• Legal

SAM Magazine—Gatlinburg, Tenn., Oct. 12, 2022—Local entrepreneur and former Sevier County attorney Joe Baker has acquired Ober Gatlinburg and all its assets—including the aerial tramway and employee housing properties—from longtime owners, the Anders family.  The property is held under a long-term lease from the city of Gatlinburg, dati...

• Racing

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Oct. 12, 2022—A group of lift mechanics and electricians at Vail Resorts-owned Park City Mountain, Utah, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to form the Park City Lift Maintenance Professional Union.  The workers are seeking to organize under the United Professional Ski Patrols of America, a ...

• Ski School
• Legal

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Oct. 11, 2022—The Indy Pass has added 12 ski areas to its 2022-23 roster, including its first in eastern Canada, as well as three other Alpine partners, four cross-country resorts, and four Allied resorts.  The additions bring the total number of participating resorts to 133.Calabogie Peaks Resort in Ontario is eas...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 10, 2022—Ski areas across North America are invited to nominate their snowmaking teams to participate in the eighth annual “I AM a Snowmaker” contest, presented by HKD Snowmakers. The “I AM” contest highlights the hard work and camaraderie of snowmakers, and recognizes how critical they are to the succes...

• Racing
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 10, 2022—On Oct. 4, the Salt Lake City Council became the latest government group to formally oppose the Little CottonwoodImage credit: Gondola Works Canyon gondola, Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) proposed solution to traffic congestion on the route that leads to Alta and Snowbird. Hours ear...

• Resort Development
• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Fairfield, Pa., Oct. 6, 2022—Vail Resorts appointed Chris Blackwell as the new general manager of Liberty Mountain Resort. Blackwell assumed the role in September. He succeeds Jeff Lifgren, former GM of Liberty and VP of Vail Resorts’ Mid-Atlantic region; Lifgren will continue in his role as vice president of the Mid-Atlantic reg...

• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 6, 2022—Stephanie Cox has been named as the new executive director of the National Ski Patrol (NSP). Cox brings extensive experience leading nonprofits, technology, and consumer goods companies around the world. She succeeds Chris Castilian, who resigned as the NSP CEO in August.  “The search committee,...

• Environment
• Miscellaneous

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 PAUL MUNDY, DODGE RIDGE,  CA Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort hired Paul Mundy as its ...

• Rental
• Resort Development

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., Oct. 4, 2022—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) has entered a joint venture with the Wiper family to operate and manage Willamette Pass Resort, Ore. The partnership will begin immediately with Willamette Pass being added to MCP’s Power Pass family of season pass products, joining the nine other ski/ride and mountain ...

• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine— Denver, Oct. 4, 2022—Ikon Pass has added Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia and Grandvalira Resorts Andorra in Andorra for the 2022–23 season.  With five other partners added earlier this year—Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley, France, Sun Valley, Idaho, Snowbasin, Utah, Lotte Arai Resort, Japan, and Panorama, B.C.—Ikon Pass ho...

• Environment

SAM Magazine—Oct. 4, 2022, Broomfield, Colo.—Vail Resorts plans to utilize technology that will allow guests to store and use their season pass or lift ticket directly on their phone. The new feature will be tested during the 2022-23 North American winter season, with roll-out to guests expected for the 2023-24 season.  “We are excited for ...

• Rental

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 28, 2022—Vail Resorts (VR) reported that for its fiscal 2022 year, ended July 31, 2022, overall revenues were up 34 percent and EBITDA rose 54 percent, thanks to fewer Covid restrictions in 2022 than in the prior year. The same story held true for individual departments, with major increases in revenue from...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Norden, Calif., Sept. 23, 2022—Bridget Legnavsky has been named as the new president and CEO of Sugar Bowl | Royal Gorge, Calif., effective Oct. 17. She will work alongside current president and CEO Greg Dallas as he transitions to a vice chairman role focused on execution of the resort’s master plan. Legnavsky has 30 years ...

• Marketing

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 23, 2022—Prinoth has appointed Scott Jones as general manager of its North American snow grooming division. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jones will be working closely with customers, developing the new strategic direction for the division, and building upon the Prinoth brand. “The U.S. and Canada ar...

• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Upson, Wis., Sept. 22, 2022—Co-owner and general manager David Dziuban has acquired sole ownership of Whitecap Mountains Resort, Wis. Dziuban will continue as general manager; new support roles and infrastructure upgrades are planned for the 2022-23 season.  “[Whitecap] is such a vibrant recreational resource for the surroundin...