SAM Magazine—Vernon, N.J., Aug. 25, 2026—Snow Partners’ new Snow Pass will include access to 14 different ski areas across North America in its inaugural winter season and the Snow Triple Play will have 23 participating ski areas, seven more than last winter, available on the pass for 2026-27.  Snow Pass holders get a total of 28 days—two...

SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Aug. 21, 2026—Risky business: Layne Anderson from Powder Ridge and MSAA's Bo Bigelow talk on-hill safety with Zander Kestly of Camber Risk and Safety and AlpenRisk's Mark Petrozzi.The Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) welcomed an upbeat crowd of 503 ski industry professionals to its annual Summer Meeting and ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 20 2026—Josh Storino and the lift maintenance crew at Mount Snow, Vt., were voted the winners of the 2026 Rise Up Challenge. Sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA), the challenge highlighted up-and-coming lift mechanics and their lift maintenance teams from six ski areas across North America: Castle Mountai...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 18, 2026—Registration for SAM’s 14th annual Summer Ops Camp—a three-day program of site visits, educational sessions, on-hill workshops, demonstrations, and networking focused on mountain resort summer operations—closes this Friday, Aug. 21. Camp takes place Sept. 1-3 in Gatlinburg, Tenn., a mountain town ...

SAM Magazine—Polaris, Mont., Aug. 17, 2026—Maverick Mountain’s only chairlift will likely not operate for the 2026-27 season after sustaining extensive damage from the Sand Creek Fire, according to an Aug. 14 update from the ski area. The fire moved through Maverick last week, damaging the Riblet double chair and other infrastructure, includ...

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., Aug. 17, 2026—Mt. Hood Meadows has ended summer operations for the season due to ongoing impacts from the Grasshopper Fire, nearly two weeks after the wildfire forced the resort to evacuate and suspend operations. A U.S. Forest Service closure order remains in effect for much of the east side of the Mt. Hood...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo. Aug. 14, 2026—Although occupancy, daily rates, and revenue were almost unchanged from June at western mountain destinations during July, the booking pace during July for arrivals from July through December was up 3.1 percent as customers opted for lower-priced months and properties. Results for the full summer re...

SAM Magazine—Polaris, Mont., Aug. 11, 2026—The Sand Creek Fire hit the summit of Maverick Mountain last night and has reportedly advanced down the small ski area’s terrain, already damaging its only aerial lift—a Riblet double chair—according to a social media post from Maverick on Tuesday morning: “With heavy hearts, we are sad to say...

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 SAM BURNS, KILLINGTON RESORT, VT Sam Burns was named as snowmaking supervisor for Killington Resort. Prior to jo...

SAM’s Supplier News roundup delivers a quick look at the latest business moves shaping the mountain resort industry. From mergers and acquisitions to new services, partnerships, and product expansions, this snapshot keeps operators up to speed on the companies and solutions driving change across the supplier landscape. SNOWCLOUD unveiled a ma...

SAM Magazine—Shell, Wyo., Aug. 7, 2026—Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area has appointed Peter Johnson as its new general manager. Johnson most recently led the Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association, overseeing Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in North Powder, Ore. Johnson brings 16 years of experience leading the redevelopment of Anth...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 6, 2026—New sessions and activities have been added to SAM's 14th annual Summer Ops Camp, a three-day program of site visits, seminars, on-hill workshops, demonstrations, and networking events exploring the latest trends in mountain resort summer operations. The event takes place Sept. 1-3 in Gatlinburg, Tenn. S...

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., Aug. 4, 2026—Credit: Mt. Hood MeadowsMt. Hood Meadows has suspended operations and evacuated the resort after the rapidly growing Grasshopper Fire prompted a Level 3 ("Go Now") evacuation order Tuesday morning. In a social media post, the resort said, "As of this morning, Meadows is under a Level 3 (Go Now) ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 4, 2026—The 2026 Rise Up Challenge is underway, and voting is officially open. Now in its sixth year, the video contest shines a spotlight on talented young lift mechanics—rising stars who are essential to the future of mountain operations. This year, six resorts each nominated a standout team member to be fe...

SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, Aug. 3, 2026—Eagle Point Resort will not operate this winter due to the significant impacts of the Cottonwood Fire on the resort's lift infrastructure, ski terrain, and surrounding forest lands. Flash flooding washed out the resort’s primary access road in July, further complicating ongoing remediation work. "This ...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, July 31, 2026—Lift replacements at Park City Mountain that had been delayed due to opposition by members of the local community were, for now, given the green light by a municipal hearing officer following an appeal of the Park City Planning Commission’s June decision to approve the projects.  According to the ...

SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, July 31, 2026—Credit: UDOTState Route 153 through Beaver Canyon, the primary access to Eagle Point Resort, is closed indefinitely after flash flooding and debris flows severely damaged or completely washed away the road in several locations July 19, according to Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Eagle Point su...

SAM Magazine—Lebanon, N.H., July 31, 2026—Sean MalagutiSean Malaguti has been promoted to serve as president of SnoCountry Ski Areas Association as part of a reorganization at the national snow conditions and ski area promotional outlet. He succeeds Mike Colbourn, who served as president since 2017 and has transitioned to chairman of the SnoCou...

SAM Magazine—Danbury, N.H., July 23, 2026—Ragged Mountain has named Alan "Al" Wickstrom as general manager, bringing the longtime New Hampshire operations leader back to the resort where he previously led mountain operations. Wickstrom rejoins Ragged after four years as vice president of operations at Loon Mountain Resort. Before joining Loon,...

SAM Magazine—Juneau, Alaska, July 22, 2026—The Eaglecrest board of directors selected Julie Jackson Piper to be the next general manager of the non-profit Eaglecrest Ski Area during a July 7 Eaglecrest board special meeting. Piper will begin her new role on Aug. 31. She succeeds Craig Cimmons, who resigned in early January. Piper’s prior e...

SAM Magazine—Bolton Valley, Vt., July 22, 2026—Left to right: Evan DesLauriers, Lindsay DesLauriers, Tara Murphy, Nick Lemire.Bolton Valley Resort’s leadership is evolving, as president and CEO Lindsay DesLauriers transitions to chair of the board while assuming a new strategic leadership position. Tara Murphy has become president and CEO, an...

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., July 22, 2026—Valle NevadoMountain Capital Partners (MCP) has withdrawn its proposed acquisition of Chilean resort operator Andacor, ending a transaction that would have united four interconnected ski areas near Santiago under common ownership. The proposed acquisition, announced in July 2025, would have added Anda...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., July 22, 2026—Entabeni has acquired the Whitney's Inn property at the base of Black Mountain, bringing the historic inn, Shovel Handle Pub, and the land containing the ski area's snowmaking pond under common ownership with the resort for the first time in nearly 50 years. CEO Erik Mogensen announced the acquisition...

SAM Magazine—Bretton Woods, N.H., July 21, 2026—Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa has appointed Jace Wirth as general manager of Bretton Woods Ski Area, where he will oversee year-round operations, including mountain operations, guest experience, community relations, and long-term strategic growth. Wirth brings nearly 20 years of mountain...

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, July 20, 2026—The Rocky Mountain Lift Association (RMLA) held its annual conference in Salt Lake City for the first time this spring, relocating the event from its longtime home in Grand Junction, Colo., to better accommodate future growth and improve accessibility. Held May 18-21 at the Salt Palace Conventio...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., July 14, 2026— Bookings at western mountain destinations for arrivals from June through November edged up 1 percent, with stronger demand for the lower-priced months of September through November than the pricier months of June through August, according to the latest monthly Market Briefing from Inntopia’s Des...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., July 14, 2026—Vail Resorts believes the company’s future growth will come by offering an improved guest experience rather than acquiring more ski areas. As such, it plans to invest in changes to equipment rental, private lessons, and dining at its destination resorts, as well as more digital functionality in it...

SAM Magazine—Perisher Valley, Australia, July 14, 2026—Perisher, AustraliaAfter an uneven start marked by limited natural snowfall across Australia and New Zealand, the Southern Hemisphere ski season is beginning to gain momentum. Resorts have steadily expanded operations in recent weeks thanks to snowmaking and a handful of July storms, while ...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., July 10, 2026—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has sent an alert to its members regarding a recent influx of U.S. ski areas receiving pre-litigation demand letters alleging their website tracking technologies—such as cookies and pixels—violate the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), a 1967 law p...

SAM Magazine—Macungie, Pa., July 9, 2026—Attendees at the 2026 PORA Lift Maintenance Seminar, Bear Creek Mountain Resort, June 2026.The Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Association (PORA) hosted its annual Lift Maintenance Seminar on June 30 and July 1 at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. The two-day event brought together more than 75 participants, i...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., July 9, 2026—The Ski Resort AI Bootcamp is back with a new round of live sessions this summer and fall, offering fresh insights into how artificial intelligence can be used across resort operations. Produced by SAM in partnership with digital agency Eternity, and sponsored by Get Ski Bots, the Ski Resort AI Bootcamp...

SAM Magazine—Raleigh, N.C., July 9, 2026—The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 648 this week and Gov. Josh Stein signed it into law, codifying an update to the state’s Winter Sports Safety Act that includes a variety of “needed changes” to the legislation, according to the North Carolina Ski Areas Association.  For exam...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., July 2, 2026—Entabeni has added 11 team members across operations, technology, analytics, mergers and acquisitions, accounting, and partner support as it continues building the organization behind its mission to serve independent ski areas. The hires represent the latest step in a strategy founder and CEO Erik Mogen...

SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, June 30, 2026—Canyonside Lodge. (Image provided by Eagle Point Resort)Eagle Point Resort staff returned to the property Monday for the first time since the Cottonwood Fire swept through the area last week and reported extensive damage to resort infrastructure, lodging, and ski terrain. According to the resort, approx...

SAM Magazine—Hunter, N.Y., June 30, 2026—Chuck Randles has been named as the new vice president and general manager of Hunter Mountain, effective July 15, 2026. He takes over for Trent Poole, who was named as vice president and GM of Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif., in May after two-and-a-half years at the helm at Hunter. Randles is a 20-yea...

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, June 29, 2026—Powder Mountain named Bill Cubbage as general manager of resort operations. He will oversee guest services, rental and retail, base area operations, ski and ride school, mountain operations, ski patrol and I.T. Cubbage joined Powder Mountain in 2024, previously serving as vice president of mountain operat...

SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, June 25, 2026—Credit: Marc LeducThe Cottonwood Fire has reportedly caused significant property damage to Eagle Point Resort, according to photos shared with news outlets.  The fire was first reported on Monday afternoon, June 22, and has since grown quickly, burning nearly 71,000 acres as of noon EDT Thursday. It is...

SAM Magazine—Biwabik, Minn., June 24, 2026—Starting in winter 2026–27, kids ages 12 and under will ski and snowboard for free at Giants Ridge with no blackout dates and no other purchase necessary. The ski area will also introduce free night skiing on Thursdays, 4–8 p.m., this winter. First developed in the late 1950s by local families who...

SAM Magazine—East Burke, Vt., June 24, 2026—Hannah Barrego has been hired by Bear Den Partners as its executive vice president of strategy, operations and integration, a new leadership position focused on strategic execution and operational alignment across the company’s portfolio of ski areas. Barrego joins Bear Den Partners with nearly two...

SAM Magazine—Reno, Nev., June 22, 2026—Despite a challenging winter season in the West, Ski California’s 2026 Lift Maintenance and Operations Education (LMOE) Conference drew 387 attendees from ski areas in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, just 16 shy of last year’s record attendance. Held June 2-4 across three venues near Reno—the ...

SAM Magazine—Deep Creek Lake, Md., June 22, 2026—Erik BarnesErik Barnes will join Wisp Resort as general manager designate, ultimately succeeding general manager Ron Hawkes following Hawkes' planned semi-retirement at the conclusion of the 2026-27 winter season. During the transition period, Barnes will focus on risk management, safety initiat...

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 ADELINE DEYOUNG, NATIONAL SKI AREA ASSOCIATION Adeline DeYoung was hired as the director of public policy for th...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo. June 17, 2026—Booking pace at western mountain destinations softened in May following an April surge, but summer lodging demand remains healthy, with occupancy, room rates, and revenue all tracking ahead of last year, according to the latest DestiMetrics Market Briefing from Inntopia. As of May 31, occupancy for...

SAM Magazine—Phoenix, Ariz., June 17, 2026—Sedona Golf ResortMountain Capital Partners (MCP) and affiliated fund Texas Capital Partners plan to acquire a portfolio of three Arizona resort and golf destinations—Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Sedona Golf Resort, and Rancho Mañana Golf Club—known as The Arizona Hideaway Collection from owners t...

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., June 17, 2026—The Outdoor Industry Association’s 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report found outdoor participation reached a historic peak in 2025 of 183.2 million Americans, part of a continuing trend that has seen the addition of nearly 30 million participants since 2019.  While the overall picture is posit...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., June 10, 2026—Vail Resorts reported declines in nearly every financial metric for its 2026 fiscal third quarter ending April 30, including 2026-27 season pass sales to date, punctuating what was a historically challenging for its destination resorts in western North America.  Year-over-year, third quarter net i...

SAM Magazine—Jeffersonville, Vt., June 10, 2026—Smugglers’ Notch Resort appointed Brandon Swartz as its new general manager. Swartz most recently served as general manager of Attitash Mountain and Wildcat Ski Area in New Hampshire. “Brandon understands that great resorts are built on great people and strong communities,” said Jon Schaefe...

SAM Magazine—Denver, June 5, 2026—Visits to Colorado resorts declined by 24 percent in 2025-26 compared to the prior season, according to figures reported by Colorado Ski Country USA. The association projected preliminary statewide skier visits of 10.5 million for the 2025-26 Colorado season at its 63rd annual meeting yesterday, down from 13.9 ...

SAM Magazine—Bretton Woods, N.H., June 5, 2026—Doug and Liz Fichera, Summit Resources, with SAM's Karolyn Towle.New Hampshire’s alpine ski areas recorded 2,283,539 skier visits during the 2025-26 season, according to Ski New Hampshire (Ski NH), which represents more than 30 alpine and cross-country member ski areas in the state. The result is...

SAM Magazine—Jay, Vt., June 5, 2026—JJ Toland from Sugarbush with former Jay Peak teammate and 2017 SAM "10 Under 30" Andrew Lanoue and SAM's Dave Meeker.The 242 attendees at the Vermont Ski Areas Association’s (Ski Vermont) 57th Annual Meeting at Jay Peak, June 3-4, were the first to hear that the 2025-26 winter’s early start, good snowfal...

SAM Magazine—Palmer, Alaska, June 4, 2026—Skeetawk Ski Area has promoted Ryan Thompson to general manager. Thompson previously served on the board of directors for the nonprofit that runs Skeetawk before resigning in 2025 to serve as Skeetawk’s construction development manager.  As construction development manager, Thompson oversaw capital ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., May 29, 2026—The crews from Castle Mountain, Alberta; Loveland Ski Area, Colo.; Massanutten Resort, Va.; Mount Snow, Vt.; Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, N.M.; and Spirit Mountain, Minn., have been chosen as finalists in the sixth annual Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA), to compete for a...

SAM Magazine—South Lake Tahoe, Calif., May 29, 2026—Vail Resorts has appointed Trent Poole as Heavenly Mountain Resort vice president and general manager. He currently serves in the same role at Hunter Mountain, N.Y., and succeeds former Heavenly chief Shaydar Edelmann, who was named as Vail Mountain, Colo., VP and COO in April.  This will be...

SAM Magazine—Charlevoix, Québec, May 27, 2026—Total skier visits were up 5.1 percent year-over-year, and lift ticket revenue reached a record $190.5 million (CA$263.7 million) for Quebec ski areas in 2025-26, according to the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ), the trade organization representing 73 member ski areas in the province. Prelimina...

SAM Magazine—Bolton Valley, Vt., May 26, 2026—Nick Lemire has been promoted to the role of general manager for Bolton Valley. He previously served as director of guest experience and will now oversee general day-to-day operations and all departments at the family-owned ski area. He is taking on the responsibilities of former vice president and...

SAM Magazine—Juneau, Alaska, May 22, 2026—The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted 8-1 Monday night to abandon Eaglecrest Ski Area’s long-planned used gondola installation and repay Goldbelt Incorporated’s $10 million investment in the project, now about $12.2 million with accrued interest. The vote reverses the Assembly’s 2022 deci...

SAM Magazine—Meadowlark Lake, Wyo., May 21, 2026—A new hospitality venture backed by Miami-based investment firm MAS Alpha Securities has acquired Meadowlark Ski & Lake Lodge in northern Wyoming, with plans to revitalize the property for the 2026-27 winter season. The acquisition marks the launch of MAS Tierra, a hospitality brand founded ...

SAM Magazine—Pincher Creek, Alberta, May 20, 2026—Castle Mountain Resort has hired Chris Salhany as its new president as part of a leadership restructure following the recent retirement of general manager Dean Parkinson. “Chris brings extensive operational experience, a strong track record in resort leadership, and a deep appreciation for th...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., May 15, 2026—As the winter season dragged across the finish line, lodging rates at western mountain destinations managed to cling to a modest seasonal increase, but a drop in occupancy resulted in a significant decline in revenue. Conversely, pent-up demand for summer lodging continued to drive a steady upward t...

SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., May 14, 2026—Boyne Resorts has appointed Dan Cockerell to the newly created role of president of operations, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Cockerell will report to Boyne Resorts president and CEO Stephen Kircher. Cockerell spent most of his career at The Walt Disney Company in several leadership roles during his 26 y...