SAM Magazine—June 14, 2018—As winter weather remains unpredictable and skier visits stagnate, resorts are continuing to invest capital in their summer operations. Bike parks are booming, and adventure parks dominate the summer development field. More diversified summer operations are also popping up thanks to some exciting new partnerships.

Across the country, resorts are laying out quite the summer spread, with plenty of new elements to delight guests. Here’s a roundup of some of the latest additions.

East
In Vermont, Okemo Mountain opens its expanded Evolution Bike Park (June 23) with two new trails from the summit. Up the road, Suicide Six has partnered with Sinuosity: Flowing Trails to construct six miles of lift-accessed trails for its new Elemental Bike Park (July).

Sugarbush’s bike park, open June 23, is getting a makeover under the new leadership of its winter terrain parks manager, Trevor Borrelli. And Killington has just launched the new Beast 365 Year-Round Pass, which offers unlimited lift and trail access for mountain biking, access to the new-this-year ninja obstacle course, the Woodward WreckTangle, and unlimited winter access.

Jay Peak breaks ground this summer on two synthetic-turf athletic fields as part of a larger $20 million project. Jay already has tournaments booked for the FIFA-sized pitches for summer 2019.

In New Hampshire, starting July 4, Cranmore will add Knockerball—bubble soccer—to its summer offerings in partnership with Knockerball North Conway. Mountaintop yoga is also on the rise, with Gunstock Mountain and Mount Sunapee offering weekly classes (May 26 / June 16).

Gunstock has partnered with Two Roads Brewing Company for the Road Jam Music Festival (July 14). And Waterville Valley will host the REI Outessa Women’s Outdoor weekend this fall (September 13-16).

In New York, Holiday Valley has new summer endeavors: lacrosse fields built in conjunction with the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce; kayaking and paddle boarding on the snowmaking pond through a partnership with a local retailer; and a falconry school and weekly Birds of Prey shows with a local falconer. The area also added a Tarzan swing and the kid-friendly Mister Happy Gem Mining Company in the Sky High Aerial Park (June 15).

Windham Mountain will host the MAXXIS Eastern States Cup Downhill Mountain Bike Race (August 19), and Music on the Mountain returns to the resort for six Fridays (July 26). The Pursuit Series Weekend—described as summer camp for adults—will be hosted on the East Coast for the first time at Hunter Mountain (June 29 - July 1).

West
In Colorado, Aspen Snowmass opens an expansive new adventure park called Lost Forest (June 22). The park features a challenge course, a mountain coaster, a zip line tour, gathering sites, and a permanent REALrock climbing wall (August).

Copper Mountain reopens for summer with a new Rocky Mountain Coaster (June 8). And the REI Adventure Station, new last year to Copper, returns to offer new on-mountain educational classes and experiences like “Ales & Astronomy.”

Purgatory was scheduled to launch a new mountain coaster this summer, but the opening is on hold due to closures caused by the 416 wildfire.

In Utah, Snowbird adds a Woodward WreckTangle (June 9) and a new summer tubing hill (late June). And Snowbasin has partnered with the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association to present the Utah Symphony twice this summer (June 29 / August 7). It will also debut a new adventure park.

In Oregon, Mount Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl opens the Pacific Northwest’s only side-by-side alpine coasters (June 11). And Timberline is scheduled to begin construction this summer on its Gravity Logic-designed bike park after the lawsuit against the park was dismissed.

Whitefish, Mont., adds summer tubing this year (June 16), launches the new “Ten Dollar Downhill” series (June 20), and will host a NW Cup Downhill race for the first time (August 26).

In California, Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows has partnered with The North Face to offer free, dog-friendly guided hikes from High Camp. Squaw also expanded the function of its Summer App to include self-guided hikes and interpretive tours.

Further south, Mammoth Mountain opened its bike park to class 1 pedal assist e-bikes June 15. It is the first resort operating on USFS land to do so. Also new, the Mammoth Mega Zip, a zip line tour that offers the tallest vertical drop (2,100 ft.) in North America.

Midwest

For the second year running, Mont Du Lac, Wis., will host Bow Fest, a three-day archery tournament with 80 3D targets on four courses, live music, and celebrity appearances (July 27-29).

In Minnesota, Welch Village opens its bike park for its second season with two new trails by Pathfinder Trail Building (June 16).

Crystal Mountain, Mich., is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its alpine slide with $10 tickets on the tenth of each month. And the Summer Sounds concert series returns to Crystal’s Forest Amphitheater starting July 6.

Canada

Mont Tremblant, Que., is taking a walk on the wild side—the area has partnered with Moment Factory to create Tonga Lumina, an immersive, interactive night walk (July). Tremblant also adds a Family Fun After Sundown program (July 3–Aug. 30) and new events like the yoga festival Wanderlust (Aug. 24-27).

Photo credit: Moment Factory

Silver Star, B.C., will commemorate the grand opening of its new gondola with free rides and a free barbeque (July 7). Silver Star also brings back the Slay The Dragon Trail Run (July 1), created last year to inaugurate Beowulf, a 35km XC bike trail.

Whistler opened its expansive bike park May 18. Kicking Horse offers a preview of its bike park June 16-17 before opening for the season June 23. And Big White opens its new bike park for a second season June 28. Big White also launches the new Big White Kids Zone (June 28) and will host the fourth annual Craft and County, Beer and Music Mountain Festival (June 30).

And that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Resorts and associations across North America were excited to share news of even more new updates, construction, partnerships and events. Welcome to the world of the four-season ski resort.

Speaking of four-season business, registration is now open for Summer Ops Camp, held this year at Aspen Snowmass, Colo. Join us for three days of play, discovery, and collaboration, all geared toward growing non-winter business at your resort. For info and to register, go to www.summeropscamp.com

This report was compiled and written by Katie Brinton.

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