SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 23, 2026—Skier visits, lift revenue, and other season-to-date metrics reported by Vail Resorts were down for the North American ski season through April 19, 2026, compared to the same period through April 20, 2025, due to “one of the most challenging winters in history across the western U.S.,” said Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz, who noted early sales of 2026-27 season passes were also down.

Season-to-date skier visits were down 14.9 percent—a further decline from the 12 percent decline as of March 1, reported as part of Vail Resorts’ second-quarter earnings. Total lift revenue was down 5.6 percent year-over-year as of April 19. Ancillary revenue sources were also behind, with ski school down 12 percent, dining revenue down 11.7 percent, and retail/rental revenue for North American resort and ski area store locations off 6.6 percent compared to the prior year period.

Katz commented that the record low snowfall and historically warm temperatures across much of the West throughout the winter were the primary culprit for the declines. “As we previously highlighted heading into March, these dynamics increased variability and resulted in visitation declines for both destination and local guests with the largest impact in the Rockies, where visitation declined 25 percent,” he said.

Early returns on season pass sales through the initial April 12 deadline show “a moderate decline in pass product units and a slight decline in sales dollars,” said Katz. 

Further detail about season pass results and other metrics will be provided in the company’s third-quarter report in June 2026.