Andy Bigford is the former editor-in-chief of SKI magazine. Now embarking on a Revival Road Trip, he is offering monthly reports from the road as he works on the third installment in the Ski Inc. book series, having collaborated with Chris Diamond on the first two. Chronicling big and small resorts for 40-plus years, Bigford has edited or written six books.
Revival Road Trip Reports
Next stops on the Revival Road Trip: Schmitz Brothers Resorts, WI; North Conway, N.H.
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SAM Headline NewsSpecial Report: Sundance: Revival in Redford’s Shadow
This rustic, soulful resort is an anomaly, but the well-capitalized, strategic rebirth of Robert Redford’s legacy is chock full of lessons for all resort operators. By Andy Bigford (This is the second stop on Andy Bigford's Revival Road Trip, where he is offering monthly reports from the r This rustic, soulful resort is an anomaly, but the well-capitalized, strategic rebirth of Robert Redford’s legacy is chock full of lessons for all...
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SAM Headline NewsSpecial Report: Swiss Valley: A Michiana Revival
On the cusp of turning 65, the Wiseman family’s Swiss Valley has done more than persevere, it's found a Perfect future. This is part 1 of Andy Bigford's Revival Road Trip. Knowing what you don’t know is critical to any successful endeavor. It can also help save the life of an endangered ski On the cusp of turning 65, the Wiseman family’s Swiss Valley has done more than persevere, it's found a Perfect future. This is part 1 of Andy...
More From Andy Bigford
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January 2026Under New Ownership
Is it up to the independents to determine the future health of skiing? A handful of intriguing ownership models have popped up in the past year, portending a potential return to the starry-eyed past, when resort owners hung cable rather than hosting analyst calls. The new models include a group of Is it up to the independents to determine the future health of skiing?
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SAM Headline NewsSpecial Report: Nederland's Eldora Purchase: Brave But Risky Business
A special analysis and commentary by Andy Bigford. The town of Nederland’s efforts to buy neighboring Eldora Mountain Resort, with the support of an advisory group called 303 Ski, might be called heroic—and a model for others to follow. The town and 303 Ski rose to the occasion after Powdr A special analysis and commentary by Andy Bigford. The town of Nederland’s efforts to buy...
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November 2021Skiing's Prickliest Problem: Housing, Part 2
An examination of proven and potential solutions to the industry's growing employee housing crunch. Part 1 of this series, which outlines the industry’s housing crisis, appeared in SAM September 2021. Employee housing has been an expense item in the Big Sky Resort budget for nearly a half ce An examination of proven and potential solutions to the industry's growing employee housing crunch.
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September 2021Skiing's Prickliest Problem: Housing
Affordable housing for staff has long been a thorn in the ski industry's side. How did it transform into a full-blown crisis? The housing crisis in this Western ski town had reached the tipping point. “Locals” realized they would forever commute 25 to 100 miles every day on a narrow, twisting, Affordable housing for staff has long been a thorn in the ski industry's side. How did it...
