It appears that a cherished Aspen tradition — copied first by Vail and then by a slew of other resorts — has been commercialized and sold.
Grand Marnier, the sweet French orange liqueur, is using the idea of the panty tree in its latest ad campaign about conversation starters. Its inspiration? Vail’s panty tree, located in Sun Down Bowl under Chair 5 (the High Noon lift), which apparently attracted the attention of a Grand Marnier veep and became the prime topic of conversation among his group during a recent ski trip to Vail.
But Vail wouldn’t even have its infamous panty tree, and the free publicity it’s generated, if it weren’t for Aspen.
The first known panty tree began to take shape in Aspen in the early 1980s, according to veteran Aspen Mountain ski patroller Tim Cooney, when someone threw a large bra onto the branch of an aspen tree under Lift 5 (the Bell Mountain chair). On it was scribbled the name of a controversial Aspen Skiing Co. vice president. No one can remember the point of the statement now, but somehow the humorous jest caught on like wildfire.
The heyday of the Bell chair panty tree lasted throughout the ’80s — about 40 to 50 panties, bras and other undergarments could be spied from the slow lift at any given time.
Grand Marnier, the sweet French orange liqueur, is using the idea of the panty tree in its latest ad campaign about conversation starters. Its inspiration? Vail’s panty tree, located in Sun Down Bowl under Chair 5 (the High Noon lift), which apparently attracted the attention of a Grand Marnier veep and became the prime topic of conversation among his group during a recent ski trip to Vail.
But Vail wouldn’t even have its infamous panty tree, and the free publicity it’s generated, if it weren’t for Aspen.
The first known panty tree began to take shape in Aspen in the early 1980s, according to veteran Aspen Mountain ski patroller Tim Cooney, when someone threw a large bra onto the branch of an aspen tree under Lift 5 (the Bell Mountain chair). On it was scribbled the name of a controversial Aspen Skiing Co. vice president. No one can remember the point of the statement now, but somehow the humorous jest caught on like wildfire.
The heyday of the Bell chair panty tree lasted throughout the ’80s — about 40 to 50 panties, bras and other undergarments could be spied from the slow lift at any given time.
“People went out of their way to get exotic,” Cooney recalled, and it even became a symbol of rebellion — when the Skico tried to discourage locals from tossing down their skivvies, threatening to cut down the tree and pull the passes of underwear-throwing offenders, the branches only filled up faster.
In the late ’80s, Cooney said, some jokers started a “boxer rebellion” on the tree, and at one time there was a necktie tree.
The word spread, and first Vail and then other resorts adopted the idea.
“Once again, you have the case of Aspen setting the standard and Vail imitating,” Cooney said.
Unfortunately, Aspen’s panty tree withered sometime after the gondola went in and when the Bell chair stopped being run on a regular basis in the early ’90s. A half-hearted attempt to revive the idea on a tree under Lift 6 failed for good when the lift alignment was changed this past summer.
Meanwhile, Vail’s panty tree thrived. Started by locals, it’s practically become the tourist attraction of Vail’s back bowls. About 20 to 30 undergarments hang from the aspen’s branches at any given time, estimates one local — the highlight, he said, was last season when a large bra with the cups pointed downward filled with snow and leaked after every snowfall. Vail’s tree has even survived the wrath of a chain saw — one April Fool’s Day the tree was found cut down, but the very next day another nearby tree took up the cause.
“Vail’s is pretty spectacular compared to other ones I’ve seen,” said Vail local Kevin Spang, “and it’s a novelty for people. Nine out of 10 people who are not locals laugh at it, talk about it the whole way up the chair.”
And now, Vail’s panty tree is being used as the symbol of meaningful conversation over an after-dinner cocktail. Go figure.
Should Aspen revive the tradition to show Vail, and sippers of fancy drinks across the nation, how it’s done?
In the late ’80s, Cooney said, some jokers started a “boxer rebellion” on the tree, and at one time there was a necktie tree.
The word spread, and first Vail and then other resorts adopted the idea.
“Once again, you have the case of Aspen setting the standard and Vail imitating,” Cooney said.
Unfortunately, Aspen’s panty tree withered sometime after the gondola went in and when the Bell chair stopped being run on a regular basis in the early ’90s. A half-hearted attempt to revive the idea on a tree under Lift 6 failed for good when the lift alignment was changed this past summer.
Meanwhile, Vail’s panty tree thrived. Started by locals, it’s practically become the tourist attraction of Vail’s back bowls. About 20 to 30 undergarments hang from the aspen’s branches at any given time, estimates one local — the highlight, he said, was last season when a large bra with the cups pointed downward filled with snow and leaked after every snowfall. Vail’s tree has even survived the wrath of a chain saw — one April Fool’s Day the tree was found cut down, but the very next day another nearby tree took up the cause.
“Vail’s is pretty spectacular compared to other ones I’ve seen,” said Vail local Kevin Spang, “and it’s a novelty for people. Nine out of 10 people who are not locals laugh at it, talk about it the whole way up the chair.”
And now, Vail’s panty tree is being used as the symbol of meaningful conversation over an after-dinner cocktail. Go figure.
Should Aspen revive the tradition to show Vail, and sippers of fancy drinks across the nation, how it’s done?
