Before the chairlifts opened, Native Americans frequented the area occupied by present-day Vail, but never permanently settled there. That all changed with the arrival of skiers by the thousands beginning in 1962. Built from the ground up to resemble a Bavarian village, Vail today is the world’s largest single-mountain ski resort and a prototype for ski towns the world over. Known for having vast and varied terrain for every skill level of skier or snowboarder, Vail often tops "Best Ski Resorts in the US" lists and gets rave reviews for its legendary powder. And summer has emerged as a prime recreation season on Vail Mountain, with mountain biking the sport of choice. Today, ski conglomerate Vail Resorts owns numerous ski resorts in Colorado, including Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Arapahoe Basin; many passes work at all the properties.