SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 10, 2026—Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz pointed to “the most difficult weather environment in the Rockies we have ever seen” as the primary culprit for the company’s financial declines in both the second quarter ended Jan. 31, 2026, and season-to-date metrics. Q2 resort reported EBITDA was down 8.3 percent...

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, March 10, 2026—SunDown Lodge RenderingPowder Mountain will invest $40 million in a terrain expansion and base-area improvements on the public side of the resort as part of its evolving public/private operating model. The multi-year investment plan includes three lifts, a new lodge, and a 1,000-acre terrain expansion. R...

SAM Magazine—Salem, Ore., March 6, 2026—Oregon State HouseOregon lawmakers finally passed a bill that strengthens the enforceability of liability waivers in the state after several previous attempts to quell what had amounted to a crisis for the state’s outdoor recreation providers failed to progress over the past decade or so. Senate Bill 15...

SAM Magazine—DENVER, March 5, 2026—Alterra Mountain Company’s 2026-27 Ikon Pass suite of products goes on sale March 12 with new partners, access, benefits, and numerous other changes.  The full Ikon Pass, which offers the least restrictive levels of access to 76 ski areas around the world, will start at US$1,349 for adults ages 23 and up; ...

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., March 5, 2026—The 2026-27 Mountain Collective pass is on sale and has retained all the resort destinations around the world that it offered in 2025-26.  The spring sale price is US$669/CA$895, up from US$639/CA$849 for 2025-26. The pass provides two days of access with no blackout dates to 27 ski areas in the United...

• Ski Inc. Series

If it’s done strategically, Wisconsin resort leader Rick Schmitz sees ‘no better investment’ than owning the snow for greater Milwaukee day trippers. Here’s why. (This the third stop on Andy Bigford’s Revival Road Trip, where he is offering monthly reports from the road as he works on the third installment in the Ski Inc. book series...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 4, 2026—Vail Resorts (VR) launched sales of the 2026-27 Epic Pass with new options for customers ages 13-30 added to the lineup at 20 percent less than the full Epic Pass price. Previously, the full Epic Pass had two price tiers: child (ages 5-12) and adult (ages 13 and up). The more restricted Epic Local P...

• Snowmaking News

SAM Magazine—Henniker, N.H., March 3, 2026—Pats Peak will undergo a significant expansion of its snowmaking system this summer that will allow the ski area to double the number of snow guns it can operate at once starting in winter 2026-27.  The project is headlined by a new 21-million-gallon snowmaking water reservoir that will be excavated ...

SAM Magazine—Albion, Idaho, March 3, 2026—Pomerelle Mountain Resort in southern Idaho has been sold to mountain manager Zach Alexander and his wife, Crystal, according to Ski Idaho. The Anderson family, which has owned and operated the ski area for decades, finalized the sale this month. Financial terms were not disclosed. Local Freshies first...

SAM Magazine—Bellaire, Mich., March 3, 2026—After more than 20 years of ownership, Trinidad Resort & Club, LLC, has sold Shanty Creek Resort to a new ownership group called Shanty Creek Ski and Golf Resort, LLC.  Shanty Creek Resort is a 5,500-acre, four-season property that includes two ski areas—Shuss Mountain and Shanty Creek—five ...

SAM Magazine—Burke, Vt., March 2, 2026—Gabe Porter Henry leads an on hill tour.After nearly a decade in receivership, Vermont’s Burke Mountain is coming out of hibernation. New owners Bear Den Partners are prioritizing long-deferred capital improvements and operational stability, having already accomplished a variety of projects after taking ...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Glenwood, N.Y., March 2, 2026—Kissing Bridge All Seasons Resort has hired Matt Thomas as its new general manager. Thomas comes to the role with nearly 30 years of ski industry experience, most recently serving more than six years as director of risk management at Telluride Ski and Golf, Colo.  “We are beyond excited to bring Ma...

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2026—The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) board of directors approved $15.9 million in capital investments across Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre mountains, continuing a multi-year run of infrastructure upgrades at the state-owned ski areas. At its Feb. 20 meeting, the board p...

SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., Feb. 25, 2026—Indy Pass has added 16 new alpine and cross-country ski area partners and will open 2026-27 pass sales Feb. 25 to existing pass holders under a new automatic renewal structure the company said is designed to manage demand. Current pass holders can renew at the lowest guaranteed price by opting into an ...

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE MASON WILLETT, MOUNT SUNAPEE, NH Vail Resorts has appointed Mason Willett as director of mountain operations a...