etc. Restaurants like the Red Lion support locals and remain open when many retail outlets close for the evening or season. The money from a high end store will be taken out of town except for the minimum wage the employees make. Bridge Street will feel like a ghost town except for Pepis and Vendetta’s at night and in the off seasons. Please protect this historic landmark and an important piece of our valley. Sincerely, Steve Gaal m: 720-626-0075 f: 303-933-6222 Steven.gaal@me.com 440 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Susan Kerr To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:22:22 AM City council: Please, please consider keeping the Red Lion in your amazing town. It is an iconic symbol of the community and culture of skiing and of Vail itself. Homogenizing cities with more upscale retail that one can find almost anywhere is what takes away from the feel and memories that draw us to places like Vail over and over. Chain retail stores are not what make Vail Vail! I have been frequenting the Red Lion and Vail since 1992, and the memories created could never match or come close to .....memories of buying a PURSE? It just breaks my heart and skiing soul to think that the Red Lion could be gone for shopping - or be made smaller or squeezed somewhere lesser. Please know that people CARE and don't want the Red Lion to be gone or changed! Susan Kerr Overland Park, KS 441 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Natalie Golden To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Urgent Appeal to Preserve The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:28:40 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to express my profound concern regarding the proposed real estate development that threatens the future of The Red Lion. As a frequent visitor to Vail for the past fifteen years, I strongly urge the Council to require a redesign of this project that ensures the full preservation of this defining landmark. For my family, and countless others, The Red Lion is far more than a restaurant; it is a Vail institution and a cornerstone of our community experience. For over a decade and a half, our Spring Break and summer trips have centered around the memories made within its walls. From warming up with hot chocolate after a day on the mountain to sharing their famous nachos during après ski, The Red Lion represents the heart of Vail’s heritage and character. While I understand the desire for growth, development should not come at the cost of the town’s soul. Replacing or significantly altering such a historic site diminishes the very charm that draws visitors to Vail year after year. I ask that you prioritize the preservation of The Red Lion and its cultural legacy by directing the developers to integrate this landmark into any future plans rather than displacing it. Please protect the heritage of Vail village for the next generation of families. Sincerely, Natalie Golden Dallas, TX 442 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Christian Lemon To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Redesign - Public Comment from Christian Lemon Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:51:05 AM Attachments:Red Lion Redesign - Public Comment - Christian Lemon.pdf Dear Vail Town Council, Please see my comments below regarding the proposed redesign of the Red Lion building, also PDF'd and attached for ease of printing if necessary. Dear Vail Design & Review Board, I’m reaching out to share public comment and professional insight regarding the proposed redesign of the Red Lion building. Speaking from experience over 15+ years as a licensed architect, urban designer, and real estate developer, the proposed removal of streetside dining currently occupied by The Red Lion in lieu of high-end retail shopping is a poor design decision that will negatively impact the Vail Village community. Street-level activation, provided by restaurants, cafes, and bars open to the public, is essential to a healthy and safe pedestrian environment. Relocating food and beverage use to below grade in spaces lacking natural light, passive ventilation, and direct engagement with the pedestrian community is unhealthy, unnatural, and should be governed by pragmatic zoning resolutions. Privatizing historic community spaces for the sale of expensive luxury goods with limited business hours will inevitably degrade the adjacent public realm, tarnishing the historic charm and sense of community that activates Vail Village and makes the town so inviting and special to all. High-end retail shopping is inappropriate for the subject building in this specified location. The Red Lion establishment is a staple of the Vail Village community. Its enduring success is not alone due to the lively après scene and world-famous nachos, but also much because of the restaurant’s ideal position at the base of Gondola One adjacent to the Bridge Street Fountain. The sound of live music lures one in and the sliding glass windows extend the good times into the street, complementing the surrounding businesses and essential to placemaking of Vail Village. Whether the future establishment remains The Red Lion will be a business decision for the respective restaurant owner and landlord (and personally I hope it remains the Red Lion forever). Regardless, I urge the Vail Design and Review Board to consider the highest and best use for the community of Vail, which is that the subject building’s real estate adjacent Bridge Street and the Fountain be zoned to remain a restaurant use open to the public with direct engagement to the pedestrian thoroughfare. Thank you for your time and consideration in shaping Vail Village for future generations. Best Regards. Christian B. Lemon, AIA 443 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Ross Sneed To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Please do not run off Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:55:15 AM Attachments:Outlook-MCat To whom it may concern. Please do whatever is needed to Keep red lion in the village it's one of the last places you can go with kids in ski gear and have live music and enjoy some fresh air with the windows open. Restaurants are hard to make economic sense, and the village needs to encourage this type of environment by tax breaks or whatever it can to keep them in business. Thank you, Ross Sneed International Sales Representative Cell: 832-477-7700 Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. My typed name in this email or my name in the “from” line is not my or my employer’s electronic signature. Nothing in this email is intended to create or form a contract between the parties. Nothing in this message is intended to constitute an Electronic signature for purposes of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) or the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (“E- Sign”) unless a specific statement to the contrary is included in this message. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. 444 To: Vail Design and Review Board From: Christian B. Lemon Date: January 20th, 2026 Subject: Red Lion Redesign – Public Comment Red Lion Redesign – Public Comment January 20th, 2026 Dear Vail Design & Review Board, I’m reaching out to share public comment and professional insight regarding the proposed redesign of the Red Lion building. Speaking from experience over 15+ years as a licensed architect, urban designer, and real estate developer, the proposed removal of streetside dining currently occupied by The Red Lion in lieu of high- end retail shopping is a poor design decision that will negatively impact the Vail Village community. Street-level activation, provided by restaurants, cafes, and bars open to the public, is essential to a healthy and safe pedestrian environment. Relocating food and beverage use to below grade in spaces lacking natural light, passive ventilation, and direct engagement with the pedestrian community is unhealthy, unnatural, and should be governed by pragmatic zoning resolutions. Privatizing historic community spaces for the sale of expensive luxury goods with limited business hours will inevitably degrade the adjacent public realm, tarnishing the historic charm and sense of community that activates Vail Village and makes the town so inviting and special to all. High-end retail shopping is inappropriate for the subject building in this specified location. The Red Lion establishment is a staple of the Vail Village community. Its enduring success is not alone due to the lively après scene and world-famous nachos, but also much because of the restaurant’s ideal position at the base of Gondola One adjacent to the Bridge Street Fountain. The sound of live music lures one in and the sliding glass windows extend the good times into the street, complementing the surrounding businesses and essential to placemaking of Vail Village. Whether the future establishment remains The Red Lion will be a business decision for the respective restaurant owner and landlord (and personally I hope it remains the Red Lion forever). Regardless, I urge the Vail Design and Review Board to consider the highest and best use for the community of Vail, which is that the subject building’s real estate adjacent Bridge Street and the Fountain be zoned to remain a restaurant use open to the public with direct engagement to the pedestrian thoroughfare. Thank you for your time and consideration in shaping Vail Village for future generations. Best regards, Christian B. Lemon 445 From:sptone@juno.com To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Fw: Red Lion/Village Character Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:03:45 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Good Morning Council, I'm writing to express my dismay and sadness with the possible somewhat forced closing of the Red Lion. I grew up skiing Vail as my family bought a unit in Village Center Building B in the early 70's. I met my wife there in 1984 over Spring Break and now own a unit at Villa Cortina ensuring our grandkids will learn their love of skiing at Vail just as my family has! (I even worked with early Vail pioneer Dick Bohr's store in Cleveland Ohio and my brother worked on Race Crew in the 80's and painted chairlifts with longtime instructor Howie Rapson) I do understand that nothing stays the same forever and have seen plenty of changes in Vail over the years but the rapidly changing landscape of the Village is so disheartening. Beyond our love for the Mountain itself, my family and friends love the Village for it's ski town atmosphere frequenting our favorites, Vendetta's, Red Lion, Vail Brewing, Shakedown, Pazzo's, Alpenrose, Joe's Deli, Up The Creek, Mountain Standard, Pepi's, 10th Mountain, Buzz's, Christy's. We truly miss Los Amigo's as it was often our first stop upon leaving the mountain. In my humble opinion Vail has enough uber high end boutiques that we already never frequent. The Red Lion is a staple in Vail do to it's infectious vibe that really lights up the Village during Apres' and into the evenings. Swapping this out for a yet another high-end retail boutique would create a dead zone in a prime Village location, also putting stress on the few remaining spots as the crowds migrate to those. We already find ourselves in Minturn, Eagle Vail and even Leadville way more than in the past. In the end, I'm afraid the $ will win out but that doesn't make it right. And although we don't rent our unit that often as we use it a fair amount, I worry that the loss of character in the Village will negatively impact my unit as the Village moves away from that fun, family vibe that it's been known for over the last 60+ years. I only ask that you do what you can to keep Vail a true ski town, not a luxury boutique outdoor mall. Please send a message that enough is enough. Thanks for your consideration, Geoff Bonebrake and Family 446 From:Matt O"meara To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Thoughts about Red Lion redevelopment plan Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:06:19 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Dear Council Members, As a full-time resident of West Vail, I am taking an opportunity to convey my concerns about the redevelopment proposal for the Red Lion building. As a real estate investor, I am sensitive to the rights of a property owner’s ability to use and improve property within the framework established by the community on which the property is situated. Property redevelopment can help improve the long-term sustainability and viability of a community when it’s done well. Unfortunately, redevelopment can also destroy the look and feel of a community, particularly when it ousts long-standing, locally- owned, and commercially viable businesses in favor of chain stores. The Red Lion development plan as presented creates a couple of problems including a likely reduction in pedestrianization, street life, and historic business features. First, it proposes to effectively eliminate at least two and possibly three eating establishments near the base of the mountain. There are already too few options available in this regard, especially after the loss of Los Amigos. A ski mountain town should have jovial congregations near the base of the mountain, so visitors(our city’s life blood) can easily obtain refreshment near the base. What choices for apres ski at the base will visitors have if this development is completed as planned? All great ski towns in the US and Europe have multiple at base options for apres ski. Among other aspects, I suspect that having dining and apres ski options near the base keeps guests circulating in town and increases economic vitality. Secondly, the proposal to relegate remaining tenants to subterranean space will reduce their draw to foot traffic and reduce the vibrancy of the streets. Underground eating establishments will not be visible and will be potentially difficult to reach for folks in ski boots. Has a study been done to determine how the luxury retail stores proposed on Bridge St will draw foot traffic to the area and the base of the mountain? Has a survey been done to ask visitors about their desire to visit underground restaurants? I love the idea of a larger concert venue and Vail could definitely use more music. However, it the proposed size does not seem sufficiently large to draw different acts than are already here. Lastly, the individuals that own the establishments that would be ousted are long-term residents that have made a tangible contribution to the look and feel of Vail; they are part of the history of the town. Visitors actually come to visit them, and that is a verifiable fact. As standalone entities, once these establishments are gone, they are likely gone forever. What is the historical significance of a multinational retailer to visitors of Vail? How would those shops perform and how would they improve a visitors perception of our town and likelihood to come back? Perhaps the Vail Town Council does not have the authority to guide redevelopment plans to the extent that I am hoping. However if the council does have that capability, I think it would be wise to think through the long-term ramifications that this development would have on the area of the village directly adjacent to the base of the so area and on the guest experience. Thank you, Matthias O'Meara 970-331-0330 447 448 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Anna Cooley To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save the Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:31:31 AM Town Council – After reading a few articles about the proposed new development to replace The Red Lion I wanted to voice my disappointment in this as an idea and encourage you all to vote NO on this proposed plan. The Red Lion is a stalwart of Vail Village and one place that has kept the history of the town and fun vibe for ALL (not just the wealthy) throughout the years. I have so many memories over the last thirty years going to the Red Lion and I know many other friends and family do as well – losing this restaurant would be a travesty. Replacing The Red Lion would be removing a piece of town history and take one more step towards completely sterilizing Vail to being the bougie monstrosity every new development brings with it. Think about maintaining a important piece of history and inclusivity in Vail. Without places like this, I am less and less interested in spending time and money in this town as it turns into another Aspen or Park City. This would be a terrible loss. Anna Cooley SV Capital Partners annacooley@svcapital.com | 303-949-2332 449 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Brielle9393 To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Save The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:36:45 AM Dear Vail Town Council Members, Change is inevitable, but as a community we share a responsibility to protect the places that have become our landmarks. The Red Lion, as you know, is one of those places—woven into Vail’s ski culture and town history since 1963. Beyond being a beloved spot to après and gather with family and friends, The Red Lion holds personal meaning for me. It’s where I had my first summer job in Vail in 1997, and where I met two extraordinary locals and dear friends, Doug Schwartz and Karri Casner—both fellow Red Lion employees, and both sadly no longer with us. Karri was a victim of the 2002 Bali bombing, and her family funded a memorial bench in Vail Village, intentionally placed directly across from The Red Lion. It is a deeply meaningful tribute, and one I sincerely hope remains exactly where it was intended to be. Rod and Stephanie Linafelter, owners of The Red Lion, are dear friends who genuinely love this community and have worked tirelessly to preserve the history and character of their establishment. The walls inside tell the story of Vail’s longest-running business, and I fully understand why the proposed changes strike at the very core of what The Red Lion is. For that reason, I support the Linafelters’ right to either preserve The Red Lion as it exists today, or to close rather than see it stripped of the atmosphere that made it special. Restaurants have lined Bridge Street for decades, making it unnecessary to force The Red Lion to reorient along Hanson Ranch Road. Expecting the restaurant to seat patrons underground is unacceptable. Locals and visitors alike value the energy and vitality The Red Lion brings to Bridge Street. We are a ski town, after all—street life should be part of who we are. While I understand the need for infrastructure improvements and more elevated services to meet the expectations of an evolving visitor base, we must be careful not to erase the character and history that made this town what it is. Those who choose to live in town do not do so for solitude or privacy. Please don’t suffocate the establishments that provide street-level vibrancy, fun, and a reason to come into town and enjoy our Village—year after year, and in this case, decade after decade. To the extent that you can help preserve The Red Lion and all that it represents, I sincerely hope you will. Respectfully, Brielle Strauss 450 451 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:peter glyman To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:40:57 AM I am writing to urge you to reconsider the redevelopment plan for the Red Lion. This establishment is a cornerstone of our neighborhood, and a place where memories have been created for decades. When most people think of Vail, the red lion is often what comes to mind. 452 From:Brett Bialik To:Public Input Town Council Subject:New Development without Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:53:05 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hi Vail Town Council, I recently heard about the new proposed development that would close and replace the Red Lion. This update made me very sad, as I feel that the Red Lion is a Vail staple. Ask anyone who has been to Vail and they’ll have a story about the live music, a post wedding party, or the nachos. The Red Lion provides a healthy dose of character in Vail and it would be a shame to see it go. Best, Brett Sent from my iPhone 453 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Heather Hughes To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:56:49 AM Dear Members of the Vail Town Council, I am writing to express my strong support for the Red Lion Restaurant and my deep concern over its potential closure due to redevelopment. The Red Lion is not just another business—it is part of the cultural backbone of Vail. For decades, it has been a place where locals and visitors alike gather to celebrate, cheer on their favorite team and listen to great music. We are seeing too many legacy establishments disappear in favor of projects that may look good on paper but steadily erode what makes Vail feel real, lived-in, and human. If we continue down this path, we risk turning Vail into a place that looks beautiful but feels hollow —a resort rather than a town. I urge the Town Council to recognize the Red Lion as a cultural asset, not simply a parcel of real estate. Protecting long-standing institutions like this is essential if Vail is serious about preserving its identity, supporting local businesses, and honoring the generations who helped build the community we benefit from today. Please do everything within your power to support the Red Lion’s continued operation and ensure that redevelopment decisions reflect the long-term cultural health of Vail, not just short-term economic gain for a limited group of developers. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Heather O Hughes 454 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karl Wimer To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion redevelopment Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:07:24 AM Attachments:NDabdb0WksA6EMhV.png BwuZM8gvGgyiYNt9.png 5xnTfYXsjff4vJq4.png kfwimer profile cartoon sm ls.png Dear Vail Town Council, I was deeply disturbed about the news of the development plans for a true Vail institution, the Red Lion. The Wimer family bought their house on Aspen Lane 41 years ago and our extended family and friends have been active in every facet of Vail life on the slopes, on the lacrosse fields, in the art galleries (my Mom as a professional artist), at Bravo Vail, and in every restaurant and bar through the years. The one constant has been the Red Lion for food, drinks, live music, soaking up sun on the patio, watching the 4th of July parade, and most importantly meeting up with friends new and old. Seeing the plans and understanding how dramatically it would change the entire concept, as well as hearing Red Lion proprietor Rod Linafelter's justified pushback, I feel strongly that I needed to add my voice to the request to block this. There is no similar gathering place in Vail Village, and this development will create an imbalance in the kind of offerings for this community and its visitors. I'm asking as a member of the Wimer family that you vote against this plan. Thanks. Sincerely, Karl Wimer -- Karl F. Wimer 1616 14th St., 5a Denver, CO 80202 303 746-1305 karlwimer.com 455 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Frank Doupona To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Redevelopment Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:07:54 AM This redevelopment story would be very funny if this was an April Fool’s joke, but it's a few months early. What’s not funny is the idea of putting more retail where the existing Red Lion is. I’m starting to understand why old people get grumpy, and pace around muttering to themselves. The Burton Open – Gone. The Dew Tour – Gone. Los Amigos – Gone. Remember the roar of the crowd as skiers pin wheeled down Head First after losing a ski? Gone. Replaced by the more polished but stodgy Sixty Two Society. But great news! Sixty Two Society has partnered with Gorsitch and your membership grants you access! I understand there are reasons for all of these moves, but the end result is the same. This path forward continues to drain the life and color out of the Vail experience. Vail is working on a more perfect shade of beige. Vail has long drawn inspiration from medieval European villages, known for their charm, walkability, and scale. These spaces are alive with people, music, and street performers. Bridge Street needs more of Red Lion's dining on the street, live music pouring out of its open windows, stoked visitors eating on the patio, not less. I strongly encourage you to keep the Red Lion dining establishment in its current location and focus on optimizing it to its fullest potential. Retail development would be far better suited to areas such as Hansen Ranch Road, Gore Creek Drive, or East Meadow Drive. Realistically, the incremental retail revenue generated at this location is unlikely to materially impact Landmark’s(Red Lion LLC) broader portfolio—but the loss to Bridge Street’s vibrancy would be significant. Please help preserve what makes Bridge Street special. Keep it alive, dynamic, and authentic. Huge Vail fan, Frank Doupona 456 From:Steve Sweeney To:Public Input Town Council Subject:red lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:28:26 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department the after ski at the red lion is one of the reasons we come to vail closing would be a huge mistake Sent from my iPhone 457 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Kirsten To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:30:39 AM Hi there, Envisioning the future Vail 2030 hypothetical. I come down from skiing, Walk by what used to be the best look out spot for watching the skiers and soaking up the sun with a margarita. Now replaced by a high end club and ski lockers. RIP Los Amigos 2025. You had a great run. Walk down bridge street to my other favorite tourist spot where I used to hear the music play when I walked by to see all the people dancing to their favorite Apres musician. Nope now that is gone also. I hear it may be in the basement level. It will never be the same under street level. Memories of the Club and Nicks. I could have a drink at the Blu Cow. Nope they are gone also after the Red Lion redevelopment. Let’s see I can go to Vendettas. Thank god something is still here. My kids really want a burger………..hmmm. SOL Oh wait we have another high end boutique that Vail doesn’t need. Are we in a big city? God I hope not. Where is Vail heading? We have come a long way since my family got here in 1973 with KFC in the village but we are not headed in a good direction VAIL-the high end town with no history or soul. Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS 458 From:Mark Maglio To:Public Input Town Council Subject:No to Red Lion remodeling Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:31:51 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I have been to Vail every year for 30 years. I have seen many changes good and bad, but remodeling the Red Lion building for more retail space is a bad idea. The iconic Red Lion is world renowned. They provide live music, great food and memories that keeps people coming back to Vail. Retail shops at ground level and underground restaurants is not the answer. That will not attract people to the village. Please reconsider this proposal. Regards, Mark Maglio 459 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Joe Mrak To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion and Blu Cow Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:32:01 AM I have been in the valley since 1994 and have a home in Vail the last 12 years. I know the owners of both these classic Vail institutions and want to voice that I would rather they stay where they are. It would be very hard to imagine the town without the Red Lion. Every time I have guests visits that’s where they always want to go for great live music and the place has a ton of character. There are plenty of other places for high end stores. Joe Mrak Joseph Mrak Owner & President 535 Talbert Dr., Suite 203 Plano, Texas 75903 Mobile: 862-754-1704 Joe@cwstoneworks.com Confidentiality Note: This email may contain confidential and/or private information. If you received this email in error, please delete and notify sender. 460 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Marc Barella To:Public Input Town Council Subject:The Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:37:49 AM To whom it may concern: Please don't allow more of the town & ski culture that made Vail to continue to evaporate. As they say, when it's gone, it's gone. Do the right thing here and try to prevent a tragedy in your/our town. Sincerely, Marc Barella (someone who cares more about skiing & riding than Gucci). 461 Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department From:Karthik Sivakumar To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:42:32 AM Please don’t allow the closing a cultural institution like the red lion!! 462 From:Eileen Schwartz To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:45:23 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department My love of Colorado grew in the 1990’s when I was introduced to skiing. For so many winters I traveled across Kansas with friends to ski Vail. We loved Vail and the Red Lion which is the perfect Apres Ski place where locals and tourists became one! I moved to Colorado in 2005 and continued to visit the Red Lion with new friends and those who came to visit. We got married in Vail and celebrated with friends and family at the Red Lion. Now, as a mom, we’ll stop by with our kids for appetizers and an early dinner and still LOVE that this place has not been changed to a “cookie cutter” Apres Ski location. Please do not get rid of this Vail icon. Eileen Schwartz Sent from my iPhone 463 From:Alison Reynolds To:Public Input Town Council Subject:RedLion Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:55:45 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department Hello Vail Town Council, I am writing to let you know that I strongly oppose the plans for the Red Lion space redevelopment. Do not remove beloved and needed culinary institutions like the Red Lion and all of the tenants in that building. Vail is already struggling and you would be removing the heart and soul of the village. Thank you, Alison Reynolds 464 From:Diane Moudy To:Public Input Town Council Subject:Red Lion building Date:Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:56:33 AM Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments. When in doubt, contact Vail IT Department I am requesting to please not have the Red Lion building changed into high-end shopping. Keep it as a historic location as well as the blue cow. It would be an absolute shame for Vail to turn into more of aspen than it already is. I’ve lived here a very, very long time and it makes me so sad to see our town change. Thank you 465 AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.1 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Beth Markham, Environmental Sustainability ITEM TYPE:Consent Agenda AGENDA SECTION:Consent Agenda (6:10pm) SUBJECT:Contract Award to Drop Mobility for Shift Bike Electric Bike Share Program SUGGESTED ACTION:Authorize Town Manager to enter into an agreement, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, with Drop Mobility for Shift Bike, in an amount not to exceed $175,000. PRESENTER(S):Beth Markham VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: Shift Bike Regional E-Bike Share Contract Memo 012026.pdf 466 To: Vail Town Council From: Environmental Sustainability Department Date: January 20, 2026 Subject: Shift Bike Regional Electric Bike Share Program Contract I. Purpose The purpose of this memo is to request the Vail Town Council to award the regional electric bike share contract to Drop Bike, DBA Drop Mobility in the amount not to exceed $175,000 in a form approved by the town attorney for the 2026 Shift Bike regional electric bike share program. II. Background Shift Bike, the regional electric bike (e-bike) share program provided by Drop Mobility launched in 2022 with 90 e-bikes and 15 stations in Vail, EagleVail, and Avon. The program expanded by 40% in 2023 to 155 e-bikes and 33 stations extending from East Vail to West Edwards and the system size remained the same in 2024 and similar in 2025 with one additional station added in Edwards funded by Vail Health. The Vail Town Council allocated $175,000 in the 2026 budget to launch the fifth year of the regional electric bike share program in collaboration with Town of Avon, EagleVail Metro District, Edwards Metro District, and Eagle County Government. III. 2026 Shift Bike System The proposed 2026 Shift Bike system in Vail will experience a slight increase in size over 2025, which will include the Town of Vail fleet incorporating two electric cargo bikes to assist with hauling larger items such as groceries. In addition, Town of Vail will add five more e-bikes and two additional stations. Following several requests to add a station since the launch of the program, one station will be added at Buzzard Park TOV employee housing to help employees commute around town. Another station will be added either near the Golden Peak area or the Vail Golf Club. Eagle County Government is also adding an additional station with additional five e-bikes in Edwards as well. With the additions, the total budget from Drop Mobility for the full system in 2026 is $328,434, which is less than the $331,400 budget in 2025. Cost savings are due to the original 155 e-bikes deployed in the first two years of the program now being paid off lowering the annual leasing cost for each of those bikes to $250/season fee rather than $175/bike/month as in previous contracts. Each partner community will contribute the following amount for 202 6: • Vail (51.7%)- $169,500 • Avon (23.2%)- $76,200 • EagleVail (7.7%)- $25,400 • Eagle County Government/Edwards Metro (17.4%)- $57,334 Total 2026 Cost: $328,434 467 Town of Vail Page 2 The 2026 contract includes 165 e-bikes, two electric cargo bikes and 36 hub stations throughout Vail, EagleVail, Avon and Edwards. Hardware will be distributed proportionately to funding allocations per community as follows: • Vail: 86 e-bikes, 2 electric cargo bikes and 18 stations, • Avon: 35 e-bikes and 9 stations, • EagleVail: 14 e-bikes and 3 stations, and • Edwards: 30 e-bikes and 7 stations. The budget also includes: • deployment, • hardware: bikes, racks, wayfinder signage, spare batteries, tools, and spare parts, • software customization: including website, mobile app, and dashboard • software platform fees: dashboard, app and website maintenance, hosting, data fees, GPS, etc. • all operations by a local team: including maintenance, daily rebalancing, charging via swappable batteries, customer service, leasing and running local maintenance shop (or partnering with existing local bike shop), labor costs • administrative costs, • off-season storage at the Avon warehouse, • marketing and community outreach, including a part time local marketing staff person. In Vail, hub stations will be located at: Ellefson Park, Intermountain Pocket Park, West Vail Mall bus stop, Glacier Court Bus Stop, top of Buffehr Creek Rd, Timber Ridge, Middle Creek, Donovan Park, Simba Run bus stop, Lionshead Transit Center, Vail Public Library parking lot, Vail Village Transit Center, Ford Park, Booth Lake trailhead, Pitkin Creek bus stop, and Bighorn Park. Two new stations will be located at Buzzard Park and either near Golden Peak or the Vail Golf Course. Drop Mobility will conduct outreach to secure sponsors for any potential system expansion. Sponsorships may also reduce the cost to the partner communities. Weather pending, the e-bike share program will launch May 1st and run through October 31, 2026. IV. Action Requested of Council Staff requests the Vail Town Council direct the Town Manager to enter into an agreement in a form approved by the town attorney with Drop Bike, DBA Drop Mobility in amount not to exceed $175,000 for the execution of the Shift Bike Regional Electric Bike Share Program in 2026. 468 AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.2 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Tom Kassmel, Public Works ITEM TYPE:Consent Agenda AGENDA SECTION:Consent Agenda (6:10pm) SUBJECT:Contract Award to 3d Identity for Dobson Arena Signage SUGGESTED ACTION:Authorize the Town Manager to enter into an agreement, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, with 3d identity for Dobson Arena signage, in an amount not to exceed $250,000. VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: Council Memo 1-20-26_DobsonSignageAward.docx 469 To: Town Council From: Public Works Department Date: January 20, 2026 Subject: Dobson Arena Signage Contract Award I. SUMMARY As a part of the Dobson Arena project town staff publicly advertised a RFP for the design, fabrication, and installation of a sign package for the Dobson Arena, including code required signage, internal wayfinding signage, and marquee signage. The Town received two responses in December, one from 3d identity and one from Signarama. After a thorough review of each proposal and interviews, town staff is recommending that the town award the contract to 3D Identity in an amount not to exceed $250,000. This amount is in line with the expected work and within the existing project budget. II. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends awarding the contract to 3d identity in an amount not to exceed $250,000 in a form approved by the Town Attorney. 470 AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.3 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Consent Agenda AGENDA SECTION:Consent Agenda (6:10pm) SUBJECT:Contract Award to SEON Safe Fleet to Replace Transit Surveillance System Equipment SUGGESTED ACTION:Authorize the Town Manager to enter into a contract, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, with SEON Safe Fleet to replace transit surveillance system equipment, in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00. VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: Council Memo-Bus Camera System.docx 471 To: Town Council From: Tom Kassmel Director of Public Works and Transportation Jeff Darnall Fleet Manager Date: 01/20/2026 Subject: Approve Purchase of Transit Surveillance System Replacement I. ITEM/TOPIC Replacement of our transit surveillance system equipment and software upgrade. ACTION REQUESTED OF COUNCIL To Authorize the Town Manager to enter into a contract with SEON Safe Fleet for the replacement of our transit surveillance system equipment for an amount not to exceed $259,281.46. II. BACKGROUND The Town purchased our current surveillance system equipment in 2015. The hardware is now showing signs of age and is outdated. The vendor has now put an end of life on this hardware as well. We would like approval to update to the latest hardware and a cloud-based software system. We would like to sole source this purchase for a couple of reasons. The first reason is the vendor has been great to work with over the last decade. The second is our eight newer buses already have the updated equipment installed in them from the Gillig factory. We will also need a lot less cameras as the ones installed on half of our buses will work with the new system. This will save the Town a significant amount of money in hardware. During the 2025 budget process Council approved $290,00 0.00 to complete this project. We are staying within that budget. 472 Town of Vail Page 2 III. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Authorize the Town Manager to enter into a contract with SEON Safe Fleet for the transit surveillance system equipment for $259,281.46. 473 AGENDA ITEM NO. 4.1 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Greg Roy, Community Development ITEM TYPE:DRB/PEC Update AGENDA SECTION:DRB/PEC Update (6:10pm) SUBJECT:DRB/PEC Update (5 min.) SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: DRB Results 1-7-26.pdf PEC Results 1-12-26.pdf 474 Design Review Board Minutes Wednesday, January 7, 2026 2:00 PM Vail Town Council Chambers Present: Roland J Kjesbo Anthony J Grandt Kit Austin Mary Egan Absent: Herbert B Roth 1. Virtual Meeting Link Register to attend Design Review Board Meetings. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining this webinar. 2. Call to Order 3. Main Agenda 3.1 DRB25-0255 Fischer Residence 2025 Final review of an exterior review. Address/ Legal Description: 275 Beaver Dam Road/Lot 40, Block 7, Vail Village Filing 1 Planner: Cole Michaelsen Applicant Name: Jessica Fischer Revocable Trust, represented by KH Webb 275BeaverDamDocuments.pdf 275BeaverDamDrawings.pdf Roland J Kjesbo made a motion to Approve with the following condition: 1.All railings shall be of one consistent style and color throughout the entire side of the duplex. ; Anthony J Grandt seconded the motion Passed (3 - 1). Voting For: Kit Austin, Roland J Kjesbo, Anthony J Grandt Voting Against: Mary Egan 3.2 DRB25-0399 - Village Inn Plaza Final review of an addition Address/ Legal Description: 68 East Meadow Drive/ Lot O, Block 5D, Vail Village Filing 1 Planner: Heather Knight Applicant Name: Village Inn Plaza, represented by Current Architects VillageInnPlaza-plans.pdf VillageInnPlaza-elevations.pdf Roland J Kjesbo made a motion to Approve ; Mary Egan seconded the motion Passed (4 - 0). 3.3 DRB25-0457 - Potato Patch Condos Final review of an exterior alteration (Stucco/Roof/Railing) Address/ Legal Description: 770 Potato Patch Drive/Lot 6, Block 2, Vail Potato Patch Filing 1 Planner: Heather Knight Applicant Name: Potato Patch Condos, represented by Pierce Austin Architects Design Review Board Meeting Minutes of January 7, 2026 1 475 770PotatoPatch-final1.pdf 770PotatoPatch-final2.pdf Roland J Kjesbo made a motion to Approve ; Anthony J Grandt seconded the motion Passed (3 - 0) Austin abstained. 3.4 DRB25-0470 - Red Lion Building Review of a conceptual application Address/ Legal Description: 304 Bridge Street/Lot E - H, Block 5A, Vail Village Filing 1 Planner: Heather Knight Applicant Name: Red Lion Building, represented by Ruther Associates LLC RedLionConceptual-plans.pdf RedLionConceptual-renderings.pdf VV Urban Design Guide_Red Lion.pdf Conceptual, no action taken 4. Staff Approvals 4.1 DRB24-0268.003 - 298 Rockledge LLC Final review of a change to approved plans (Ski Path) Address/ Legal Description: 298 Rockledge Road/Lot 16, Block 7, Vail Village Filing 1 Planner: Cole Michaelsen Applicant Name: 298 Rockledge LLC, represented by KH Webb Architects 4.2 DRB24-0327.003 - Los Amigos 2024 Final review of a change to approved plans (windows) Address/ Legal Description: 278 Hanson Ranch Road 221/Lot A-C, Block 2, Vail Village Filing 1 Planner: Greg Roy Applicant Name: Bolanovich Trust LLC John Kaemmer, represented by KH Webb 4.3 DRB25-0401 - Keane Residence Final review of an exterior alteration (chimney) Address/ Legal Description: 51542 Grouse Lane/Lot 10, Vail Meadows Filing 1 Planner: Raymond Santana Applicant Name: John & Anne-Marie Keane, represented by The Chimney Doctor 4.4 DRB25-0417 - Monte Vista Partners LLC Final review of an exterior alteration (A/C) Address/ Legal Description: 1210 Westhaven Lane B/Lot 41, Glen Lyon Subdivision Planner: Cole Michaelsen Applicant Name: Monte Vista Partners LLC, represented by O'Neill Renovation and Design LLC 4.5 DRB25-0439 - Nunez Residence Final review of an exterior alteration (deck and rail) Address/ Legal Description: 1457 Vail Valley Drive/Lot 8, Block 3, Vail Valley Filing 1 Planner: Cole Michaelsen Applicant Name: Deborah Nunez Living Trust, represented by Pioneer Custom Builders LLC 4.6 DRB25-0442 - Snow Haus Design Review Board Meeting Minutes of January 7, 2026 2 476 Final review of an exterior alteration (Deck, Rail, & Stairs) Address/ Legal Description: 2892 Kinnikinnick Road/Lot 1, Innsbruck Meadows Subdivision Planner: Greg Roy Applicant Name: Snow Haus Investments, Represented by Bellisimo Inc. 4.7 DRB25-0456 - Arrabelle Holdings Final review of an exterior alteration (sliding doors) Address/ Legal Description: 675 Lionshead Place 201/Lot 1 &2, Lionshead Filing 6 Planner: Cole Michaelsen Applicant Name: Arrabelle Holdings LLC, represented by LKSM Designs 5. Staff Denials 6. Adjournment Design Review Board Meeting Minutes of January 7, 2026 3 477 Planning and Environmental Commission Minutes Monday, January 12, 2026 1:00 PM Vail Town Council Chambers Present: Brad Hagedorn David N Tucker Margaret H Brown John Rediker John Rediker William A Jensen Absent: Robert N Lipnick Robert N Lipnick Craig H Lintner Jr 1. Virtual Link Register to attend the Planning and Environmental Commission meeting. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining this webinar. 2. Call to Order 3. Main Agenda 3.1 A request for the review of a Conditional Use Permit, pursuant to Section 12-7B-3, Permitted and Conditional Uses, First Floor or Street Level, Vail Town Code, to allow for an outdoor patio at the Joes Famous Deli, pursuant to Section 12-16, Conditional Use Permits, Vail Town Code located at 288 Bridge Street, Vail Village Filing 1, Block 5A, Lot C and D (PEC25-0031) Planner: Greg Roy Applicant Name: Juan José Pérez Hume (Joes Famous Deli) Time: 20 Min PEC25-0031 Staff Memo.pdf Attachment A. Applicant Narrative.pdf Attachment B. Plan.pdf (Recording timestamp: 02:28) Roy, Town Planner, presented the application and explained that outdoor patios in the Commercial Core 1 (CC-1) Zone District are classified as conditional uses under the Vail Town Code. Using a vicinity map, Roy identified the subject property at 288 Bridge Street and described the proposed patio area as being located directly in front of the stairway that provides access to Joe’s Famous Deli. Roy explained that the proposal includes three café-style tables and six chairs total, arranged adjacent to the existing railing in order to maintain pedestrian circulation along Bridge Street. He stated that the patio would be located within Town right-of-way and that the applicant had previously appeared before Town Council to request authorization to use Town property. Roy noted that Town Council granted that authorization in October or November of Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 1 478 2025, allowing the applicant to proceed with the Conditional Use Permit process. Jensen joined the meeting. Roy clarified that Town Council’s approval pertained only to the use of Town property and did not include review of the patio design or layout, which is under the purview of the Planning and Environmental Commission. He reviewed the proposed conditions of approval, including requirements that all tables and chairs be brought indoors outside of operating hours and that the applicant maintain a deck lease with the Town Clerk’s Office. Roy also confirmed that the Fire Department reviewed the proposal and approved the configuration, noting that adequate pedestrian clearances and emergency access widths would be maintained. He concluded by stating that staff finds the application meets the Conditional Use Permit review criteria and recommends approval with conditions. Hagedorn asked about the review process, noting that it appeared to be reversed from the typical sequence and asking whether applications usually go to Town Council prior to PEC review. Roy confirmed that because the proposal involves use of Town right -of-way, permission from the property owner—Town Council—is required before PEC review of the Conditional Use Permit. Rediker asked whether any railings or permanent structures were proposed as part of the patio. Roy confirmed that the proposal consists only of tables and chairs and does not include any permanent improvements. Rediker then asked whether the tables and chairs would be removed nightly. Roy confirmed that nightly removal is a condition of approval. Tucker asked clarifying questions regarding pedestrian clearance and emergency access. Roy confirmed that Fire Department staff reviewed the proposal and determined that sufficient width would be maintained between the patio area and nearby building facades. Jensen asked whether larger groups might move tables and chairs to create their own seating arrangements, potentially encroaching into pedestrian areas. Roy responded that it would be the responsibility of the operator to return any furniture that is moved back into the approved configuration within a reasonable period of time. He emphasized that maintaining the approved orientation of tables and chairs during operating hours is the operator’s responsibility and noted that compliance issues could be addressed through code enforcement if necessary. Juan Jose, representing Joe’s Famous Deli, addressed the Commission. He stated that the applicant’s intent is to comply with all Town requirements and to ensure that the patio does not impede pedestrian movement along Bridge Street. He explained that the proposal was modeled after similar outdoor seating arrangements in the area and that the scale was intentionally reduced to minimize impacts. Juan Jose stated that the applicant is willing to cooperate fully with the Town to ensure the patio operates appropriately. No questions were asked of the applicant. No public comment was received. Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 2 479 Rediker stated that the application is straightforward and reiterated that the tables and chairs must remain aligned along the railing as shown in the proposal throughout operating hours. He reviewed the Conditional Use Permit criteria outlined on Pages 5 and 6 of the staff memorandum, noting that Criteria 1 and 2 are met. He stated that Criteria 3 and 4 are the more substantive criteria and are satisfied, particularly with respect to pedestrian safety and emergency vehicle access. Rediker added that the proposed use is minimal and that the impact on the character of the area is negligible. He noted that Criteria 5 and 6 do not apply. Brown echoed Rediker’s comments, stating that the proposal is consistent with surrounding uses and emphasizing the importance of the applicant actively monitoring table placement to maintain compliance. Jensen stated that he supports the application but reiterated concern about ensuring the seating arrangement shown in the proposal is maintained. He noted that pedestrian access could be impacted if patrons move tables and chairs and stated that if issues arise, the Town has the ability to require the applicant to return for further discussion. Tucker stated that the application meets the review criteria and is straightforward, emphasizing that ongoing compliance with the approved placement of tables and chairs is important. Hagedorn echoed the comments of the other commissioners and stated that the application meets the Conditional Use Permit criteria, noting in particular the importance of supporting local businesses. John Rediker made a motion to Approve ; William A Jensen seconded the motion Passed (5 - 0). 4. Staff Approvals 4.1 A Report to the Planning and Environmental Commission of an administrative action regarding a request for a minor amendment to Special Development District (SDD) No. 17, Ramshorn Lodge, pursuant to Section 12-9A- 10, Amendment Procedures, Vail Town Code, to allow for modifications to the landscaping plan and additional patio area, located at 416 Vail Valley Drive, Block 3, Lot A, Vail Village Filing 5, and setting forth details in regard thereto. (PEC25-0038) Planner: Cole Michaelsen Applicant Name: Rams Horn Lodge, represented by Mac Design Time: 5 min PEC25-0038 Minor Amendment Ramshorn.pdf (Recording timestamp: 15:32) Hagedorn introduced Agenda Item 4.1, a staff approval item reporting on administrative action related to a minor amendment to Special Development District No. 17 involving landscaping modifications at the Ramshorn Lodge property. Michaelsen, Town Planner, stated that no formal presentation was prepared, as the request qualifies as a minor amendment eligible for staff approval. He explained that the purpose of Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 3 480 the item was to provide an update and respond to questions. Michaelsen explained that the amendment involves expansion of existing paver areas around the pool and hot tub areas. He noted that the proposed expansions are within existing building setbacks and that similar patio areas already exist. He explained that areas shown in red identify new patio areas where existing grass would be replaced with pavers. One area involves expansion of a private patio and adjacent pool patio, while another reflects expansion of the existing hot tub patio. Michaelsen clarified that although the surfaces are hardscape, they are considered landscaping under Town Code because pavers are classified as pervious surfaces. As a result, there is no net change to required landscaping. Hagedorn asked whether hardscape areas are considered landscaping under the code. Michaelsen confirmed that they are. Rediker asked whether SDD No. 17 applies solely to the Ramshorn Lodge property. Michaelsen confirmed that it does. Rediker then asked whether the amendment modified the written SDD. Roy clarified that the amendment applies only to the approved landscaping plan and does not require Town Council action. Roy noted that the item was informational only and that no action was required unless the Commission wished to call it up. Commissioners indicated no concerns and agreed not to call the item up. No Motion Necessary 5. Approval of Minutes 5.1 PEC Minutes 12-22-25 PEC Results 12-22-25.pdf John Rediker made a motion to Approve ; William A Jensen seconded the motion Passed (5 - 0). 6. Information Update 6.1 Minutes Discussion PEC 1.12.26 Minute Discussion .pdf Attachment A. PEC 12.22.25 Transcript .pdf Attachment B. PEC 12.22.25 Meeting Minutes - Town Council Format.pdf Attachment C. PEC 12.22.25 Meeting Minutes - Condensed Format.pdf Attachment D. PEC 12.22.25 Meeting Minutes - Final.pdf (Recording timestamp: 18:35) Hagedorn introduced a discussion regarding Planning and Environmental Commission meeting minutes. Michaelsen, explained how minutes are currently prepared, including use of Zoom transcription, and stated that staff was seeking direction on preferred format and level of detail. Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 4 481 Rediker asked whether the transcription captures everything and stated that Town Council minutes are too brief for PEC’s work. He asked whether staff begins with the transcription and edits it down. Michaelsen explained that staff combines live notes with the transcription, which does not reliably identify speakers, and condenses the material to capture key comments. Jensen stated that the final format from the prior meeting captured everything well and that a full transcript is unnecessary. He agreed Town Council minutes are too condensed. Hagedorn stated that he regularly uses the minutes and found the final format effective, but noted that timestamps were missing. He stated timestamps are helpful for locating applicant testimony and public comment and suggested including them at the start of each file. Rediker agreed, noting timestamps are helpful for Town Council review. Roy stated that staff should move forward with the final format to provide a complete and accurate record. There was general consensus to proceed with the final format and include timestamps. 6.2 Rules of Order Discussion Rules of Order Draft 3.pdf (Recording timestamp: 26:37) Roy, introduced the next information update item regarding the Planning and Environmental Commission Rules of Order. He reminded the Commission that the topic had been discussed several meetings prior and explained that the intent was to establish clearer timelines and expectations for different types of applications, as well as a general structure for hearings. Roy stated that staff had drafted Rules of Order that largely mirrored the version previously discussed, with only minimal changes. He noted that additional language had been included clarifying that closing comments would be limited to ten minutes, which had been a topic of discussion at the prior meeting. Roy also addressed a question raised previously regarding whether an application could be tabled and continued to a future meeting if the Commission ran out of time at the end of an agenda. He stated that staff had confirmed with the Town Attorney that continuing an item under those circumstances would still comply with the Town Code requirement that applications be heard within 30 days. He stated that this resolved the concern raised by the Commission. Roy concluded by stating that unless commissioners had additional questions or wished to propose changes, staff would be looking for adoption of the Rules of Order by motion and vote. Jensen stated that after reading the draft, he questioned whether the word “limited” was necessary in the sections addressing staff and applicant presentations. He suggested that instead of stating presentations are “limited” to a certain length, the language could say that presentations “should be” a specified duration, such as 20 minutes or less. He explained that if Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 5 482 a presentation ran slightly longer but remained productive, it would not be appropriate to abruptly cut it off. He stated that using “should be” establishes expectations while allowing discretion by the Chair. A commissioner Rediker agreed with that interpretation and reiterated that the intent was to set timeframes rather than impose rigid cutoffs. The discussion focused on allowing flexibility for staff and applicants while still providing guidance. Roy confirmed that the word “limited” appeared in multiple sections and stated that staff could remove that word from the staff and applicant presentation sections if that reflected Commission direction. Rediker stated that while he supported removing the word “limited” from staff and applicant presentation sections, he preferred to retain the word “limited” in the public comment section. He referenced the language stating that public comment may be limited to three minutes per person and expressed a desire to keep that wording intact. Jensen agreed with that distinction, stating that his concern was specific to staff and applicant presentations and not public comment. Rediker then raised a separate concern regarding closing comments. He stated that closing comments function similarly to rebuttal in a courtroom setting and should be clearly limited in duration. He explained that applicants and staff already have opportunities to present their cases earlier in the hearing, and that closing comments should be reserved for responding to issues raised during public comment or by commissioners. Rediker stated that if closing comments extend beyond ten minutes, the discussion has likely gone off track. He emphasized that closing comments should not be used to rehash the entire presentation. Rediker asked whether the Commission wished to keep the ten -minute limit for closing comments or consider increasing it to fifteen minutes. Jensen questioned whether fifteen minutes might be appropriate, but Rediker responded that fifteen minutes would be too long given the purpose of closing comments. Jensen clarified that commissioner comments are addressed in a separate section of the Rules of Order and would not be subject to the ten -minute limitation for closing comments. He stated that his earlier concern stemmed from confusion between commissioner discussion and applicant or staff closing comments. Roy confirmed that commissioner comments are listed separately in the draft and are not subject to the closing comment time limit. Following that clarification, Rediker reiterated his support for keeping closing comments limited to ten minutes, stating that if more time than that is needed, the intent of closing comments is being exceeded. Hagedorn asked whether there were any additional comments or concerns regarding the Rules of Order draft. Tucker stated that he agreed with the discussion and supported the proposed changes. Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 6 483 (Recording timestamp: 32:29) Roy provided an update on the Lunar Park application. He stated that the Commission had previously made a recommendation on the application and that it subsequently went before Town Council on a couple of occasions. Roy explained that at Town Council’s most recent meeting the prior week, Council remanded the application back to the Planning and Environmental Commission. John Rediker made a motion to Approve as Amended the adoption of Rules of Order; David N Tucker seconded the motion Passed (5 - 0). 7. Adjournment John Rediker made a motion to Adjourn ; William A Jensen seconded the motion Passed (5 - 0). Planning and Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2026 7 484 AGENDA ITEM NO. 5.1 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Information Update AGENDA SECTION:Information Update (6:15pm) SUBJECT:December 1, 2025 AIPP Meeting Minutes SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: December 1, 2025 Minutes.pdf 485 1 Art in Public Places Board Meeting Minutes December 1, 2025 AIPP Board members present: Lindsea Stowe, Susanne Graff, Tracy Gordon, Ramsey Cotter, Kathy Langenwalter Others present: Molly Eppard - AIPP Coordinator; 1. Call to Order 2. No Citizen Participation 3. Main Agenda 3.1 Approval of November 3, 2025 AIPP minutes. Susanne motions to approve minutes, Kathy seconds, all in favor. November 3, 2025 Minutes.pdf 3.2 Dobson public art timeline update. RFP finalist artist information sessions scheduled this week with Populous and Black Cube. Art Conservator Squire Broel will serve to advise the Dobson remodel art selection committee and Black Cube on material and maintenance concerns and best practices. RFPs are due Jan 12. The selection committee will review independently prior to the proposal presentations on Jan. 22 (8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) at Public Works Administration conference rooms. 3.3 19th Annual Vail Winterfest update – Gnome Home. Jan. 1 installation begins with a tentative opening date on Jan. 9. Molly asks for Board assistance with the gnome hat making presently scheduled at the Colorado Snowsports Museum. 3.4 Yeti Ford Alpine Adventure update. Yeti painting for AIPP Board on Dec 9 at studio @ 4:30 p.m. TOV to pick-up Yetis week of Dec 8 week for anti-graffiti coating and installation. Opening celebration for the participating schools will take place on Dec. 18. @ 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 3.5 Vail Art Studio Winter Programs. Gus Gruner’s extended residency through Dec 29. Molly to meet with Finance Dept. to discuss development opportunities and fundraising best practices. Artist dialogue with Jen Stark and Ben Belgrad at the Studio - Jan. 29. Mud Room at the Vail Art Studio – pottery by local artists at the studio and a potential site-specific installation by Amy Dose and Pamela Olsen as recognized artists at the Art Challenge. Artists will provide proposal when the space is finalized – potential installation in Feb./March. 3.6 Site visit to Vail Art Studio, Ford Park. Discussion of adjacent landscaping opportunities to the studio. Gregg Barrie, TOV Landscape Architect. Gregg presents interest from the BFAG for a creek overlook north of the Studio. Board directs Greg to proceed with initial designs for adjacent studio landscape spaces with considerations of studio activations as discussed. Board meets with Gus Gruner, Artist in Residence, to discuss his time at the studio. Board discusses processes for review of potential artwork for public collection. 4. Adjournment 486 AGENDA ITEM NO. 5.2 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Information Update AGENDA SECTION:Information Update (6:15pm) SUBJECT:Shift Bike Update SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: Shift Bike Regional E-Bike Share Info Update 012026.docx 487 To: Vail Town Council From: Environmental Sustainability Department Date: January 20, 2026 Subject: Shift Bike Regional Electric Bike Share Information Update I. Purpose The purpose of this information update is to provide the Vail Town Council with an update on the Shift Bike regional electric bike (e-bike) share program for 2026. II. Background Shift Bike, the regional e-bike share program provided by vendor, Drop Mobility launched in 2022 with 90 e-bikes and 15 stations in Vail, EagleVail, and Avon. The program expanded by 40% in 2023 to 155 e-bikes and 33 stations extending from East Vail to West Edwards and the system size remained the same in 2024 and similar in 2025 with one additional station added in Edwards, funded by Vail Health. The Vail Town Council allocated $175,000 in the 2026 budget to launch the fifth year of the regional electric bike share program in collaboration with Town of Avon, EagleVail Metro District, Edwards Metro District, and Eagle County Government. The Shift Bike system continues to see success. In 2024 there was a substantial 73.4% increase in ridership over 2023 with the same system size. While 2025 saw a decline in ridership from 2024, numbers are still trending upward over the 2023 data, with 23% increase in 2025 over 2023. Ridership numbers and related statistics from each year of the program are provided in Chart 1. Shift Bike 2022 2023 2024 2025 Total # e-bikes 90 155 155 155 155 # stations 20 33 33 34 34 Total # of Rides 7,393 10,330 17,960 12,717 48,400 Total Miles Ridden 21,735 33,600 58,620 37,388 151,343 Average Ride Duration - min 30.1 22.9 20.8 27.19 25 Average Ride Distance - miles 2.94 3.25 3.26 2.94 3 Total GHG emissions reduced - metric tons CO2e 8.68 12.19 21.37 13.57 56 Chart 1: Shift Bike Statistics Year Over Year When analyzing the data from 2025, there were a few factors identified as potential causes for the decline in ridership. Stations experiencing the greatest decline, accounting for majority of the decreases, are in Chart 2 below. 488 Town of Vail Page 2 Hub Station 2024 rides 2025 rides Difference Vail Village Transpo Center 2,032 1,632 400 Avon Station 1,005 641 364 Lionshead Transit Center 874 613 261 West Vail Mall Bus Stop 951 625 326 Mountain Rec Field House 458 245 213 Vail Library Parking Area 815 545 270 Middle Creek 670 300 370 The Aspens 1,099 602 497 Eagle River Village 412 77 335 Eagle Bend 528 142 386 Ellefson Park 507 137 370 Avon Rec Center 860 412 448 Nottingham Park 465 182 283 Glacier Court Bus Stop 150 36 114 Total 10,826 6,189 4637 Chart 2: Hub stations with greatest ridership declines in 2025 over previous year. A few potential reasons for the decline are detailed below. 1. Construction: The stations highlighted in green (Middle Creek, Vail Public Library/Dobson, Mount Rec Field House in Edwards) are in areas where there was significant construction taking place this summer, likely deterring riders. 2. State E-Bike Rebates provided locals with a pathway to purchase e-bikes. An increase in the Hy-boy e-bikes (the very small wheels) was observed at many workforce housing complexes, such as the locations highlighted in yellow (The Aspens, Eagle River Village, and Eagle Bend). With the e-bike rebate through the state, the cost to a consumer for a Hy-boy was only about $75. 3. Weather Patterns and Wildfire Smoke: July was very hot and dry; August was hot, dry and smokey with the nearby Derby Fire and other wildfires in the west; September was very rainy, especially in the afternoons. More people likely opted for the bus instead, which is reflected in increased bus ridership numbers. 4. Added Summer Bus Service: Glacier Court received summer bus service in 2025, which had not been offered in previous years. This likely led to a decline in Shift Bike ridership from that particular location. 5. Ellefson Park station had a connectivity issue and was taken offline several times while staff worked with Drop Mobility on solutions throughout the summer. This station may need to be moved to a different area near the park in 2026 as a more permanent solution. 6. Overall decline in summer visitation may have impacted ridership as well. While 2025 numbers were down from 2024, they were still 23% higher than ridership numbers in 2023. So overall ridership is still trending in an upward trajectory. In 2026, marketing will be increased with the goal for ridership to grow. The Parking and Mobility Task Force in Vail is also interested in providing a Shift Bike punch pass with the purchase of a Town of Vail parking pass. Environmental and Public Works staff are looking into this option with the vendor. 489 Town of Vail Page 3 III. 2026 Shift Bike System The proposed 2026 Shift Bike system will experience a slight increase in size over 2025, which includes the Town of Vail fleet incorporating two electric cargo bikes to assist with hauling larger items such as groceries. In addition, Town of Vail will add five more e-bikes and two additional stations. Following several requests to add a station since the launch of the program, one station will be added at Buzzard Park TOV employee housing to help employees commute around town. Another station will be added either near the Golden Peak area or the Vail Golf Club. Eagle County Government is also adding an additional station with additional five e-bikes in Edwards as well. With the additions, the total budget from Drop Mobility for the full system in 2026 is $328,434, which is less than the $331,400 budget in 2025. Cost savings are due to the original 155 e-bikes deployed in the first two years of the program now being paid off lowering the annual leasing cost for each of those bikes to $250/season fee rather than $175/bike/month as in previous contracts. Each partner community will contribute the following amount for 2026:  Vail (51.7%)- $169,500  Avon (23.2%)- $76,200  EagleVail (7.7%)- $25,400  Eagle County Government/Edwards Metro (17.4%)- $57,334 Total 2026 Cost: $328,434 The 2026 contract includes 165 e-bikes, two electric cargo bikes and 36 hub stations throughout Vail, EagleVail, Avon and Edwards. Hardware will be distributed proportionately to funding allocations per community as follows:  Vail will receive 86 e-bikes, 2 electric cargo bikes and 18 stations,  Avon 35 e-bikes and 9 stations,  EagleVail 14 e-bikes and 3 stations, and  Edwards 30 e-bikes and 7 stations. The budget also includes:  deployment,  hardware: bikes, racks, wayfinder signage, spare batteries, tools, and spare parts,  software customization: including website, mobile app, and dashboard  software platform fees: dashboard, app and website maintenance, hosting, data fees, GPS, etc.  all operations by a local team: including maintenance, daily rebalancing, charging via swappable batteries, customer service, leasing and running local maintenance shop (or partnering with existing local bike shop), labor costs  administrative costs,  off-season storage at the Avon warehouse,  marketing and community outreach, including a part time local marketing staff person. In Vail, hub stations will be located at: Ellefson Park, Intermountain Pocket Park, West Vail Mall bus stop, Glacier Court Bus Stop, top of Buffehr Creek Rd, Timber Ridge, Middle Creek, Donovan Park, Simba Run bus stop, Lionshead Transit Center, adjacent to Lot 10 (Vail Public Library), Vail Village Transit Center, Ford Park, Booth Lake trailhead, Pitkin Creek bus stop, and Bighorn Park. Two new stations will be located at Buzzard Park and either near Golden Peak or the Vail Golf Course. The pricing structure will also be evaluated and revised if necessary to reflect community needs. In 2025, every rider received the first ride free up to 30 minutes. The Pay as You Go rate was $3 to unlock the bike and included the first 30 minutes of ride time with $0.40/minute after. Locals only memberships were $100 for the season or $25 per month and included 60 minutes of ride time daily 490 Town of Vail Page 4 and $0.15/minute thereafter. An early bird membership rate of $75 for a season membership will be available in April. Locals are defined as living, working, or owning property in Eagle County. The equity membership is $25 for the season and includes 60 minutes of ride time daily and $0.10/min thereafter. There is no unlock fee on the memberships. The equity membership will include senior citizens and people with disabilities. Staff will continue to work with Drop Mobility to provide outreach to local bike shops and education and outreach to users on the differences between e-bike share programs (commuting, shorter rides) and e-bike rental programs (longer excursions, multi-day usage, recreation, etc.). A warehouse in Avon is secured as the base for Shift Bike operations for the 2026 season and an Eagle County based operations team will be hired to operate and maintain the system. The Drop Mobility team secured an electric van to use for day-to-day operations including re-balancing of bikes, battery swaps, and maintenance to ensure operations are also in line with greenhouse gas reduction goals of the program. The website and mobile app are both available in Spanish and a dashboard is available on the website to show near real-time data for system usage, including miles ridden, number of trips taken, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and calories burned. How-to videos were created and are available on the Shift Bike Instagram page. These will be added to the mobile app and website this year. The marketing efforts in 2026 will include a pre-season campaign in the early spring with an early bird rate on memberships and a membership giveaway. A helmet giveaway program in partnership with Vail Health will continue in 2026. On-going marketing will be enhanced throughout the duration of the operating season with a part-time locally based marketing person hired by Drop Mobility to collect content for social media, provide on the ground education and outreach at hub stations and local events, and improve overall marketing efforts. Drop Mobility will conduct outreach to secure sponsors for any potential system expansion. Sponsorships may also reduce the cost to the partner communities. Weather pending, the e-bike share program will launch May 1st and run through October 31, 2026. 491 AGENDA ITEM NO. 6.1 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Matters from Mayor, Council, Town Manager and Committee Reports AGENDA SECTION:Matters from Mayor, Council, Town Manager, and Committee Reports (6:15pm) SUBJECT:Matters from Mayor, Council and Committees (15 min.) SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: 492 AGENDA ITEM NO. 6.2 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Town Manager Report AGENDA SECTION:Matters from Mayor, Council, Town Manager, and Committee Reports (6:15pm) SUBJECT:Town Manager Report (5 min.) SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: 493 AGENDA ITEM NO. 6.3 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED BY:Stephanie Bibbens, Town Manager ITEM TYPE:Matters from Mayor, Council, Town Manager and Committee Reports AGENDA SECTION:Matters from Mayor, Council, Town Manager, and Committee Reports (6:15pm) SUBJECT:Council Matters and Status Report SUGGESTED ACTION: VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: 260120 Matters.docx Future Topics.docx 494 COUNCIL MATTERS Status Report Report for January 20, 2025 Council Comments at January 6th meeting:  Town Council thanked the Economic Development team for all of the activations in town to create a great guest experience!  Town Council also thanked Public Works for the increased maintenance on the pedestrian overpass.  Town Council directed staff to send a letter of condolence to Crans- Montana Switzerland in response to the tragedy on New Year’s Eve. The letter has been prepared. Social Media Listening Sprout Listening Link https://share.sproutsocial.com/view/a33fce6d-2350-4ca6-bfce- 6d2350eca601 This report captures social media conversations from 12/31/2025-1/15/2026. Volume of posts was down 35% compared to the same time period the previous year. There are plenty of posts that speak positively about the village experience (including this one tha t highlights the beautiful holiday lights in the roundabouts https://www.instagram.com/reels/DS70xjOE3cx/), we also picked up conversations on Reddit about whether or not to cancel upcoming trips due to lack of snow. In the News______________________________________________________ Dec. 30 Apres at the Amp https://www.vaildaily.com/news/tiesto-purple-disco-machine-and-more-coming-to-the-amp/ Dec. 31 Staff Picks: Top Stories of 2025 https://www.vaildaily.com/news/year-in-news-2025-top-stories-vail-daily/ Jan. 1 495 West Lionshead https://www.vaildaily.com/news/lofty-goals-for-redevelopment-can-west-lionshead-make-vail-a- climate-icon/ Jan. 3 Waste Diversion https://www.postindependent.com/news/western-slope-landfill-waster-colorado-climate-goals/ Truck vs. House https://www.vaildaily.com/news/police-lowes-truck-slid-off-road-crashed-into-home-in-west-vail/ Jan. 8 West Lionshead TIF https://www.vaildaily.com/news/town-of-vail-contemplating-a-tax-increment-financing-district-for- west-lionshead/ Jan. 13 State Land Board Parcel https://www.vaildaily.com/news/the-real-dirt-on-avons-community-housing-project/ Mountain Town Budgets https://www.cpr.org/2026/01/13/colorado-mountain-tourism-decline/ John Donovan https://www.vaildaily.com/news/vail-community-gathers-to-remember-the-life-of-john-donovan/ Important Dates______________________________________________________ March 10 Annual Community Meeting – Donovan Pavilion 496 Future Topics, February 2026 TOPIC DEPARTMENT  Joint Meeting VLMDAC Economic Development  Main Vail Pedestrian Improvements design update Public Works  Golf Course Master Plan Update Environmental Sustainability  Ford Park Gore Creek Restoration Update Environmental Sustainability  Summer Parking Rates Goal Transportation  10 Mountain Memorial Landscape Renewal Project Public Works  Joint Meeting VLHA Housing  Superlative Group presentations Town Manager’s Office 497 AGENDA ITEM NO. 7.1 Item Cover Page DATE:January 20, 2026 TIME:5 min. SUBMITTED BY:Carlie Smith, Finance ITEM TYPE:Action Items AGENDA SECTION:Action Item (6:35pm) SUBJECT:Ordinance No. 1, Series of 2026, An Emergency Ordinance Amending the Town of Vail's Health Insurance Fund Budget for 2025; Making Supplemental Appropriations Thereto; and Declaring an Emergency SUGGESTED ACTION:Approve, approve with amendments, or deny Ordinance 1, Series of 2026. PRESENTER(S):Carlie Smith, Finance Director VAIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT ATTACHMENTS: Supp 4 2025 Ordinaince 1 2026.pdf Ord #1 2026-Emerg HIF 2025 Supp 4.pdf 498 TO: Vail Town Council FROM: Finance Department DATE: January 20, 2025 SUBJECT: Fourth Supplemental Appropriation of 2025; Ordinance 1, Series of 2026 I. SUMMARY Since the approval of the third supplemental budget for 2025 on December 16, staff became aware of significant medical claims that were originally anticipated for 2026. Due to the magnitude of these claims, the Health Insurance Fund would exceed its FY 2025 expenditure budget, which would be in conflict with state statute. These claims will be reimbursed through the Town’s stop-loss insurance coverage, which protects the Health Insurance Fund from substantial claims. However, the timing of the reimbursement may extend into the next fiscal year (2026). Any reimbursement not received by year-end will be rolled forward and recognized in the first supplemental budget of FY 2026. This supplemental budget reflects an increase in claims expenditures of $2,219,626 fully offset by an equal amount of stop-loss reimbursement revenue. III. ACTION REQUESTED OF COUNCIL Staff requests Council approval of this emergency ordinance to maintain compliance with state statutes and preserve the integrity of the Health Insurance Fund. 499 2025 2025 4th Amended 2026 Budget Supplemental Budget Budget Revenue Town of Vail Interagency Charge - Premiums 4,471,094$ 4,471,094$ 4,877,460$ Employee Contributions 943,859 943,859 975,000 Insurer Proceeds 430,000 2,219,626 2,649,626 405,000 Earnings on Investments 109,130 109,130 100,000 Total Revenue 5,954,083 2,219,626 8,173,709 6,357,460 Expenditures Health Insurance Premiums 1,097,365 1,097,365 1,246,936 Claims Paid 5,519,226 2,219,626 7,738,852 5,573,002 Wellness Bonus 112,674 112,674 90,000 Professional Fees 42,000 42,000 155,000 Total Expenditures 6,771,265 2,219,626 8,990,891 7,064,938 Revenue Over (Under) Expenditures (817,182) - (817,182) (707,478) Beginning Fund Balance 5,257,066 5,257,066 4,439,884 Ending Fund Balance 4,439,884$ 4,439,884$ 3,732,406$ TOWN OF VAIL 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET SUMMARY OF REVENUE, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND 500 Ordinance No. 1, Series 2026 ORDINANCE NO. 1 Series of 2026 AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF VAIL’S HEALTH INSURANCE FUND BUDGET FOR 2025; MAKING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS THERETO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. WHEREAS, contingencies have arisen during the fiscal year 2025 which could not have been reasonably foreseen or anticipated by the Town Council at the time it enacted Ordinance No. 18, Series of 2024, adopting the 2025 Budget and Financial Plan for the Town of Vail, Colorado; and, WHEREAS, the Town Manager has certified to the Town Council that sufficient funds are available to discharge the appropriations referred to herein, not otherwise reflected in the Budget, in accordance with Section 9.10(a) of the Charter of the Town of Vail; and, WHEREAS, Section 4.11 of the Charter provides that an ordinance may be passed as an emergency measure for the preservation of the public property, health, welfare, peace or safety, upon unanimous vote of all members of the Council present or a vote of five members of the Council, whichever is less, and WHEREAS, in order to properly reflect the expenditure as a 2025 transaction and promptly pay costs, the Town Council finds that it should make certain supplemental appropriations and budget adjustments as set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Vail, Colorado, that: 1. Pursuant to Section 9.10(a) of the Charter of the Town of Vail, Colorado, the Town Council hereby makes the following supplemental appropriations and budget adjustments for the 2025 Budget and Financial Plan for the Town of Vail, Colorado, and authorizes the expenditure of said appropriations as follows: Health Insurance Fund $2,219,626 2. Due to the immediate need by the Town to pay medical claims in the proper fiscal year, an emergency exists which requires the immediate passage of this ordinance as an emergency measure, and it is hereby declared that the approval of this ordinance 501 as an emergency measure is necessary for the preservation of the public property, health, welfare, peace or safety. 3. Pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Charter, this ordinance shall be finally passed on the date hereof and shall be effective on the date hereof. This ordinance, as adopted by the Council, shall be numbered and recorded by the Town Clerk of the Town in the official records of the Town. The ordinance shall be authenticated by signatures of the Mayor and Town Clerk of the Town, and shall be published within ten days of the date hereof as required by the Charter. 4. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance; and the Town Council hereby declares it would have passed this ordinance, and each part, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, regardless of the fact that any one or more parts, sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid. 5. The repeal or the repeal and reenactment of any provision of the Municipal Code of the Town of Vail as provided in this ordinance shall not affect any right which has accrued, any duty imposed, any violation that occurred prior to the effective date hereof, any prosecution commenced, nor any other action or proceedings as commenced under or by virtue of the provision repealed or repealed and reenacted. The repeal of any provision hereby shall not revive any provision or any ordinance previously repealed or superseded unless expressly stated herein. 6. All bylaws, orders, resolutions, and ordinances, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are repealed to the extent only of such inconsistency. This repealer shall not be construed to revise any bylaw, order, resolution, or ordinance, or part thereof, theretofore repealed. INTRODUCED AND FINALLY PASSED AS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE AND ORDERED PUBLISHED ONCE IN FULL this 20th day of January, 2026. _______________________ Barry Davis, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________ Stephanie Kauffman, Town Clerk 502