SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., Aug. 4, 2026—Credit: Mt. Hood MeadowsMt. Hood Meadows has suspended operations and evacuated the resort after the rapidly growing Grasshopper Fire prompted a Level 3 ("Go Now") evacuation order Tuesday morning. In a social media post, the resort said, "As of this morning, Meadows is under a Level 3 (Go Now) ...

• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 4, 2026—The 2026 Rise Up Challenge is underway, and voting is officially open. Now in its sixth year, the video contest shines a spotlight on talented young lift mechanics—rising stars who are essential to the future of mountain operations. This year, six resorts each nominated a standout team member to be fe...

SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, Aug. 3, 2026—Eagle Point Resort will not operate this winter due to the significant impacts of the Cottonwood Fire on the resort's lift infrastructure, ski terrain, and surrounding forest lands. Flash flooding washed out the resort’s primary access road in July, further complicating ongoing remediation work. "This ...

• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, July 31, 2026—Lift replacements at Park City Mountain that had been delayed due to opposition by members of the local community were, for now, given the green light by a municipal hearing officer following an appeal of the Park City Planning Commission’s June decision to approve the projects.  According to the ...

SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, July 31, 2026—Credit: UDOTState Route 153 through Beaver Canyon, the primary access to Eagle Point Resort, is closed indefinitely after flash flooding and debris flows severely damaged or completely washed away the road in several locations July 19, according to Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Eagle Point su...

SAM Magazine—Lebanon, N.H., July 31, 2026—Sean MalagutiSean Malaguti has been promoted to serve as president of SnoCountry Ski Areas Association as part of a reorganization at the national snow conditions and ski area promotional outlet. He succeeds Mike Colbourn, who served as president since 2017 and has transitioned to chairman of the SnoCou...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Danbury, N.H., July 23, 2026—Ragged Mountain has named Alan "Al" Wickstrom as general manager, bringing the longtime New Hampshire operations leader back to the resort where he previously led mountain operations. Wickstrom rejoins Ragged after four years as vice president of operations at Loon Mountain Resort. Before joining Loon,...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Juneau, Alaska, July 22, 2026—The Eaglecrest board of directors selected Julie Jackson Piper to be the next general manager of the non-profit Eaglecrest Ski Area during a July 7 Eaglecrest board special meeting. Piper will begin her new role on Aug. 31. She succeeds Craig Cimmons, who resigned in early January. Piper’s prior e...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Bolton Valley, Vt., July 22, 2026—Left to right: Evan DesLauriers, Lindsay DesLauriers, Tara Murphy, Nick Lemire.Bolton Valley Resort’s leadership is evolving, as president and CEO Lindsay DesLauriers transitions to chair of the board while assuming a new strategic leadership position. Tara Murphy has become president and CEO, an...

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., July 22, 2026—Valle NevadoMountain Capital Partners (MCP) has withdrawn its proposed acquisition of Chilean resort operator Andacor, ending a transaction that would have united four interconnected ski areas near Santiago under common ownership. The proposed acquisition, announced in July 2025, would have added Anda...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., July 22, 2026—Entabeni has acquired the Whitney's Inn property at the base of Black Mountain, bringing the historic inn, Shovel Handle Pub, and the land containing the ski area's snowmaking pond under common ownership with the resort for the first time in nearly 50 years. CEO Erik Mogensen announced the acquisition...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Bretton Woods, N.H., July 21, 2026—Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa has appointed Jace Wirth as general manager of Bretton Woods Ski Area, where he will oversee year-round operations, including mountain operations, guest experience, community relations, and long-term strategic growth. Wirth brings nearly 20 years of mountain...

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, July 20, 2026—The Rocky Mountain Lift Association (RMLA) held its annual conference in Salt Lake City for the first time this spring, relocating the event from its longtime home in Grand Junction, Colo., to better accommodate future growth and improve accessibility. Held May 18-21 at the Salt Palace Conventio...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., July 14, 2026— Bookings at western mountain destinations for arrivals from June through November edged up 1 percent, with stronger demand for the lower-priced months of September through November than the pricier months of June through August, according to the latest monthly Market Briefing from Inntopia’s Des...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., July 14, 2026—Vail Resorts believes the company’s future growth will come by offering an improved guest experience rather than acquiring more ski areas. As such, it plans to invest in changes to equipment rental, private lessons, and dining at its destination resorts, as well as more digital functionality in it...