Summer operations have grown significantly—from a side hustle to a mainstay of four season mountain resort operations. That trend continues, so what does that mean for your operation? What are the new considerations you need to make? What are the best new installs and upgrades? This mountain department page contains a wealth of resources to help you answer those questions and so many more. Let SAM help you take your summer business to new heights.
SUMMER OPS ARTICLES
View the most recent articles on Summer Ops from SAM magazine.-
January 2025Summer Ops Around the Globe
Ski area operators from Europe, Australia, and Japan share insights about the activities and trends shaping their non-winter business. There is opportunity in summer ops, according to ski area operators in Australia, Europe, and Japan, who have also identified a pressing need to grow their non-win Ski area operators from Europe, Australia, and Japan share insights about the activities and...
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January 2025The State of Summer Operations
Analysis of a fall survey on summer operations at North American ski areas offers insights on activities and programming, profitability, and growth goals. Summer in the mountains has evolved from “off-season” to “on” as North American mountain resorts have added summer activities to create Analysis of a fall survey on summer operations at North American ski areas offers insights on...
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September 2024Funding the Fight Against Wildfires
Western ski areas are figuring out how to fund costly, but necessary, vegetation management projects to mitigate wildfire risk. With the increased need for wildfire mitigation initiatives, vegetation management projects at Western resorts have become a core component for reducing risk, protecting Western ski areas are figuring out how to fund costly, but necessary, vegetation management...
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July 2024Summertime is not Slumbertime
Resorts look to weddings, mountain biking, and more to bolster summer operations, a small but growing piece of the revenue pie. In early June, with winter over and the snow melted, resorts were kicking off their warm-season business with mountain coasters, zip lines, adventure parks, and all manne Resorts look to weddings, mountain biking, and more to bolster summer operations, a small but...
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May 2024Coasting Along
The mountain coaster market is expanding and new tech is improving safety and throughput. When Jiminy Peak, Mass, installed a Wiegand alpine coaster in 2006 as part of a major investment in year-round operations, staff didn’t realize it would remain one of the resort’s most popular attract The mountain coaster market is expanding and new tech is improving safety and throughput.
SUMMER OPS SUPPLIER GUIDE
Peruse our top Summer Ops Camp vendors
online with our Summer Ops Supplier Guide. Choosing your next summer attraction or service is made easier with company and product descriptions, videos, testimonials, and key contact information.
SUMMER OPS CAMP
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. Read the recap and save the date for Whistler Blackcomb in 2025.
NEWS
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SAM Headline News
SAM Taps Whistler Blackcomb to Host 2025 Summer Ops Camp
SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three days of education, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the future of summer operations at mountain resorts. This year’s camp will also fe SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three...
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SAM Headline News
Red Mountain Resort Begins Construction of New Bike Park
SAM Magazine—Rossland, B.C., July 29, 2024—Red Mountain Resort has begun construction on the first phase of the new Red Mountain Bike Park. The resort partnered with Gravity Logic to design and develop the multimillion-dollar lift-accessed bike park. Red Mountain CEO and owner Howard Katkov s SAM Magazine—Rossland, B.C., July 29, 2024—Red Mountain Resort has begun construction on the first phase of the new Red Mountain Bike Park. The...
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SAM Headline News
Hot Fourth of July Weather, and Business, for U.S. Ski Areas
SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., July 17, 2024—While it’s hard for many to believe we’ve passed the 4th of July mile marker, the classic (and historically lucrative) summer holiday has now come and gone, leaving many operators grateful for water-based amenities and a continued interest in live m SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., July 17, 2024—While it’s hard for many to believe we’ve passed the 4th of July mile marker, the classic (and...
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SAM Headline News
Stable Rates Fuel Summer Growth in West
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., July 15, 2024—Stable rates helped fuel a continued uptick in occupancy at Western mountain destinations in June, according to the monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The growth comes as lodging properties hav SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., July 15, 2024—Stable rates helped fuel a continued uptick in occupancy at Western mountain destinations in June,...
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SAM Headline News
Mountain Bike Pass ‘Loam’ Adds 12 New Destinations
SAM Magazine—Eagle Mountain, Utah, May 24, 2024—Loam Pass, a new multi-destination product in the vein of Indy Pass but geared toward mountain bikers, has added 12 new destinations for its first summer season, bringing its total to more than 40 resort, bike park, and shuttle service partners. SAM Magazine—Eagle Mountain, Utah, May 24, 2024—Loam Pass, a new multi-destination product in the vein of Indy Pass but geared toward mountain...
ADVENTURE PARK INSIDER
Our sister publication, Adventure Park Insider, has tons of content to help you navigate the aerial adventure side of your business. We've compiled this content into various park departments so you can quickly find articles on specific topics. View all of the park departments here.
