SAM Magazine-Wildwood, Mo., Oct. 21, 2010-Peak Resorts has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire all Wildcat Mountain Ski Area assets and attractions in Pinkham Notch, N.H., from longtime owner Pat Franchi, pending approval by the U.S. Forest Service. Adding to its portfolio of resorts located in six U.S. states, including Attitash and Crotc...

SAM Magazine--October 20, 2010--A jury returned a unanimous defense verdict yesterday in the case of James Malaguit v. Ski Sundown, Inc., in the Connecticut Superior Court, Litchfield, Conn. James Malaguit was 15 years old on February 17, 2006, when he went off a terrain feature in Ski Sundown's terrain park. He reverse rotated and landed on the...

SAM Magazine-Boise, Idaho, Oct. 20, 2010- Federal bankruptcy judge Terry Myers has rejected a $2 million loan intended to allow Tamarack Resort to maintain facilities and reopen this winter while it finds a buyer, saying that the onerous conditions of the loan made it likely the resort would default once again. Whether Tamarack will open or not ...

SAM Magazine-Waterville Valley, N.H., Oct. 19, 2010-Less than a week after taking over, the new owners of Waterville Valley are buying 25 energy-efficient HKD tower guns and a new Prinoth Bison groomer. Total investment in the six weeks leading up to the area's planned Nov. 20 opening will hit $500,000. "We completed the purchase of Waterville V...

SAM Magazine-Denver, Oct. 19, 2010-Despite ongoing economic fluctuations and decreased consumer confidence, western mountain destinations posted a 15.8 percent increase in occupancy in September 2010 compared to September 2009, according to the latest data released by Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). This represents the biggest monthly inc...

In the latest installment of SAM's Summer Ops video series, the SAM CAM visited Nashoba Valley's Sunset Tiki Bar in western Mass., where guests are treated to summer fun on the ski area's snowmaking pond. Nashoba's success with the Sunset Tiki Bar this summer has surprised even its owners, the Fletchers. "The Tiki Bar has more than doubled our s...

SAM Magazine-Ishpeming, Mich., Oct. 14, 2010-World Champion ski racer Daron Rahlves, iconic skiing legend Glen Plake, and the late big-mountain freeskier Shane McConkey are among six skiers and builders named to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame's Class of 2010. They will be joined by Paralympic medalist and World Champion Muffy Davis, Olympi...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., Oct. 14, 2010-Fortress Investment Group is planning to sell a significant stake in Whistler Blackcomb within the month, via an IPO expected to net C$300 million, according to filings with Canadian securities commissions. Fortress will keep a stake of unknown size in the resort as well. The group of banks that are con...

SAM Magazine-Tahoe City, Calif., Oct. 13, 2010-Alpine Meadows is the first resort in North America to install the Magnestick chairlift safety system for kids, which will be used on the area's Meadow and Subway chairs during the 2010-11 season. The system uses an electromagnetic seatback and corresponding magnetic vest worn by children riding a c...

SAM Magazine-Waterville Valley, N.H., Oct. 11, 2010-The Sununu family is leading a group of local investors that has purchased Waterville Valley from Booth Creek Resorts. The assets include the Waterville Valley Ski Area, Waterville Valley Nordic Center, Waterville Valley Conference Center and Town Square. Waterville Valley, opened in 1966, was ...

SAM Magazine--October 1, 2010--It's the season for hiring, promoting and moving, so we have compiled the latest resort personnel changes...and will continue to do so throughout the year. Congratulations to everyone below on their new positions! Mt. Rose, Nev., hired sales and marketing director Sean Bakos. Bakos hails from Vermont and spent the ...

SAM Magazine-Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 30, 2010-It could only happen in California: last Friday, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger first approved a bill that required under-18 skiers and snowboarders in the state to wear helmets, but then vetoed companion legislation that would have required resorts to take a number of other actions to further safegua...

SAM Magazine-Kiltarlity, Scotland, Sept. 29, 2010-The website www.skiinfo.co.uk reports that as the southern hemisphere's ski season continues to wind down, resorts in France, Switzerland and the USA are opening, or have opened, in the last seven days. Fresh snow in the Alps and the start of snowmaking in Colorado are further signs that the ski sea...

SAM Magazine-Alta, Wyo., Sept. 27, 2010-Grand Targhee Resort owner Geordie Gillett is assuming the role of president. He replaces former Targhee president (and general manager) F. Scott Pierpont, who recently left the resort to become vice president of sales for Doppelmayr CTEC. "We are very proud when our employees are recognized within the ind...

SAM Magazine-Denver, Sept. 16, 2010-The positive occupancy trend in mountain destinations continued during the month of August, according to the most recent data released by the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). The data reflect activity at 265 lodging properties in 15 destination resorts in Colorado, Utah, California, and Oregon. August...