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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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Former Jay Peak Owner Ariel Quiros Sentenced to 5 Years

SAM Magazine—Burlington, Vt., April 29, 2022–Ariel Quiros, the former owner of Jay Peak Resort, was sentenced to serve five years in prison and pay more than $8 million in restitution for his role in a "Ponzi-like" scheme that misused $200 million of EB-5 investor funds raised to support capital projects at Jay Peak and Burke Mountain, as well ...

Vail Resorts Finishes Season Up Year-Over-Year “As Expected”

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 28—Vail Resorts (VR) was up 19.4 percent in lift ticket revenue and 12.5 percent in skier visits through mid-April compared to Covid-limited 2020-21, according to the company’s latest shareholder report. CEO Kirsten Lynch said the strong year-over-year performance was “as expected,” and noted that Cov...

Nominate a Rising Star for the 2022 “10 Under 30”

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 27, 2022—The nomination period is now open for SAM’s annual “10 Under 30.” Members of the mountain resort industry are invited to nominate a standout 20-something-year-old who is already making an impact at the ski area where they work and poised to become a leader in the industry. The chosen 10 rising st...

Indy Rebrands Core Pass Product, Reduces Blackout Dates

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., April 27, 2022—Indy has rebranded its primary pass product as the Indy Base Pass. The Indy Base Pass—not to be confused with the similar-sounding Ikon Base Pass—will continue to provide two days at Indy’s roster of independent partner resorts, subject to newly reduced blackout dates. The Indy+ Pass will remain...

USFS Designates E-Bikes “Motorized Vehicles”

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., April 21, 2022—The U.S. Forest Service issued final directives clarifying e-bike definitions and use management on National Forest System lands. Per the directive, all e-bikes, including Class 1 pedal-assist-only e-bikes, are now classified as motorized vehicles. As such, e-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized t...

More H-2B Visas Released for This Summer, NSAA Sets Sights on Winter Period

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 21, 2022—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released 35,000 additional H-2B visas for employers with start dates between April 1 and Sept. 30, according to the latest Capitol Watch from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The release more than doubles the 33,000 H-2B visas authorized by statute....

Highlights from the CCSAA Annual Conference

SAM Magazine—Bozeman, Mont., April 21, 2022—The Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) held its annual conference, April 5-6, 2022. The event was held virtually via Zoom for the second consecutive year due to Covid concerns. It had a nice balance of U.S. and Canadian participants, including suppliers and specialty retailers from 15 states ...

Industry Events Season Gathers Steam

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., April 19, 2022—A busy industry events season gathers steam this week with the 45th annual Lift Maintenance Seminar, which began yesterday at Jiminy Peak, Mass. After two years of canceled events and virtual gatherings, in-person events appear to be back in full swing and industry interest looks healthy judging by early...

Stowe Mountain to Implement Paid Parking

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., April 19, 2022—Stowe Mountain Resort will implement a new parking plan for the 2022-23 season that includes paid and free parking as well as carpool incentives, according to a letter from general manager Bobby Murphy shared on the resort’s social media channels.  The new strategy aims to reduce traffic congestion on...

ORDA Plans $91.7 Million in Improvements

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., April 19, 2022—The state Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) board of directors approved more than $91.7 million in upcoming capital projects yesterday, including nearly $20 million for construction of a new lodge at the North Creek Ski Bowl and $38 million for seven new or upgraded lifts at ORDA's Whit...

Santora Named Hidden Valley General Manager

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., April 18, 2022—Vail Resorts (VR) has named Tony Santora as the new general manager for Hidden Valley Ski Resort, Mo., effective May 1. He succeeds Brandon Swartz, who became GM of VR-owned Attitash Mountain Resort, N.H., in February. Santora comes from within the VR enterprise. He currently serves as senior manager o...

Rob Katz and Win Smith to be Recognized by NSAA

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 18, 2022—Win Smith and Rob Katz will receive the 2022 National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Lifetime Achievement and Industry Impact Awards, respectively, on Saturday, May 14, at the 60th annual NSAA National Convention in Nashville. Smith and Katz are both well-known and respected leaders who came to the ski...

Former Jay Peak President Bill Stenger Sentenced to 18 Months

SAM Magazine—April 15, 2022, Burlington, Vt.—Former Jay Peak, Vt., president Bill Stenger, 73, was sentenced by a federal judge Thursday to serve 18 months in prison and pay $250,000 in restitution for his role in defrauding foreign investors that were part of the EB-5 program.Last August, Stenger pleaded guilty to providing false documents in ...

Western Destination Rates and Revenue to Reach New Winter Highs, Summer Softens

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., April 14, 2022—Winter lodging rates and revenue are tracking toward new record levels at western mountain destinations, while summer room rates appear to be softening, according to the most recent Monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the Business Intelligence division of Inntopia. The report again shares multi-yea...

Powdr Names Chris Gunnarson Woodward President

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, April 13, 2022—Powdr Corporation named Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson president of Woodward, its collection of camps and mountain resort experiences geared toward youth participation in action sports. The position was created to grow the Woodward business following its 2018 rebrand.  “I don’t know anyone with a ...

Vail Resorts to Add Housing for 875 Employees Across Four Resorts

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 12, 2022—Vail Resorts (VR) has planned four new investments in employee housing at Park City Mountain, Utah, Whistler Blackcomb, B.C., Vail Mountain, Colo., and Okemo Mountain Resort, Vt. First Chair Employee Housing at VailThe new housing will in total provide affordable housing options to more than 875 VR...

Indy Pass Introduces New XC Pass

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., April 12, 2022—Indy Pass has introduced the new Indy XC Pass for 2022-23, which will include two days of access to seven cross-country ski areas in North America. Photo from Waterville Valley ResortThe pass costs $69 for adults, $29 for youth ages 12 and under. Cross-country access will also be included on the regul...

Continued Surge in Capital Improvements

SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., April 1, 2022—Around the globe, the industry is showing signs of growth with a slew of new construction, expansion, and development projects, all aimed at improving operationsNew base lodge coming to Cranmore. and enhancing the guest experience. The continued proliferation of new capital plans is a promising sign of...

The 2022 SAMMY Leadership Award Honorees

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 1, 2022—The four individuals being recognized with 2022 SAMMY Leadership Awards symbolize the actions, approaches, and operations that have grown in importance during the past two tumultuous years—small, family-owned ski areas; diversity, equity, and inclusion on our mountains; and transparent marketing commu...

Timberline Pursues Plans to Further Integrate Summit Pass

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., March 31, 2022—A new master development plan from Timberline operators R.L.K. and Company outlines major capital investments to further integrate Summit Pass (formerly Summit Ski Area) with Timberline Ski Area. The plans include a two-stage gondola that would provide game-changing direct, aerial access from t...

Homewood Mountain to Become Semi-Private Resort

Updated April 25, 2022 to acknowledge original reporting by Moonshine Ink. SAM Magazine—Homewood, Calif., March 28, 2022—Homewood Mountain Resort owner JMA Ventures has said the mountain will shift to a semi-private model following a 10-year 40 percent decline in skier visit and 64 percent drop in passholders, as reported by Moonshine Ink. ...

Vail Resorts to Acquire Majority Stake in Andermatt-Sedrun

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 28, 2022—Vail Resorts (VR) has entered into an agreement to purchase a majority stake in Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG from Andermatt Swiss Alps AG (ASA). Andermatt-Sedrun is a destination ski resort in central Switzerland, located less than 90 minutes from major metropolitan areas Zurich, Lucerne, and Lugano, ...

Kaplan to Retire from Aspen Skiing Co. in 2023

SAM Magazine—Aspen Snowmass, Colo., March 24, 2022—Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) president and CEO Mike Kaplan will retire April 30, 2023. At that time, Kaplan will have spent 30 years with the company, and the last 17 years as its president and CEO.   Kaplan joined ASC as a supervisor at the Aspen Mountain Ski School in 1993. He spent six ye...

OR Trade Shows Return to Utah in 2023

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2022—The winter and summer Outdoor Retailer trade shows are headed to Salt Lake City, returning to their former home after five years in Denver. The OR shows will be held in January and June at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center. Dates will be determined in the coming weeks. Emerald...

PGRI 2022-23 Mission: Affordable Pass

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, March 23, 2022—Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI) has rolled out the pricing for its 2022-23 Mission: Affordable pass. The pass offers unlimited access at PGRI-owned ski areas Wisp Resort, Md., Powderhorn Resort, Colo., Wintergreen, Va., and Ragged Mountain, N.H., as well as seven days at PGRI’s Mt. Washington Al...

MCP Adds New Power Pass Product for 2022-23, Prices Flat

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., March 23, 2022—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) has rolled out its 2022-23 Power Pass lineup, which provides access to MCP’s Spider Mountain bike park in Texas and its seven Southwest ski areas: Purgatory and Hesperus, Colo., Arizona Snowbowl, Ariz., Brian Head and Nordic Valley, Utah, and Pajarito and Sipapu, N.M....

Epic Pass Adds Options for 2022-23, Nominal Price Increase

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 21, 2022—Vail Resorts (VR) unveiled its 2022-23 Epic Pass lineup today, increasing prices slightly over its significantly reduced 2021-22 offerings. New this year, the company also introduced a monthly payment plan and a cheaper tier of the Epic Day pass, with location-restricted access. On a quarterly ear...

Western Destination Occupancy and Rates Reach New Records

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., March 18, 2022—Occupancy and rates at western mountain destinations have set records for the season through the month of February, according to the most recent Monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The report provides multi-year comparisons back to the pre-pan...

Sia And Raccoon Events Partner to Host Snowbound Expo in Boston

SAM Magazine—Guilford, England, and Park City, Utah, March 17, 2022—Snowsports Industries America (SIA) and Raccoon Events entered a long-term partnership to host the Snowbound Expo, a B2C event last held as the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo in 2019. Set to take place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass., Nov. 18-20, 2022, the expo...

HTI Acquires Ropeway Company Bartholet

SAM Magazine—Vipiteno, Italy, March 17, 2022—The High Technology Industries Group (HTI) acquired a majority stake in Swiss ropeway company Bartholet Maschinenbau AG. Bartholet joins Leitner Poma, Skytrac, Sigma, Prinoth, and Demaclenko, under the HTI umbrella. HTI purchased the controlling shares from Chinese private equity firm Cedarlake Capi...

Suhadolc Named GM of Mount Snow, McDowell to Lead Roundtop

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 16, 2022—Vail Resorts has named new general managers to two of its northeastern resorts: Brian Suhadolc will take the helm at Mount Snow, Vt., and Ted McDowell will lead Roundtop, Pa.  Suhadolc moves to general manager of Mount Snow from his current position as vice president of mountain operations at Vai...

Vail Resorts Visits, Income Rebound in Q2

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 15, 2022—Vail Resorts, Inc. (VR) saw visits and ticket revenues rebound from a slow early season, with totals returning to pre-Covid levels, according to the company's second quarter results. Results for ancillary lines of revenue, such as snowsports school and F&B, remained below pre-Covid levels.  ...

Vail to Invest $175 Million in Pay Increases, Housing, HR

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 14, 2022—Ahead of its second-quarter earnings call, Vail Resorts rolled out a new incremental annual $175 million investment in its employees that includes a $20 per hour starting wage, a commitment to “aggressively” expand affordable employee housing, and the hiring of more centralized HR staff, among ...

Sierra-at-Tahoe to Open for Weekend Celebration

SAM Magazine—Twin Bridges, Calif., March 14, 2022—To celebrate its 75th anniversary as it rises from the ashes of disaster, Sierra-at-Tahoe will reopen for one weekend, April 9–10, 2022. The celebration follows months of work recovering from the impacts of the Caldor Fire, which burned upwards of 80 percent of the trees on property, damaged s...

Loon Names Brian Norton President and GM

SAM Magazine—Lincoln, N.H., March 11, 2022—Vice president of operations Brian Norton has been named the new president and general manager of Loon Mountain Resort, effective April 1, 2022. Norton succeeds Jay Scambio, who was promoted in October to chief operating officer – day areas for Loon parent company Boyne Resorts. Norton has served at...

New England Pass 2022-23 Adds Multi-Day Products

SAM Magazine—Carrabassett Valley, Maine, March 8, 2022—Boyne Resorts has unveiled pricing for the 2022-23 New England Pass products, which provide access to Sunday River and Sugarloaf, Maine, and Loon Mountain, N.H., and also introduced the new N.E. Day ticket pack products, available for two to five days of access to the three resorts. Three d...

Vail Resorts Extends Season at Seven Properties

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 8, 2022—Vail Resorts is extending the 2021-22 ski and ride season at seven of its resorts, weather and snow conditions permitting. The seven are Stevens Pass, Wash., Heavenly and Kirkwood, Calif., Vail Mountain, Colo., Boston Mills, Ohio, Hunter Mountain, N.Y., and Mount Snow, Vt. The extension aims to pro...

Crystal (Wash.) Redevelopment to Address Capacity Concerns

SAM Magazine—Enumclaw, Wash., March 7, 2022—A recently unveiled $100 million capital investment by parent company Alterra will address key capacity concerns at Crystal Mountain, Wash., according to resort president Frank DeBerry, through expanded parking, skier services, lift, and terrain. The projects, he said, address "the issues that our sk...

Big Moose Mountain Owner Ordered to Pay $3.8 Million Fix Ski Area

SAM Magazine—Greenville, Maine, March 7, 2022—A Superior Court Justice ordered James Confalone and his company Moosehead Mountain Resort Inc., owner of Big Moose Mountain ski area, a.k.a. Big Squaw Mountain, in Greenville, to deposit $3,831,000 into an escrow account because he failed to maintain the ski area that he purchased in 1995.Big Moose...

Mountain Collective Shuffles Partners for 2022-23

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., March 3, 2022—The Mountain Collective will include 22 destinations for the 2022-23 season, as Snowbasin, Utah, and Sun Valley, Idaho, return to the group, and Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe, Calif., and Sugarbush, Vt., withdraw.  “We are excited to rejoin Mountain Collective starting with the 2022-23 season,” said...

Ikon Pass Adds Partner Resorts, Pass Options for 2022-23

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 3, 2022—Alterra Mountain Company unveiled the details for its 2022-23 Ikon Pass, which includes new pass product options, new partner resorts, and changes to access for several destinations. The Ikon Pass will retain all partner resorts from 2021-22, providing access to 50 destinations worldwide in 2022-23.  Pricing...

Magic Mountain Supports Ukrainian Children's Fund

SAM Magazine—Londonderry, Vt., Mar. 3, 2022—Magic Mountain will donate $10 of every lift ticket for the coming weekend to the Save the Children Crisis Relief Fund for Ukraine, resort president Geoff Hatheway said in the area’s Alpine Update on Wednesday. According to Hatheway, the fund was chosen as it has already been active in the previou...

Presidents' Week Turnout Strong, Not Record Breaking

SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., Mar. 3, 2022—The Presidents' Day holiday week proved fruitful for North American ski areas. Wilmot Mountain, Wisc.Operators from coast to coast were overwhelmingly positive regarding skier enthusiasm for the late-February holiday period, and operationally resorts seem to finally be finding their groove in this diffi...

Alpine-X Proposes Second Indoor Ski Area for Texas

SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., March 2, 2022—Alpine-X, a Virginia-based developer with plans to build 20 indoor snowsports resorts across North America, has signed a letter of intent to co-develop its second location in Texas. Its flagship indoor resort, projected to open in early 2025, is in its first phase of development in the Washington D.C. ar...

Indy Pass Holds Prices for 2022-23, Introduces Mega Switch Pass

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., March 2, 2022—Pricing for 2022-23 Indy Pass products will not increase from 2021-22, but new this year is a $20 discount incentive for mega pass holders to switch to Indy Pass. All 82 current resort partners are expected to return next season. A final resort roster with blackout dates will be released May 1. The ne...

Sleeping Giant Fundraising to Support Ukraine

SAM Magazine—Cody, Wyo., March 1, 2022—Sleeping Giant ski area launched a fundraising campaign on Feb. 27 to support Ukraine’s army amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The ski area will give 100 percent of ticket sales for Saturday, March 5, directly to Ukraine’s army through a fund set up by the National Bank of Ukraine.  Sleeping Giant o...

Snowbird to Get New Trams, First in the United States with Rooftop Balcony

SAM Magazine—Snowbird, Utah, March 1, 2022—Snowbird will upgrade its Aerial Tram with new Doppelmayr cabins this spring. The cabins, which will feature a summer rooftop balcony and glass floor panels, will be the first of their kind in the United States. After two years of planning, the new tram cabins have been completed in Olten, Switzerland...

Alterra Plans $344 Million in Capital Improvements

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Feb. 28, 2022—Alterra Mountain Company plans to invest $344 million in capital improvements for winter 2022-23, its biggest single year investment since the company was formed. The plan includes $237 million in resort development, with $93 million in increased capacity and terrain expansion, $91 million in skier ser...

Gondola Cabin Detaches in High Winds at Sunday River

SAM Magazine—Newry, Maine, Feb. 25, 2022—A strong wind gust caused a gondola cabin to misfeed into the top terminal and detach from the haul rope of the Chondola lift at Sunday River, Maine, at 5:37 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23. The cabin fell approximately 10 feet to the ground. The 17-year-old guest inside sustained minor injuries, and was release...

Shuttered Toggenburg Up For Sale

SAM Magazine—Fabius, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2022—Intermountain Management president Peter Harris acquired Toggenburg Mountain in August 2021 for $750,000, and immediately shuttered the ski area to reduce competition for his company’s other two upstate New York ski areas, Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain. According to a report from Syracuse.com/Th...

USSS Alpine Director Hunt Resigns

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Feb. 24, 2022—Jesse Hunt will step down as alpine director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS), effective July 1, 2022. The organization said Hunt will stay on to ensure a smooth transition as it actively recruits for his replacement.  “Jesse has been an important leader of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team for many yea...

Sommets Co-Founder Louis Dufour Dies

SAM Magazine—Terrebonne, Quebec, Feb. 21, 2022—Quebec ski industry pioneer and Les Sommets co-founder Louis Dufour died Feb. 19, 2022. Dufour led Les Sommets, the largest private ski resort ownership group in Quebec, for 50 years prior to his death. Dufour was a visionary in the Quebec ski industry. His group Les Sommets today owns Sommet Sain...

Omicron Surge Dampened Destination Visits in January

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Feb. 16, 2022—Momentum from the red-hot holiday season turned cool in early January as a surge in new cases of the Omicron variant put a damper on short-lead bookings, according to the most recent Monthly Market Briefing released by DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. Aspen SnowmassA re...

Big Plans for Big Sky, New Tram and Two-Stage Gondola in Works

SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Feb. 15, 2022—Boyne Resorts is looking to transform access to Big Sky’s Lone Peak with a new base-to-summit lift network that includes a two-stage gondola and a higher-capacity tram. The multi-year project is the final phase of the Big Sky 2025 master plan. “The new lift system from the base area to the summit ...

Sunlight Is First Colorado Resort to Join Indy Pass

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Feb. 15, 2022—Sunlight Mountain has become the first Colorado ski area to join the Indy Pass. For the remainder of winter 2021-22 and the entire 2022-2023 season, Indy Pass holders will get two days at Sunlight with no blackout dates.  “The timing was right for Sunlight to go Indy,” said Sunlight marketing and...

Aspen Skiing Co. Gives Company-Wide $3/Hr Raise

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., February 11, 2022—Aspen Skiing Company (Ski Co.) said Thursday it will give all salaried and hourly employees a $3/hr raise, effective Sunday, Feb. 13. The move boosts starting pay to $20/hr for most hourly employees and represents an annual increase of $6,240 for those in salaried positions. “This is an investment...

Maine Ski Area’s $113 Million Redevelopment Plan to Face Public Hearing

SAM Magazine—Greenville, Maine, Feb. 10, 2022—The Maine Land Use Planning Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to hold a public hearing on the proposed $113.5 million expansion to the Big Squaw Mountain ski area in Piscataquis County, Maine.  Developer Big Lake Development LLC has proposed a two-phase project that would expand the resor...

SAM Gives Back

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Feb. 10, 2022— SAM Magazine has raised over $2,500 for non-profit causes since November 2021. Those proceeds, a percentage of SAM Magazine subscriptions and Summit Series Leadership Bootcamp registration, will be donated to four 501(c)3 organizations: Share Winter, Winter4Kids, the National Brotherhood of Skiers,...

Will the Spirit and Frontier Airline Merger Drive Skier Visits?

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Feb. 10, 2022—In a $6.6 billion deal expected to close in the second half of 2022, Spirit Airlines will merge with Frontier, giving Denver-based Frontier Airlines the controlling stake in the combined entity. The merger of these two major discount airlines will form the fifth largest airline in the United States and ...

Cutter’s Camp is Back In-Person, Registration Now Open

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Feb. 3, 2022—Registration is open for the 18th spring session of Cutter's Camp, May 16-20, 2022, at Timberline, Mt. Hood, Ore. The five-day program for terrain park professionals features on-hill and classroom workshops, including the return of one-on-one customized operator coaching. The program will cover all ...