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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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Little Switzerland Puts the Brakes on Bike Park

SAM Magazine—Slinger, Wis., April 6, 2023—Little Switzerland will permanently close its summer bike park because of increased insurance costs.  In a statement posted to its social media accounts, the company stated, “Our insurance company has dropped coverage of the bike park, and alternative insurance options would not make the park econom...

Vail Resorts Names Guerriero SVP and COO of Rockies Region

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 6, 2023—Vail Resorts has named Nadia Guerriero, currently vice president and COO of Beaver Creek Resort, Colo., senior vice president and COO of the Rockies Region, and appointed her to the company’s executive committee. In her new role, Guerriero will lead Vail Resorts’ six resorts in Colorado and Utah...

Western Resorts Continue to Get Buried by Historic Snowfall, While the East Makes Up for Lost Time

With historic snowfall at ski areas throughout the western United States, many resorts are poised to wrap up the season with later-than-expected closings and strong visitation and revenue. Photo courtesy of Alta Ski AreaIn fact, the records shattered and milestones reached by western resorts are seemingly endless, with new updates pouring in even a...

Vail Resorts to Offer "My Epic Gear"

SAM Magazine—Broomfield Colo., March 30, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) plans to introduce a new membership program called My Epic Gear, which could replace the habit of owning gear with renting, for the day or for the season. The program will launch in 2024-25 at selected resorts, according to the plan, following a pilot program, with a limited number...

March Snow People

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 JESSE TRUE, MAGGIE MURRAY, LOUIS SKOWYRA, and TONY CAMMARATA, ARAPAHOE BASIN, Colo. Jes...

NZ Ski Areas To Limit Skier Numbers on Peak Dates

SAM Magazine—United Kingdom, March 30, 2023—One outcome of the pandemic has been an increasing move by some of the world’s more popular destinations to limit numbers on the slopes and prevent overcrowding. North American resorts have been leading the way with this, but now New Zealand’s Cardrona and Treble Cone resorts are joining the movem...

97% of Indy Pass Resorts Renew for 2023-24 Season

SAM Magazine—Grand County, Colo., March 29, 2023—Nearly all 2022-23 Indy Pass alpine partner resorts—102 out of 105—have committed to the pass for the 2023-24 season. Two of the others, Mt. Hood Meadows and Mt. Ashland, Ore., are pending and expected to renew. The final resort, Snow Valley, Calif., was purchased by Alterra Mountain Company ...

Mountain Capital Partners Expands Into Golf

SAM Magazine—Phoenix, Ariz., March 29, 2023—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) is taking on a new venture: golf. The winter resort operator is buying Silver Creek Golf Course, which includes management of neighboring Bison Golf Club. Both are par 71 public courses located in Show Low, Arizona. Separated by less than 20 miles in the White Mountain...

Solitude Dedicates $16 Million Towards Capital Improvements, Including Lifts and Snowmaking

SAM Magazine—Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, March 29, 2023—Solitude is planning more than $16 million in off-season capital improvement projects, including an upgrade of its Eagle Express quad, Utah’s first detachable chairlift. The investment will fund four projects all set to commence this spring and summer. In addition to the new lift, proj...

Snowbasin and Club Med Part Ways

SAM Magazine—Huntsville, Utah, March 24, 2023—Snowbasin and Club Med cancelled development of a 320-room hotel, the plans for which were unveiled in September 2021. The Club Med hotel was originally scheduled to open for winter 2024. It would have been the resort’s first on-site lodging and Club Med’s first U.S. ski area location since the ...

Vail Resorts Tahoe Properties to Institute Paid Parking, Carpool Incentives

SAM Magazine—Lake Tahoe, Calif., March 24, 2023—Starting winter 2023-24, Vail Resorts-owned Northstar California, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and Kirkwood Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe region will implement paid parking for certain lots in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion and parking shortages on weekends, holidays, and peak periods....

Alterra To Invest Nearly $500 Million This Year

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 21, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company plans a nearly $500 million capital investment program across its portfolio of destinations over the next year. That includes almost $400 million in lifts, snowmaking, summer adventures, additional guest amenities, and resort infrastructure; $50 million dedicated to employee housing; ...

MCP 2023-24 Power Pass Pricing Remains Relatively Flat

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., March 21, 2023—Mountain Capital Partners released its 2023-24 Power Pass family of season passes today, raising the price of its top-tier Power Pass $50 while lowering or keeping flat the prices of others and adding a new pass-holder benefit of 30 percent off day tickets. The Power Pass is good at Spider Mountain B...

Booking Pace And Rates Retreat at Western Resorts

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 14, 2023—Despite widespread significant snowfall across the West in February, high nightly room rates and continued economic pressures depressed bookings across the region—and led to rate reductions in some cases. Still, while occupancy is down slightly compared to last year, overall rates are still substantially hi...

California Operators Cry “Uncle!” on Historic Snowfall

SAM Magazine—Lake Tahoe, Calif., March 10, 2023—Most California ski areas are closed today as another intense weather system carrying heavy rain, snow, and wind bears down on a state that has already seen several disruptive storms this winter, China Peak's ticket window buried in snow.producing record snowfall and forcing frequent road and reso...

Vail Resorts Plans $211M in Capital Investments for 2023

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 10, 2023—Vail Resorts is planning $206 million to $211 million in capital investments for 2023. Projects include lift installations, a new technology rollout, integration activities, and the first phase in a multi-year project at Andermatt-Sedrun. The Keystone, Colo., Bergman Bowl expansion is slated to be...

Vail Resorts Q2 Earnings Down, Skier Visits Up

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 9, 2023—Vail Resorts reported a decrease in its second quarter earnings (EBITDA) of approximately 1 percent from the prior year for the November through January period, with the company’s profitability impacted primarily by increased operating costs from abnormal weather conditions. However, skier visits,...

Ikon Pass Prices Rise 7.5%, Includes New Benefits

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 9, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company is raising prices on its Ikon Passes roughly 7.5 percent for 2023-24, its sixth season, and is adding new benefits to pass ownership. The full Ikon Pass provides access at up to 54 mountain destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.  When the Ikon Pa...

Killington Receives Key Approval for New Ski Village

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., March 8, 2023—Killington Mountain Resort will move ahead with plans to build a new ski village with 1,500 residences, including workforce housing, after Killington town voters approved phase one of the infrastructure and development project on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, March 7. The vote allows for $47 million i...

POWDR Wins Death Valley Concession Contract

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, March 7, 2023—Destination Death Valley, LLC, a subsidiary of POWDR, has won the contract as concessioner for Stovepipe Wells Village in Death Valley National Park, Calif. The facilities include lodging, RV campground, food service, and retail, among others. As concessioner, POWDR will renovate and improve the facil...

Vail Resorts Increases Epic Pass Pricing 8%, Expands European Partners

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 7, 2023—Vail Resorts has released pricing for the 2023-24 Epic Pass suite. The restricted Epic Local Pass will retail for $676 and the unlimited Epic Pass will go for $909, increases of roughly 8 percent year-over-year but still below the price for the 2020-21 Epic Pass. The company slashed prices 20 percen...

Wolf Ridge to Transfer Ownership, Rebrand

SAM Magazine— Mars Hill, N.C., March 6, 2023—Wolf Ridge Ski Resort looks set to transfer ownership this year. Deborah and David Hatley, owners of a forthcoming luxury wellness resort and spa in Tennessee, have acquired and plan to rebrand the North Carolina ski area, which closed for the season Feb. 24 due to a lack of snow.  Orville English ...

Indy Pass Unveils 2023-24 Pricing, Will Limit Sales

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., March 6, 2023—Indy Pass released 2023-24 season pass pricing today. The new retail cost of the adult Base Pass ($279) and adult unrestricted Indy+ Pass ($379) reflects a $20 dollar increase in pricing compared to last year and is available only to current and former pass holders through March 21. The XC Pass for cro...

Rock to Become President of Vail Resorts Mountain Division

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Mar. 2, 2023—Longtime resort leader Bill Rock will become president of Vail Resorts' mountain division on May 1, replacing current division president James O'Donnell, who is leaving the company on March 3.

New Vail Resorts Mobile App Will Allow Phones to be Used as Tickets, Passes for 2023-24

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 2, 2023—Vail Resorts will replace its longstanding EpicMix mobile app with the new My Epic app in the fall of 2023. The new app will include a feature allowing guests to activate and store a season pass or lift ticket digitally on their phone and use their phone to gain lift access—as they do now with RF...

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL REPORT: Indy Pass Gets New Owner, Maintains Independence

In a move intended to bolster the future of the five-year-old Indy Pass, the Pass is being acquired by Entabeni Systems, "the long-time trusted partner who runs the technology platform that Indy Pass has always been built on," according to Indy Pass founder Doug Fish. Fish will continue to lead Indy Pass as it continues to grow its independent reso...

Buchheister Named as Aspen Snowmass CEO

SAM Magazine—Aspen Snowmass, Colo., March 1, 2023—Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) has named Geoff Buchheister as chief executive officer of Aspen Snowmass. Buchheister will lead ASC’s Mountain Division effective March 1, 2023, succeeding longtime CEO Mike Kaplan, who is retiring as of April 30, 2023, after 30 years with the company. Buchheister cu...

Tale of Two Winters

By LINDA GOODSPEED East and West.  The two sides of the country are experiencing two very different winters: In the West, consistent cold and snow since November. In the East, warm and below average snowfall. And in the middle, both extremes at the same time. West  Mountain High, CA & Wintergreen, VAUtah is having quite possibly its snowi...

Cutter’s Camp 2023 Registration Opens Thursday

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Feb. 14, 2023—Registration will open on Thursday, Feb. 16, for the 19th spring session of Cutter's Camp, May 15-19, 2023, at Timberline, Mt. Hood, Ore. The five-day program for terrain park professionals features on-hill and classroom workshops, one-on-one customized operator coaching, and demos of the latest mac...

January Snow Boosts Bookings in West

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Feb. 14, 2023—The booking pace for guests arriving in January through June rose 13.3 percent compared to the same time last year at Western mountain destinations, boosting the aggregated occupancy for those six months 7.1 percent, according to the monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, part of the business i...

I AM A SNOWMAKER 2023: And the Winner Is…

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., February 2, 2023—Over 12,000 votes were cast during the 11-day voting period in the 2023 I AM a Snowmaker contest. This year’s contest showcased seven snowmaking teams from across North America: Belleayre Mountain, N.Y.; Bryce Resort, Va.; Jay Peak, Vt.; Massanutten Resort, Va.; Pleasant Mountain, Maine; Wachuset...

SNOW PEOPLE – JANUARY 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 BONNIE MACPHERSON, GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT, N.H. Bonnie MacPherson joined Gunstock Moun...

Education and Fresh Tracks at the NSAA Western Conference

SAM Magazine—Olympic Valley, Calif., Jan. 27, 2023—A mix of snowstorms and sunshine brought travel delays and bluebird days to the NSAA Western Winter Conference, hosted at Palisades Tahoe. See more images in the slideshow below.More than 650 operators and suppliers attended the Jan. 17-18 event, which offered networking opportunities and educa...

Alterra Acquires Southern California’s Snow Valley

SAM Magazine—Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jan. 20, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has closed on its acquisition of Southern California’s Snow Valley Mountain Resort. Snow Valley will join the operations of Alterra’s Big Bear Mountain Resort, located 11 miles away in Big Bear Lake, which includes the Bear Mountain and Snow Summit ski areas.  “T...

Multi-Dimensional Expansion Underway at Brian Head Resort

SAM Magazine—Brian Head, Utah, Jan. 20, 2023—Development and construction are currently underway for Aspen Meadows, a new master-planned community and expansion at Brian Head Resort.Long Meadows at Aspen Meadows overlooking Brian Head Resort. Photography Credit Mike Saemisch, Brian Head, Utah The project includes expanded skiable terrain, addi...

Vail Resorts Visits, Revenue Up Season-to-Date

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Jan. 19, 2023—Vail Resorts experienced gains in visits and ticket revenue and is up substantially in ancillary revenue year-over-year across its North American portfolio for the season-to-date period ending Jan. 8, 2023.  Total skier visits were up 12.5 percent, and total lift ticket revenue, including a portio...

December Lodging Results Strong at Western Destinations

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Jan. 18, 2023—An impressive booking pace during December—more than double the pace of the year prior—significantly boosted December and January arrivals at Western destinations, according to the most recent Market Briefing released by DestiMetrics, part of the business intelligence division of Inntopia. Aspe...

Dave Belin Joins SNOW Partners as CFO

SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., Jan. 16, 2023—SNOW Partners has appointed Dave Belin as its new chief financial officer for all its related businesses, effective Jan. 30, 2023. SNOW Partners is the parent company of growth and conversion program SNOW Operating, ski areas Mountain Creek Resort and Big SNOW American Dream in New Jersey, and technol...

Industry Luminary Chris Diamond Dies at 76

SAM Magazine—Steamboat Springs, Colo., Jan. 13, 2023—Chris Diamond, former Steamboat Ski Resort president and author of seminal industry text Ski Inc., died Jan. 12, 2023, from pancreatic cancer. He was 76 years old.  Diamond had a long, influential career in the industry. He got his start in 1972, fresh off a tour in Vietnam with the U.S...

Quebec Ski Areas Report Strong 2021-22

SAM Magazine—Terrebonne, Quebec, Jan. 12, 2023—Quebec ski areas welcomed 6.3 million skier visits in 2021-22, the second highest total in the last 10 seasons and a 2.7 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to financial results released today by the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ). The organization attributed much of the ...

Sugarloaf Receives Approvals for West Mountain Expansion

SAM Magazine—Carrabassett Valley, Maine, Jan. 12, 2023—Sugarloaf received key approvals from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to begin work on its massive, 450-acre West Mountain expansion, which will include a new a high-speed detachable quad, 12 new alpine trails with snowmaking, a...

Mountain Capital Partners to Acquire Valle Nevado

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., Jan. 12, 2023—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) has agreed to become the majority owner of Valle Nevado, Chile, the largest ski resort in the Americas by acreage. The acquisition is MCP’s first international resort and eleventh ski area. Founded in 1988, Valle Nevado is located in the Andes 37 miles from Santiago, ...

Mont-Sainte-Anne Allowed to Reopen Chairlifts, Not Gondola

SAM Magazine—Beaupré, Québec, Jan. 10, 2023—The Quebec Building Authority (RBQ) cleared four of Mont-Sainte-Anne’s (MSA) chairlifts to reopen on Jan. 8, but not the gondola. The resort closed after an unoccupied gondola cabin detached from the line and fell to the ground prior to opening on Dec. 10, 2022, the latest in a series of lift malf...

Holiday Demand Proves Strong Despite Wild Weather

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 6, 2023—Rollercoaster weather across the country, from recording breaking snowfall in California to 60-degree temps in Vermont, presented operational challenges for mountain resorts across the country.Courtesy of Sugar Mountain Despite some operational disruptions, though, many operators are reporting strong, an...

Record Highs Halt Alps Ops

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 6, 2023—Record-breaking warmth has taken a toll on European mountain resorts over the holiday period and into the new year. A Jan. 6 screen capture from the webcam at the top of Mont Chéry at Les Gets, France.While the season began with cooler temps and mid-December snow in the Alps and elsewhere, rain and high...

SAM Reveals the 2022 Terrain Park Contest Winners

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 6, 2023—Nearly 1,800 votes were cast in the 16th annual SAM Terrain Park Contest, in which a total of 60 resort-submitted entries from mountain resorts around the globe competed for the top spot in one of the four contest categories: features, events, edits, and—new this year—park crew. The votes have been ...

Fire Destroys Calabogie Peaks Pump House

SAM Magazine—Calabogie, Ontario, Jan. 4, 2023—Early Tuesday morning, a fire engulfed the snowmaking pump house at Calabogie Peaks, shuttering the ski area for the day for safety reasons. No one was injured and no other structures were affected, according to a statement. Calabogie reopened for operations today. “Thank goodness nobody has ...

Tree Falls on Park City Mountain Chairlift, Employee Killed

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Jan. 3, 2022—A Park City Mountain staff member was killed Jan. 2 after falling from the chairlift they were riding. A tree fell on the line of the Short Cut chairlift at about 10:45 a.m. MST, unseating the employee who fell at least 25 feet to the ground, according to a Vail Resorts spokesperson. The staff member w...

Polar Vortex Disrupts Operations Across North America

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., Dec. 23, 2022—A powerful winter storm bringing artic temps, dangerous wind chill values, and in some regions, blizzard conditions or even warm rain,Courtesy of Boyne Mtn has led to widespread operational disruptions at ski areas across North America heading into the holiday weekend. As the storm moves from the Rockies ...

Important Precedent Set in Oregon Ski Area Ruling

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Dec. 20, 2022—Recreational use law was successfully used as a defense against a plaintiff seeking $1.5 million in a parking lot slip-and-fall claim against Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon. ASDA (Association of Ski Defense Attorneys) attorneys Brad Stanford and Trish Walsh of Portland firm Farleigh, Wada & Witt represe...

PSIA-AASI Hires Peggy Hiller as New CEO

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Dec. 20, 2022—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has named industry veteran Peggy Hiller as its new CEO, effective Jan. 16, 2023. Hiller succeeds Nick Herrin, who was hired as CEO in 2016 and stepped down in June 2022 to become senior vice presi...

Mont-Sainte-Anne Ordered to Remain Closed, Remediate Lift Issues

SAM Magazine— Beaupré, Quebec, Dec. 19, 2022—The Quebec Building Authority (RBQ) found that Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) did not follow proper operating procedures during morning start-up of its gondola on Dec. 10, resulting in an unoccupied cabin detaching from the haul rope and falling to the ground, according to a Dec. 16 report. The resort has b...

Occupancy Soft at Western Mountain Destinations Despite Bookings Boost

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Dec. 19, 2022—Consistent, and in some cases, abundant snowfall across many western mountain resorts compared to last year gave November bookings a boost, particularly for November and December arrivals. But economic variables have prevented 2022 from sustaining the rebound recovery of 2021, and are likely to rem...

Cabin Detaches from Mont-Sainte-Anne Gondola

SAM Magazine—Beaupré, Quebec, Dec. 12, 2022—A gondola cabin fell from the haul rope of the Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) L’Étoile Filante gondola before operating hours on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 10. No one was injured in the incident. The resort has been closed since Saturday, and an inspection is ongoing.  “A full inspection procedure ...

Owners of Mountain High and Dodge Ridge Purchase China Peak

SAM Magazine—Lakeshore, Calif., Dec. 9, 2022—China Peak Mountain Resort has been sold to Mountain High Resort and Dodge Ridge, Calif., owners Invision Capital and Karl Kapuscinski, Mountain High president and CEO. Former owner Tim Cohee will remain general manager "for the foreseeable future" and also be involved in shaping the guest experience...

Snow People—December 2022

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 STEVE DUKE, CRESTED BUTTE, CO Steve Duke was named director of mountain operations at Cr...

Good Start for Midwest and Western Ski Areas, Slow Start in the East

So far, the early 2022-23 ski season is a tale of inches and feet: Feet of snow and earlier than planned openings in the West; mere inches of snow in the East and delayed openings. Stowe Mountain Opening Day As colder temps settle in later this month, the East hopes to catch up. And everybody is looking forward to a good holiday period, especiall...

Indy Pass Adds Four Northeastern Nordic and Alpine Resorts

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Nov. 29, 2022—The Indy Pass has added four Northeastern Alpine and Nordic ski areas to its 2022-23 lineup, making for 21 total participating ski areas in the Eastern region this year to date.  Included are Peek'n Peak in New York and Tussey Mountain, Pa., on the Alpine side, and cross country areas Catamount Outdo...

Massive Crowd Flocks to Killington Cup

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Nov. 28, 2022—An estimated 37,000 spectators descended on Killington Resort this weekend for the sixth annual Killington Cup, a women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup event. The resort’s new K-1 base lodge also made its debut over the weekend, opening to an eager public.  The record-breaking crowds began arriving on ...

2022 Snowbound Expo Exceeds Expectations

SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass, Nov. 23, 2022—After a two-year Covid delay, the Snowbound Expo debuted in Boston this past weekend, Nov. 18-21, drawing 20,000 skiers and riders from around New England. The reimagined version of the longtime event included dozens of speakers, hardgoods and softgoods retailers promoting their newest wares, a learn-to...