SAM Magazine—Centennial, Wyo., Nov. 6, 2026—Peak Resorts scions Jesse, Jason, and Josh Boyd have teamed with Brendan Ryan to acquire Snowy Range, Wyo., from Aaron and Becky Maddox. The purchase is expected to close this month.
The ownership group, which brings more than 75 years of combined ski industry experience together, will focus on improvements to snowmaking and lift infrastructure at Snowy Range.
The Boyd brothers are returning to the ski industry after a seven-year hiatus following Vail Resorts’ 2019 acquisition of Peak Resorts, the company founded by their father Tim Boyd, who grew its portfolio to 17 ski areas in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic. At the time, all three brothers had worked their way up to executive-level roles in Peak Resorts. Jesse was chief operating officer, Jason was senior vice president of operations, Mid-Atlantic, and Josh was senior vice president of operations, Midwest. Jesse and Jason were previously recognized by SAM—Jesse as a SAMMY Leadership Award honoree in 2009 and Jason as a “10 Under 30” in 2017.
Ryan worked with the Boyds during his time with Peak Resorts, eventually becoming vice president of projects for the company. Following the Vail Resorts acquisition, Ryan spent more than five years with Boyne Resorts as its vice president of snow surface management and design, overseeing major snowmaking upgrades across Boyne’s nine-resort portfolio. He launched snowmaking design consultancy Alpine Solutions in October 2025. Ryan was named one of SAM’s “10 Under 30” in 2016.
The Maddoxes and a group of other friends and family bought Snowy Range out of foreclosure in 2010 and have since brought it back to life. Visitation has increased multifold, and it is now a profitable operation, serving as a no frills, affordable community ski area that draws from multiple markets including Fort Collins, Colo., western Nebraska, Cheyenne and nearby Laramie, Wyo.
Aaron Maddox was a SAMMY Leadership Award honoree in 2018.
The Maddoxes shared news of the acquisition on Snowy Range’s social media Nov. 4, complimenting the soon-to-be new owners and promising nothing people love about the ski area will change. “They are great people, good operators, and see the world in much the same way we do. So, no panic, it isn’t about to be some corporate ski area …
“We have only gratitude for what the ski area, its guests, and employees have meant to us,” the message continued. “We wish the area only the best and continued success as it moves onward and upward.”
“[Aaron and Becky] have done an amazing job getting it built up,” Jesse Boyd told Cowboy State Daily, which broke the news of the acquisition. “We think it’s a great resort, and we look forward to following in their footsteps. We’re excited to be operating a ski area in Wyoming.”
The sale price has not been disclosed. Boyd has said the ownership group is also exploring other acquisitions.
