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  • Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. Submits Top Bid for Jay Peak at $76 Million

    PGRI president and CEO Vern Greco shares his thoughts on the acquisition with SAM. SAM Magazine—Jay, Vt., Sept. 8, 2022—Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI) made the highest and best final bid to buy Jay Peak, $76 million, following an auction with multiple bidders. PGRI president and CEO Vern Greco told SAM that after three years spent pursuing the acquisition, PGRI is poised to bring renewed stability to the resort and its staff, and tap into its passion and energy. The prevailing bid remains subject to approval by the United States District Court in Southern Florida during a final hearing scheduled for Sept. 16. Judge Darrin P. Gayles, who has presided over the receivership in federal...

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Jon Copeland Named Breckenridge VP, COO

SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort has promoted Jon Copeland, current vice president of mountain operations, to vice president and COO.  Copeland will lead mountain and base area operations, food and beverage, ski and snowboard school, summer operations, and other areas of business, while driving partnersh...

Alterra Purchases Mike Wiegele Heli Ski Operation

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has initiated the purchaseof Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (MWHS) in Blue River, BC, Canada. Officials at Alterra said the addition will complement the company’s BC-based CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures operation, and is expected to be completed late this year, pending...

Matt Jones Named President, COO of Stratton

SAM Magazine—Stratton, Vt., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has named Matt Jones president and COO of Vermont’s Stratton Mountain Resort. He most recently served as the VP and general manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort in California. Jones will report to Alterra’s regional COO, Patrice Malo, and will be responsible for overseeing...

Meet the 2023-24 Summit Series Mentees

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023—Out of a strong field of more than 75 nominations,10 talented mountain resort industry up-and-comers have been selected to participate in the sixth annual SAM Summit Series, a mentorship program aimed at developing future mountain resort industry leaders. The 10 mentees hail from areas of all sizes loca...

New Owners for Canada’s Rabbit Hill

SAM Magazine—Edmonton, Alberta, Oct. 10, 2023—Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, founded in 1955, has transitioned to new ownership—business partners Chuck and Lara Amerongen and Derek and Anna Look. The independently owned ski area is located about 20 miles southwest of Edmonton.  Rabbit Hill was purchased from former owner Jim Sutherland whose fath...

Indy Pass Adds More Than 50 New Alpine and XC Areas

SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., Oct. 10, 2023—The Indy Pass has added more than 50 new alpine and Nordic resorts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan for the 2023-24 season. Sales of the pass have also reopened with limited supply available after sales were halted in April due to “overwhelming demand.” Would-be purchasers must join a waitlis...

2024 I AM a Snowmaker Contest Nominations Now Open

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 9, 2023—Ski areas across North America are invited to nominate their snowmaking teams to participate in the ninth annual “I AM a Snowmaker” contest, presented by HKD Snowmakers. The “I AM” contest highlights the importance of snowmakers and their unique role in mountain operations and the success of the ...

A Conversation with ORDA’s New CEO, Ashley Walden

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2023—The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has named Ashley Walden its new CEO. Walden assumed the role in September, and replaced Mike Pratt, who retired after 38 years with the organization. The first woman to fill the top spot at ORDA, Walden will oversee all entities under the OR...

Churich to Lead Vail Resorts West Region

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 5, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort (Colo.) vice president and COO Jody Churich has been promoted to the role of senior vice president and COO of Vail Resorts West Region, effective Oct. 16. She succeeds Doug Pierini, who is leaving the company as of Oct. 6. Courtesy of Sarah McLear, Breckenridge Ski Resort In...

Windham Unveils Rebranding, New Master Plan

SAM Magazine—Windham, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2023—Today, the Windham Mountain Club, formerly known as Windham Mountain, unveiled its rebranding and capital upgrades for the 2023-24 winter season and beyond. The mountain will continue to be open to the public, with season passes and ticket products available, but will also offer private club memberships...

Ski NY-SkiPA Expo 2023 Recap

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2023—The Ski Areas of New York and Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association held their annual joint SKI NY-SKIPA Expo in Lake Placid, Sept. 25-27, with more than 350 ski area personnel, supplier partners, and experts on hand to learn, network, and have a little fun at the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olym...

Vail Reports Net Income Drop for 2023, Rising Pass Sales for 2024

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 29, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) reported a drop in full-year net income for fiscal 2023, EBITDA that was essentially flat, and an increase in season-to-date pass sales for the 2023-24 season. VR's fiscal year ended on July 31. Key info in the year-end report, for the fiscal year ended July 31: Net income was d...

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Class of 2023

SAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 29, 2023—The U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum has named the eight-member class of 2023, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual Snowsports History Celebration in Park City, Utah, in March 2024.  The inductees are: Les Otten  Resort developer Les Otten had a prof...

New England Summit 2023 Recap

SAM Magazine—Portland, Maine, Sept. 29, 2023—The New England Summit’s first year in Portland, Maine, drew 375 attendees, including representatives from 75 suppliers and 39 ski areas, for two days of educational sessions, meetings, and networking events, Sept. 18 and 19.  Dirk Gouwens, executive director of Ski Maine, the state trade associa...

Doppelmayr Reports Record Revenue

SAM Magazine—Wolfurt, Austria, Sept. 28, 2023—Doppelmayr Holding SE reported a record $1.116 billion (946 million euros) in revenue during its 2022-23 business year, up 6.7 percent over the previous year. Of note, this is the first time that the company’s North American market outpaced the Austrian market. North American sales accounted for 2...

Snow People—September 2023

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 KATIE VAN RIPER and JUSTIN SOINE, POWDER MOUNTAIN Powder Mountain has hired Katie Van Ri...

Blue Mountain, Camelback Join Ikon Pass

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company announced today that Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain and Camelback Resort will join the Ikon Pass for the 2023-24 season.   Located in Tannersville, Camelback is the largest snowsports resort in the Poconos, with 166 skiable acres. Blue Mountain, in Palmerton, has the state's...

Silverton Mountain Sold to Aspen-based Adventure Company

SAM Magazine—Silverton, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Colorado’s Silverton Mountain has been sold for an undisclosed amount to Andy Culp and Brock Strasbourger, owners of Aspen-based Heli Adventures, a heli-skiing and adventure travel company.  “It’s an honor to be in this position,” Culp said in an interview with the Aspen Daily News. “My...

Echo Mountain Acquired by Jogan Inc.

 SAM Magazine—Idaho Springs, Colo., Sept. 21, 2023—Burwell Enterprises has sold Echo Mountain to Jogan Inc., LLC, for an undisclosed amount in a deal that closed Monday. The Burwell family acquired Echo in 2016 for $3.8 million, resurrecting the small ski area—located just 36 miles from downtown Denver—from bankruptcy.  “Our goal with ...

Big Sky Resort Transitions to Renewable Diesel Fuel

SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Sept. 20, 2023—In a move toward sustainable operations, Montana’s Big Sky Resort has transitioned to 99 percent renewable diesel fuel to power its snowcats, trucks, and other heavy equipment.  Also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), renewable diesel is derived from agricultural byproducts such as animal ...

Dempsey Mendrzycki Promoted to GM of Big SNOW American Dream

SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., Sept. 20, 2023—SNOW Partners has appointed Dempsey Mendrzycki as the new general manager of its Big SNOW American Dream indoor ski and snowboard facility, effective immediately. Mendrzycki previously held the role of risk and safety ranger (i.e., director) for both Mountain Creek (N.J.)—also owned by SNOW Partner...

Extreme Skier Dan Egan Named GM of Reimagined Tenney Mountain

SAM Magazine—Plymouth, N.H., Sept. 19, 2023—Extreme skier-turned-media professional Dan Egan has been named general manager of Tenney Mountain, N.H. Egan previously served as GM at the ski area, which was purchased by a new ownership group last year, from 2002 to 2004. He assumed the role in August. "I'm a big believer in independently owned r...

Summit Series Leaders Announced; Mentee Submissions Due Sept. 29

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 18, 2023—The SAM Summit Series is set to embark on its sixth year with the theme “Kickstart Your Leadership Skills.” In the annual mentor/mentee leadership development program, emerging resort leaders engage and learn from top industry veterans on a variety of topics affecting ski areas. The program aims t...

The Lowdown on Hoedown: Colorado’s Newest Ski Area To-Be

SAM Magazine—Windsor, Colo., Sept. 18, 2023—With plans to open by Thanksgiving, 12-acre Hoedown Hill will become Colorado’s newest skiing, snow tubing, and sledding area. The project is the dream of Martin Lind, a third-generation Windsor resident and owner of real estate development firm The Water Valley Company.  Hoedown Hill is located a...

Summer Ops Camp at Steamboat: Fun in Learning

SAM Magazine—Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sept. 15, 2023—The thirteenth SAM Summer Ops Camp drew ski area and aerial adventure operators, experts, and suppliers from all over North America to Steamboat, Sept. 10-12, for three days of learning, networking, and hands-on fun in the name of growing non-winter business.  The host resort provided atte...

State, Local Investment to Revitalize Ski Area at Pennsylvania’s Denton State Park

SAM Magazine—Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 14, 2023—The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is committing $10 million in capital improvements and is working with a locally-based company to grow four-season recreational opportunities—including the return of alpine skiing—at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County. ...

Summer in the West: Occupancy Down, Rates Up

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Sept. 14, 2023—After a slow start, the summer of 2023 will likely finish down slightly from last year for lodging properties in Western mountain destinations, but will still come very close to last summer's revenue record. According to the most recent monthly Market Briefing released by DestiMetrics, the busines...

Michigan’s Norway Mountain to Reopen with New Owners

SAM Magazine—Norway, Mich., Sept. 11, 2023—Norway Mountain, idle since 2017, has been purchased by a local family who plans to reopen the 160-acre ski and snowboard area situated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the 2024/25 season.  The Norway property, existing infrastructure, and an additional 50 acres outside of the area was purchased b...

Consumer Ski Shows Reporting Record Pre-Registrations

SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Sept. 8, 2023—The producers of Snowbound and Snowvana, two of the largest remaining consumer ski shows in the nation, report a record number of ski resorts and exhibitors have signed up to participate in the events this fall.   PowderDaze, a retail sales event in Colorado at which local resorts often sell passes, ...

Netflix CEO Acquires Majority Share of Powder Mountain

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, Sept. 6, 2023—Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings became the majority owner of Powder Mountain following a $100 million investment. Hastings acquired a minority stake in the ski area back in April. The new investment will develop the qualities that make Powder special, with a focus on bolstering infrastructure and...

Cleanup is Underway at Lee Canyon

SAM Magazine—Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 6, 2023—Cleanup is underway at Lee Canyon after Tropical Storm Hilary caused significant flooding with flows of rock and debris settling in the base area that nearly buried lift load stations, forcing the resort to shut down its summer operations for the season.    “Our team is working with heavy machin...

Solitude to Unveil First Phase of New Bike Park

SAM Magazine—Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, Sept. 6, 2023—Just days after it reported its first dusting of snow for the season, Solitude, Utah, will unveil the first phase of its new Solitude Bike Park on Friday, Sept. 8, with four new downhill mountain bike trails—six miles total—that range from easy to difficult.  “With this initial pha...

PGRI Adjusts Executive Roles Amid Company Growth

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Aug. 29, 2023—Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI) is making a series of executive changes to accommodate its growth and to align itself for future expansion. PGRI owns five North American mountain resort properties—Jay Peak, Vt.; Mt. Washington Alpine Resort, B.C.; Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Colo.; Wintergreen Re...

B.C. Ski Areas Support Wildfire Evacuees and Emergency Personnel

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., Aug. 28, 2023— More than 1,000 wildfires have scorched Canada this summer, marking the country’s fourth consecutive year of grappling with severe drought conditions. Courtesy of Panorama Mountain ResortMountain communities in British Columbia have been directly impacted and ski areas have stepped up to help. In a h...

Who is the Winner of the 2023 Rise Up Challenge?

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 28, 2023—The 2023 Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America, highlighted up-and-coming lift mechanics and their lift maintenance teams from six ski areas across North America: Arapahoe Basin, Colo.; Deer Valley, Utah; Killington Resort, Vt.; Mansfield Ski Club, Ont.; Mt. Hood Meadows, Ore.; and Pow...

Deer Valley Partners with Mayflower Developer for Major Expansion

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Aug. 24, 2023—Alterra-owned Deer Valley has partnered with Extell Development Company to operate the planned skiable terrain that was part of Extell’s adjacent Mayflower Mountain Resort project, adding 3,700 acres of terrain that will connect to Deer Valley’s existing network of trails, nearly tripling the skia...

Lee Canyon Remains Closed After Tropical Storm Hilary

THIS REPORT WAS UPDATED ON AUG. 25. SAM Magazine—Las Vegas, Aug. 23, 2023—Lee Canyon Ski and Snowboard Resort has closed its summer mountain operations for the season after an initial assessment of the damage caused by flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Hilary led the U.S. Forest Service to indefinitely extend its closure of the ...

Alterra Closes Deal on Schweitzer

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 22, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company closed on the purchase of Schweitzer in Idaho, bringing the company’s total year-round mountain destinations to 17 properties throughout North America.  “With the acquisition of Schweitzer, we are excited to expand our presence within the Pacific Northwest skier market,” said ...

Snow People—August 2023

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 JAY RYDD, DIAMOND PEAK RESORT Diamond Peak Resort has promoted Jay Rydd to operations ma...

Record Attendance at 2023 MSAA Annual Meeting

SAM Magazine—Lake Geneva, Wis., Aug. 21, 2023—Midwest ski operators and industry suppliers descended on Grand Geneva Resort & Spa for the Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) annual meeting and tradeshow, Aug. 13-16. Attendance for this year’s conference was strong, with Amy Reents, executive director of MSAA, reporting record attendance ...

Summer Travelers Booking Later, but Still Booking

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Aug. 17, 2023—Data from research firm DestiMetrics, a division of Inntopia, has revealed that travelers to the western United States are booking summer lodging closer to their planned arrival date this year compared to previous years, but they’re still booking.  This was comforting news, after data in March ...

Australian Operators Eye Strong Finish to Lean Season

SAM Magazine—Australia, Aug. 17, 2023—Warm temperatures in July and into August have put a damper on snow conditions at Australian ski areas, but snow earlier this week and cold weather forecasted for the coming days have operators looking optimistically at a strong finish to the season. Hotham Mountain   “The whole of Australia experience...

Tornado Damages Chairlifts, Buildings at Snow Ridge

SAM Magazine—Turin, N.Y., Aug. 9, 2023—An apparent EF-3 tornado with peak wind speeds of 140 mph damaged all three chairlifts and several structures at Snow Ridge Ski Resort on Monday evening.  The National Weather Service reported that the tornado touched down around 7:42 p.m. in the town of Lewis, N.Y., where it uplifted the roofs of two ho...

Power Outage Strands Hundreds Atop Banff’s Sulfur Mountain

SAM Magazine—Banff, Alberta, Canada, Aug. 9, 2023— A power outage on the Banff Gondola, owned by attraction and hospitality company Pursuit,  stranded hundreds of sightseers at the top of Sulphur Mountain Monday night, leading some to eventually hike down in the middle of the night. The Globe and Mail newspaper suggested that as many as ...

Indy Pass Restricts Partners’ Reciprocals with Ski Cooper, Operators Weigh In

THIS REPORT WAS UPDATED ON AUG. 14 SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Aug. 4—The role and impact of reciprocal pass agreements has been put in the spotlight as Indy Pass has requested its partner resorts terminate their reciprocal deals with Ski Cooper, Colo., whose large and growing roster of pass partnerships has put it in position to potentially ...

Jackson Hole Sold to Local Investors

SAM Magazine—Teton Village, Wyo., Aug. 4, 2023 – After 31 years of ownership, Jay, Connie, and Betty Kemmerer have sold Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) to a group of local investors for an undisclosed amount. Owners of JHMR Connie, Betty and Jay KemmererThe Kemmerers, who purchased JHMR in 1992, said their highest priority was maintaining J...

Third Annual Ski Conservation Summit at Copper Mountain Fosters Conversation and Collaboration

SAM Magazine—Frisco, Colo., Aug. 3, 2023—Copper Mountain hosted the third annual Ski Conservation Summit on July 26. The event brings together local land managers and resort operators to share best practices and techniques to advance conservation efforts in their local environments. Courtesy of Copper MountainThis year, eight Colorado ski areas...

Lutsen Pumps Brakes on $60 Million Expansion

SAM Magazine—Lutsen, Minn., Aug. 3, 2023—Lutsen Mountains, part of Midwest Family Ski Resorts, has submitted a letter to the USFS asking it to defer a decision on the resort’s proposed $60 million expansion onto 500 acres of the Superior National Forest. Local Tribes retain recreational rights to the land under the 1854 Treaty, an agreement b...

Voting is Open for the 2023 Rise Up Challenge

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 1, 2023—Voting is now open for the third annual Rise Up Challenge, a video contest highlighting a few skilled young lift mechanics who will no doubt keep chairs spinning at resorts for decades to come. This year, six resorts were chosen to submit a video, each featuring an up-and-coming mechanic from its lift ma...

Sun Peaks Promotes Darcy Alexander to CEO, Amy Blakeney to COO

SAM Magazine—Sun Peaks, British Columbia, July 25, 2023—Sun Peaks Resort has promoted Darcy Alexander, vice president and general manager for the past 32 years, to CEO. Alexander will focus on long-term strategy, investment opportunities, government relations, and real estate and infrastructure development. Meanwhile, current CFO Amy Blakeney ...

Cannon Names Greg Keeler Interim GM

SAM Magazine—Franconia, N.H., July 25, 2023—Cannon Mountain director of sales and marketing Greg Keeler has been named as interim general manager of the ski area, effective Sept. 1. Keeler will succeed longtime GM John “JD” DeVivo, who has accepted the role of general manager of Antelope Butte Recreation Area in Wyoming, starting Sept. 6. ...

One Dead, One Seriously Injured After Tremblant Gondola Accident

SAM Magazine—Tremblant, Quebec, July 17, 2023—One person has died and another is in critical condition in a Montreal-area hospital after a piece of heavy construction machinery struck a cabin on the Panoramic gondola at Mont-Tremblant Resort on Sunday.  Two people were riding in the cabin at the time of the crash. It’s believed the two were...

UDOT Approves Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola; Snowbird Comments

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah—July 13, 2023—The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) yesterday released its final record of decision (ROD) to move forward with construction of a controversial eight-mile-long gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Image credit: Gondola Works The ROD, the final step in the Environmental Impact Statement...

Summer Bookings Rebound in June, Occupancy and Revenues Down

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo.—July 13, 2023—Positive economic news during June spurred an uptick in advance summer reservations, according to DestiMetrics’ most recent monthly Market Briefing.  Data compiled through June 30 revealed that the booking pace increased and daily rates improved slightly after five months of softening compared...

As Water Recedes, Ski Vermont Offers Online Resource for Flood Victims

SAM Magazine—July 13, 2023—Water has started to recede in Vermont after torrential rains and historic flooding in some mountain locations, with Killington, Magic Mountain, and Okemo among the most heavily impacted.Parking Lot of Magic Mountain. Courtesy of Magic Mountain Molly Mahar, president of Ski Vermont, said those ski areas are reporting...

Longtime Cannon Mountain GM John “JD” DeVivo Named GM at Wyoming’s Antelope Butte

SAM Magazine—Franconia, N.H., July 11, 2023—Longtime Cannon Mountain Ski Area GM John “JD” DeVivo will assume the role of GM of the non-profit Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area in northern Wyoming on Sept. 5. DeVivo will leave the state-owned Cannon on Aug. 31, after 16 years, and with a total of 33 years in the outdoor industry in th...

Tina Burford Named GM of Australia’s Mount Hotham

SAM Magazine—Mount Hotham, Victoria—July 11, 2023—Australia’s Mount Hotham Skiing Company has named Tina Burford as its new general manager. Burford comes to the position with almost four decades of experience, including 32 years at Perisher, where she served as resort services director.   In addition to her term at Perisher, Burford has...

Mark Knutson, GM of Detroit Mountain, Dies in Biking Accident

SAM Magazine— Detroit Lakes, MN—July 10, 2023 – Detroit Mountain general manager Mark Knutson, 53, died Sunday, July 9 in a vehicle-involved biking accident on South Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes.  Knutson was riding his bike just after 7 a.m. when he was reportedly hit by a pickup towing a boat. Life saving measures were performed on Knutso...

Northeast Ski Areas Report Damage, Closings in Wake of Floods

SAM Magazine—July 10, 2023—Concern is growing among ski area operators in Vermont and New York, with damage already being reported in the wake of two days of torrential rains and historic flooding in the Northeast.Courtesy of Magic Mountain The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning through Tuesday morning, including the moun...