SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., June 2, 2016—Mountain resorts nationwide opened for summer operations over the long Memorial Day weekend, kicking off the warm season with a growing number of attractions aimed at boosting the bottom line.

In the Northeast, it was a scorcher, with temps reaching the mid-80s, even in northern New England. Nonetheless, visitors to Killington, Vt., got one last day of skiing on Sunday, with the resort handing out free lift tickets to the diehards who showed up. Killington opened its mountain coaster, ropes course, and downhill mountain biking trails on Saturday.

Also in Vermont, Okemo began its summer season by opening nearly a dozen attractions over the weekend, including its mountain coaster, challenge course and zip line tour. Guests could “rip, zip, and flip their way from one gravity-gripping adventure to the next,” the resort said in a press release.

Loon Mountain, N.H., had all nine of its summertime activities open for the first time this season, and people came out to enjoy them, according to spokesperson Greg Kwasnik. “We had a solid opening weekend, with visits up over the same period last year. The beautiful weather definitely helped bring people out, and it was a very promising start to the summer season,” he noted.

An increasing number of Midwest ski areas are capitalizing on summer business opportunities, according to new Midwest Ski Areas Association executive director, Amy Reents. “In general, the Midwest kicked-off summer in a big way,” she said. “Over the past 10 years, many areas have diversified their business to become year-round recreation areas rather than close up for the summer. More and more areas are offering a variety of activities and taking advantage of their beautiful properties.”

Hyland Hills, Minn., reopened its disc golf course after closing it for a year while construction of the new lodge was taking place. Chestnut Mountain, Ill., enjoyed a busy Memorial Day weekend, with guests coming out to enjoy Segway tours, mini golf, and its newest attraction that just opened last August: the Soaring Eagle Zip Line. Golf remains a major element of summer operations at many Midwest resorts, including Giants Ridge, Minn. Golfweek ranked The Quarry at Giants Ridge #1 in its annual “Best Courses You Can Play” for the state of Minnesota.

In Utah, Park City Base Area opened for summer operations on Friday, May 27. A new kids' zip line and new kids' challenge course both made their debuts, and the resort plans to open a new kids' summer tubing hill in July, according to spokesperson Margo Van Ness. Canyons Golf opened for its second season with six of the 18 holes sporting redesigned greens to improve playability.

Aspen mixed the seasons, reopening for a weekend of skiing at the top of Ajax, even as it began summer sightseeing operations of the Silver Queen gondola.

In the Southwest, Ski Apache threw a party to celebrate the unofficial start to summer with its Memorial Day Bash on Saturday May 28. The event included live music, food, craft vendors, and a Nerf Arena. The resort also opened its three-span, 8,890-foot zip line tour.

Not everyone was ready for summer to start, though. They're still skiing and riding at Timberline, Ore., Mammoth Mountain, Calif., and Arapahoe Basin, Colo.

If your resort has something new and exciting for summer operations, we want to hear about it. Send info to news@saminfo.com.

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