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SAM Taps Whistler Blackcomb to Host 2025 Summer Ops Camp
SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three days of education, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the future of summer operations at mountain resorts. This year’s camp will also feature a partnership with the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA), bringing together a dynamic mix of resort professionals from across North America. Whistler Blackcomb has been at the forefront of year-round recreation development, balancing business innovation with environmental sustainability. With a robust lineup of summer attractions—including the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Peak...
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SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 7, 2023—Vail Resorts has released pricing for the 2023-24 Epic Pass suite. The restricted Epic Local Pass will retail for $676 and the unlimited Epic Pass will go for $909, increases of roughly 8 percent year-over-year but still below the price for the 2020-21 Epic Pass. The company slashed prices 20 percen...
SAM Magazine— Mars Hill, N.C., March 6, 2023—Wolf Ridge Ski Resort looks set to transfer ownership this year. Deborah and David Hatley, owners of a forthcoming luxury wellness resort and spa in Tennessee, have acquired and plan to rebrand the North Carolina ski area, which closed for the season Feb. 24 due to a lack of snow. Orville English ...
SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., March 6, 2023—Indy Pass released 2023-24 season pass pricing today. The new retail cost of the adult Base Pass ($279) and adult unrestricted Indy+ Pass ($379) reflects a $20 dollar increase in pricing compared to last year and is available only to current and former pass holders through March 21. The XC Pass for cro...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Mar. 2, 2023—Longtime resort leader Bill Rock will become president of Vail Resorts' mountain division on May 1, replacing current division president James O'Donnell, who is leaving the company on March 3.
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 2, 2023—Vail Resorts will replace its longstanding EpicMix mobile app with the new My Epic app in the fall of 2023. The new app will include a feature allowing guests to activate and store a season pass or lift ticket digitally on their phone and use their phone to gain lift access—as they do now with RF...
In a move intended to bolster the future of the five-year-old Indy Pass, the Pass is being acquired by Entabeni Systems, "the long-time trusted partner who runs the technology platform that Indy Pass has always been built on," according to Indy Pass founder Doug Fish. Fish will continue to lead Indy Pass as it continues to grow its independent reso...
SAM Magazine—Aspen Snowmass, Colo., March 1, 2023—Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) has named Geoff Buchheister as chief executive officer of Aspen Snowmass. Buchheister will lead ASC’s Mountain Division effective March 1, 2023, succeeding longtime CEO Mike Kaplan, who is retiring as of April 30, 2023, after 30 years with the company. Buchheister cu...
By LINDA GOODSPEED East and West. The two sides of the country are experiencing two very different winters: In the West, consistent cold and snow since November. In the East, warm and below average snowfall. And in the middle, both extremes at the same time. West Mountain High, CA & Wintergreen, VAUtah is having quite possibly its snowi...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Feb. 14, 2023—Registration will open on Thursday, Feb. 16, for the 19th spring session of Cutter's Camp, May 15-19, 2023, at Timberline, Mt. Hood, Ore. The five-day program for terrain park professionals features on-hill and classroom workshops, one-on-one customized operator coaching, and demos of the latest mac...
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Feb. 14, 2023—The booking pace for guests arriving in January through June rose 13.3 percent compared to the same time last year at Western mountain destinations, boosting the aggregated occupancy for those six months 7.1 percent, according to the monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, part of the business i...
SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., February 2, 2023—Over 12,000 votes were cast during the 11-day voting period in the 2023 I AM a Snowmaker contest. This year’s contest showcased seven snowmaking teams from across North America: Belleayre Mountain, N.Y.; Bryce Resort, Va.; Jay Peak, Vt.; Massanutten Resort, Va.; Pleasant Mountain, Maine; Wachuset...
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE BONNIE MACPHERSON, GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT, N.H. Bonnie MacPherson joined Gunstock Moun...
SAM Magazine—Olympic Valley, Calif., Jan. 27, 2023—A mix of snowstorms and sunshine brought travel delays and bluebird days to the NSAA Western Winter Conference, hosted at Palisades Tahoe. See more images in the slideshow below.More than 650 operators and suppliers attended the Jan. 17-18 event, which offered networking opportunities and educa...
SAM Magazine—Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jan. 20, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has closed on its acquisition of Southern California’s Snow Valley Mountain Resort. Snow Valley will join the operations of Alterra’s Big Bear Mountain Resort, located 11 miles away in Big Bear Lake, which includes the Bear Mountain and Snow Summit ski areas. “T...
SAM Magazine—Brian Head, Utah, Jan. 20, 2023—Development and construction are currently underway for Aspen Meadows, a new master-planned community and expansion at Brian Head Resort.Long Meadows at Aspen Meadows overlooking Brian Head Resort. Photography Credit Mike Saemisch, Brian Head, Utah The project includes expanded skiable terrain, addi...
