SAM Magazine—Jackson, Wyo., Jan. 24, 2020—The 12th annual SAM Summer Ops Camp is headed to the Wild West. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo., and the Tetons will serve as home base for Camp Sept. 8-10, 2020, and help bring the fast-changing state of summer operations into sharp focus.

This fully immersive, hands-on educational event gathers resort managers and operators from across North America and overseas to explore new opportunities. Campers will experience summer operations at both Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain Resort, two very distinct and inspiring destinations. From the via ferrata and downhill mountain biking at Jackson Hole to coasters and treetop adventures at Snow King, campers will get up close and personal with a broad range of activities. The full agenda will include engaging classroom seminars, on-hill workshops, product demos and, of course, on-hill activities at both resorts.

Camp’s home base is at the all-new Teton Gravity Research (TGR) Continuum Hotel. Just steps from the JHMR Tram in Teton Village, this co-branded concept hotel embodies the adventurist lifestyle represented by the TGR brand and adds another valuable element to the program.

Attendees will hear from experts on activities planning, four-season branding, summer events, and summer base area best practices. Hands-on workshops range from design and construction of aerial adventures to kids play concepts and maximizing summer f&b. Another hot topic is forging relationships with local communities, tourism offices, and the Forest Service to promote mountain adventure experiences.

"We at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) are thrilled at the opportunity to host the SAM Summer Ops Camp in 2020," said VP of products, sales and services Jessica Milligan. “We have put a great deal of effort into developing our unique position of summer offerings, including the first via ferrata on Forest Service lands, and we look forward to sharing our special mountain with the industry. As a past Summer Ops Camp attendee, I appreciate this gathering as a time to collaborate, learn, and share ideas around the growing summer business within the ski industry." 

"Over the past five years, our 81-year-old ski resort has undergone major changes that have transformed our summer operations,” said Snow King VP and general manager Ryan Stanley. “We are poised to embark on a second phase of improvements to the mountain focused both on winter and summer, and are excited to share the challenges, opportunities, and successes of transforming the King from a failing ski area to one that can be sustainable for another 80 years.”

The Camp agenda and registration will be detailed this spring, along with early-bird pricing. Space will be limited to ensure a high-quality, immersive experience. Email sarahw@saminfo.com or olivia@saminfo.com with questions.