SAM Magazine—Bessemer, Mich., June 23, 2014—The following news was just released on Blackjack's Facebook page: Blackjack LLC, owner of Blackjack Mountain Resort, Mich., has executed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of nearby Indianhead Mountain Resort, a combination that would combine two of the best and most well known ski resorts in the upper Midwest into a single ski and snowboard experience.

SAM Magazine--Park City, Utah, June 19, 2014--Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) will finally get their wish. Judge Ryan Harris today ordered both PCMR and Talisker Land Holdings (PCMR's landlord) to sit down with a formal, neutral, third-party mediator to try to resolve a land battle that threatens to leave Park City, Utah, without its anchor resort for 2014/15. For more on the battle, check out this story.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, June 17, 2014—Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) made several filings last week in advance of 3rd District Judge Ryan Harris’ decision on whether to sign an eviction order for the resort, as landlord Talisker Land Holdings has requested. PCMR has urged the judge to not sign the order, or to at least postpone its effective date if he does sign it.

SAM Magazine—Denver, June 17, 2014—Occupancy and revenues at mountain destinations across the Rocky Mountains and Far West are trending positively and looking strong throughout the summer for the third consecutive year, according to Denver-based DestiMetrics, which tracks forward-looking reservation data year-round at mountain resorts.

DestiMetrics’ data are drawn from 290 property management companies in 19 mountain communities across Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming.

SAM Magazine—Copper Mountain, Colo., June 12, 2014—Statewide skier visits in Colorado soared to an estimated 12.6 million for the 2013-14 ski season, the best season ever for the state, according to Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA). Visits rose more than 10 percent compared to last season, and more than 8 percent compared to the state’s five-year-average. CSCUSA released the figures today at the association’s 51st annual meeting.

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, June 12, 2014—Utah ski and snowboard resorts tallied 4,161,585 million skier day visits in 2013-14, up 3.6 percent from the previous season’s 4,018,812. The 3.6 percent increase marks a great success for the industry, ending above four million for the seventh time in the last nine years, and ranks as the state’s third best season on record.

SAM Magazine—Terrebonne, Que., June 9, 2014—Total visitation at Quebec ski areas in the 2013-14 season increased a slight .6 percent to a total of 6,044,000 skier days in la belle province, according to the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ). Participation in the province's various first-timer programs increased significantly, though, and that bodes well for future visits.

SAM Magazine—Barcelona, Spain, June 6, 2014—Aspen has been chosen to host the 2017 FIS Alpine World Cup Finals, which include men’s and women’s competitions in downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom and nation’s team event. The Finals, set for Mar. 15-19, 2017, will be the first to be held outside Europe since 1997, and mark the return of the men’s World Cup tour to Aspen for first time since 2001.

SAM Magazine--Lincoln, N.H., June 6, 2014--At its annual meeting at Loon Mountain, Ski NH reported its sixth best season ever with 2,272,826 visits for the 2013-14 season, just 4,000 less than last season. In addition, there were 147,259 cross-country visits and 120,053 tubers. The skier visit number represented a slight decrease over last season of .2 percent, but was up 3.5 percent over the State's 10-year average.Cross-country was down 2.9 percent over the 2012-13 season, but tubers were up 6.2 percent.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., June 6, 2014—Vail Resorts’ (VR) has reported increased net revenues for the third quarter (February through April) due to both increased visits at its Colorado areas and the addition of Canyons, Afton Alps, and Mount Brighton to its resort portfolio. Net income hit $117.9 million, up 20.8 percent from $97.6 million a year earlier, on revenues of $543 million, up from $470 million.

The 2019 World Championships bid team, including (from left) Tiger Shaw, Calum Clark, Jenni Smith, Bob Wheaton and Mike Goar, poses after its successful presentation to win the event for Park City.

SAM Magazine--Killington, Vt., June 4, 2014--At the Vermont Ski Areas Association annual meeting, the final visit tally for the 2013-14 season was announced, which was 4,503,269. The number is nearly identical to the previous season's visits. The 2013-14 season numbers ranks Vermont number one in the east and third in the country, according to preliminary figures from NSAA. The record early start and strong finish added to increases in rooms and meals revenues: November saw a 13% increase and March posted an 8.5% gain, for an overall increase of 6% over the previous season.

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, June 2, 2014—The Summit Series, which purchased Powder Mountain ski resort here in 2013, has revealed its plan for a village and cultural/entrepreneurial paradise at the resort. If approved, Summit Powder Mountain will consist of 500 homesites and a village core.

SAM Magazine—Duluth, Minn., May 30, 2014—The Spirit Mountain recreation area has hired a new executive director, Brandy Ream, to replace Renee Mattson, who is stepping down from the post. Ream will assume her new role in June after she and her family relocate from Washington State to Duluth.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, May 21, 2014—Utah District Judge Ryan Harris has ruled that Park City Mountain Resort failed to properly renew its lease in 2011, and dismissed all but one of PCMR’s claims for relief. In addition, the judge ruled in favor of Vail Resorts and Talisker (current leaseholder of the disputed land and the landlord, respectively) on their several motions.

SAM Magazine—Denver, May 19, 2014—Resorts East and West saw destination visits increase in the 2013-14 season, and revenues for summer lodging are poised for double-digit growth, according to the latest data from DestiMetrics.

DestiMetrics draws its data from a sample of approximately 300 property management companies in 31 mountain destination communities across six Western and seven Eastern states/provinces (Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Massachusetts and Quebec).

SAM Magazine--Whistler, B.C., May 15, 2014--Despite a downtick in visits, revenue saw a slight uptick for the three and six months ended March 31, 2014. Total revenue was $138.8 million (all amounts in Canadian dollars) and $188.6 million for the three and six months, respectively, increases of $6.6 million or 5% and $6.2 million or 3%, respectively, over the same periods in the prior year.

SAM Magazine—Denver, May 14, 2014—Intrawest Resorts Holdings, Inc. results for the three months ended March 31 improved, largely due to reduced interest expense following its successful IPO offering in February. Net income for the January-March quarter was $108.9 million, compared to $62.1 million for the year-ago quarter.

Intrawest attributed the large gain to reduced interest expense and improved revenues from mountain operations.

SAM Magazine--West Dover, Vt., May 13, 2014--A jury found that there was a two-year contract in place between Mount Snow and Alli (whose parent company is NBC) with an option for a third year to host the Winter Dew Tour event.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, May 12, 2014—Snowbird Resort’s Dick Bass has partnered with Ian Cumming in a move that took many by surprise. The families have formed a partnership that makes billionaire Cumming majority owner of the resort. Bass remains as chairman.

Cumming has the deep financial pockets Snowbird needs for capital improvement projects, including a new restaurant and skier services building atop the aerial tram set to break ground this summer.

SAM Magazine--Cheyenne, Wyo., May 10, 2014--A Wyoming Federal Court jury took less than 30 minutes to decide that Snow King Ski Area and Mountain Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was not liable for a minor’s fall from a chairlift in December of 2009. Texas residents Leya and Glenn Oswald, the child’s parents, sued Snow King Ski Area and Mountain Resort along with the Jackson Hole Ski Club in Federal Court after the accident, alleging that the fall from the lift was the fault of both Snow King and the Ski Club. The Ski Club resolved its claims with the Oswalds prior to trial.

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., May 9, 2014—In a sign of the underlying strength of the winter sports market, snowsports retail sales rose 7 percent this past season, to $3.6 billion, compared to the prior year, according to the RetailTRAK report from Leisure Trends and Snowsports Industries America (SIA).

SAM Magazine--North Woodstock, N.H., May 9, 2014--Jessyca Keeler has been selected by Ski New Hampshire's board of directors to serve as executive director of the state association, which represents 33 Alpine and cross-country resorts. Keeler is an avid skier and snowboarder and has been involved in the winter sports travel and tourism industry since 1995—at Whiteface/ORDA and American Skiing Company. She also owned a company called Align Partnerships, a marketing consulting firm. Keeler replaces Alice Pearce and will assume her new position on Monday, May 14.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., May 5, 2014—Resorts nationwide tallied 56.2 million visits for the 2013-14 season, making a strong rebound in the latter stages after a weather-challenged start. The total represented a mere 1.3 percent drop from the previous season, according to preliminary results from the most recent Kottke National End of Season Survey.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, May 1, 2014—Powdr Corp and Vail Resorts have continued to address one another through the media and public forums, including a series of public letters between the two companies’ CEOs and the Mountain Travel Symposium, as they await a judge’s ruling on the status of Park City Mountain Resort’s lease for much of its terrain.

SAM Magazine--April 28, 2014--Several resorts announced record-breaking seasons today. First up, Stevens Pass, Wash., hosted more than 406,000 visits this winter making 2013/14 its largest season since visits have been electronically tracked. While much of the West Coast saw below average snowfall, Stevens Pass surpassed its 450-inch average with a seasonal total of 463 inches.

SAM Magazine--Broomfield, Colo., April 24, 2014--Vail Resorts, Inc. (VR) reported certain season metrics for the comparative periods from the beginning of the season through April 20, 2014 and were adjusted as if Canyons was owned in both periods (but they do not include Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton). In short, visits were up 2.3% and lift revenue was up 7.6% compared to last season. Dining revenue was up 3.1%, retail/rental up 5.1% and ski school up 7.5%. "Our spring results were stronger than we expected," said CEO Rob Katz.

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., April 22, 2014—SAM's fifth annual Summer Ops Camp, a hands-on educational and networking event, will head to Vail, Colo., Sept. 3-5. The Camp gathers resort managers and operators from around North America to explore the exciting opportunities in four-season attractions.

SAM Magazine—East Stroudsburg, Pa., April 23, 2014—A father and son team, Kevin Fabiano and Kevin Jr., has bought Alpine Mountain Ski Resort and launched a multi-million dollar renovation of the area, estimated to reach $3 million in improvements by December 2014.

The Fabianos purchased the area from Appletree Resource Group, which had owned the area for about five years. Previously, it had been owned by the Poalillo family for a quarter century. The area has operated for 58 years in all.

SAM Magazine—Houghton, Mich., April 17, 2014—Vern Barber, manager of Marquette Mountain, Mich., for the past 32 years, is joining Mount Bohemia as general manager. He starts his new job May 5.

Mount Bohemia president Lonie Glieberman said that Barber will be charged with managing the resort’s growing lodging facilities and year-round operations. Bohemia has room for 140, up from 48 five years ago. The area has also added summer adventure options, a restaurant and bar, and that this growth will continue. A permanent base lodge is part of the plan.

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., April 16, 2014—The U.S. Forest Service has finalized policy guidelines that will open opportunities for ski areas to develop and offer a variety of year-round recreation activities on the National Forests. The revised directives stem from the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011.

SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., April 16, 2014—Occupancy and revenue remained on an upward trend at destination resorts through March, according to Denver-based DestiMetrics. Results varied with the weather for the three major regions covered in the firm’s monthly report. But strong summer reservations across all three regions foretell another record summer for mountain resort destinations.

SAM Magazine--Queensbury, N.Y., April 3, 2014--April Fool's Day was no joke for West Mountain--the area has exited bankruptcy. According to the Post Star, the final decree was made public this past Tuesday. Apex Capital, which has been operating the area since last summer and who bought the first mortgage on the property in November of last year, is now the official owner.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., April 3, 2014—SAM Magazine is proud to announce the 2014 SAMMY Leadership Award winners: Patricia Campbell, Kevin Stickelman, and Laura and Matt O’Brien. The awards, given annually to individuals who will shape the future of the mountain resort industry, are in their 17th year.

SAM Magazine--Orlando, Fla., March 31, 2014--CNL Lifestyle Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust (or REIT), today announced its operating results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2013. As of March 14, 2014, CNL owned a portfolio of 145 lifestyle properties, 73 of which are wholly-owned and run by operators under long-term, triple-net leases with a weighted average, straight-line lease rate of 8.6 percent, 63 of which are managed by independent operators, one of which is an unimproved land parcel and eight of which are owned through unconsolidated joint ventures.

SAM Magazine--Boise, Idaho, March 28, 2014--In an effort to reflect the changing landscape of the mountain resort, Idaho is the latest state to update its bill that oversees ski areas. The governor signed Bill 462 on March 26 and the new Bill goes into effect on July 1, 2014. The update expanded the skiing language to include snowboarding and other sliding devices. It also expanded uphill transportation to include wire ropes and conveyors. The bill also expands its definition of terrain to include freestyle terrain.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Mar. 26, 2014—As the Talisker-Vail-Park City Mountain Resorts’ (PCMR) lease lawsuits head toward two crucial court dates in April, action has been heating up. The latest move: Vail Resorts (VR) has said it is willing to buy PCMR’s base facilities.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Mar. 21, 2014—Intrawest saw increased visits at its resorts in the early season, and that fueled revenue growth for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2013, Intrawest Resort Holdings reported earlier this week. The report and subsequent call with analysts also indicated that Intrawest sees potential for growth in the future via increased capital investment at its existing resorts, acquisitions, and eventually, through base area real estate development.

SAM Magazine--Salt Lake City, Utah, March 19, 2014--Ski Utah and representatives from Alta, Brighton, Canyons, Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR), Snowbird, and Solitude held a news conference today at Ski Utah’s headquarters to announce their support for an over-the-snow connection between all seven resorts via chairlift and ski run called ONE Wasatch.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Mar. 17, 2014—Reflecting its diversified holdings across Colorado, Utah, and California, where this winter’s weather has been both favorable and not, Vail Resorts saw net income decline 2.1 percent, to $59.1 million, for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 ended Jan. 31, 2014. Visit growth of 11.9 percent at its Colorado resorts was offset by a 27.7 percent decline at its Tahoe resorts during the period.

SAM Magazine--Denver, Colo., March 17, 2014--Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced today that its 21 member resorts reported an increase in skier and snowboarder visitation in January and February. Visits at CSCUSA resorts, which do not include any resorts owned by Vail Resorts, were up by 8.6 percent during the second period of the 2013/14 season, defined as January 1, 2014 through February 28, 2014, compared to the same period of the prior year.

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 13, 2014—Advance reservations at mountain resorts in both the Rockies and the Northeast were strong in February. As of Feb. 28, with nearly 95 percent of all winter lodging business either completed or on the books, lodging visits showed a 4.6 percent increase for the 2013-14 season (November through April) compared to last year, and a 10.4 percent increase in revenue, according to the most recent data released by DestiMetrics.

SAM Magazine--Crystal Mountain, Wash., March 11, 2014--Guests checking out Crystal Mountain's website this morning for the Mountain Report found this:

SAM Magazine--Tamarack, Ida., March 11, 2014--In an auction on Monday, Credit Suisse, the main creditor for Tamarack, was the only bidder for three large sections of Tamarack Resort at a sheriff's sale. According to KTVB news, Credit Suisse now owns most of the physical properties instead of collateral interest, including the mountain assets and property for $65 million, hotel properties fror $10 million and another property.

SAM Magazine--March 11, 2014-- Whistler, Aspen/Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Alta, Snowbird and Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, members of the Mountain Collective, which offers purchasers two days at each of the destinations, plus a 50% discount on all additional days, have released an expanded pass product for the 2014/15 season.

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., March 10, 2014—The snow sports retail market finished January up 4 percent in units sold and up 7 percent in dollars, reaching $2.8 billion for the season to date (August through January), according to the SIA RetailTRAK. The report is prepared by Leisure Trends for SnowSports Industries America (SIA). Total market projections are based on point of sale data collected from more than 1,200 snow sports retailers.

SAM Magazine--Olympic Valley, Calif., March 10, 2014--Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are teaming up with Sugar Bowl next season to offer passholders sliding privileges at all three resorts, plus Royal Gorge Cross Country. Holders of Squaw/Alpines's Gold pass are allowed four free days at Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge. Sugar Bowl's unrestricted season passholders will receive four free tickets to Squaw or Alpine Meadows. Sugar Bowl also has similar arrangements with Sun Valley and Grand Targhee. The tickets at the Tahoe resorts are good for any day except Saturdays and holiday periods.

SAM Magazine--Albany, N.Y., March 10, 2014--New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of the ‘I Ski NY’ Bus, a new, dedicated bus line to 13 upstate ski mountains from New York City and Toronto to begin service for the 2014-2015 winter ski season.

SAM Magazine—Pagosa Springs, Colo., Mar. 7, 2014—On Tuesday, Mar. 4, Wolf Creek Ski Area avalanche technician and senior patroller Colin Sutton was caught in an avalanche while conducting an exploration and research mission via helicopter on Conejos Peak. The avalanche occurred at about 1:30 p.m. He was immediately dug out by his partner and two other emergency personnel, then airlifted by a Medevac helicopter to the emergency room at Mercy Regional Hospital in Durango, Colo., where he was pronounced deceased at 4:30 p.m.

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., Mar. 7, 2014—Some of the world’s best snowboarders will descend on Aspen March 19-23 to try their hand on a halfpipe—or two—that is unlike anything done before. For this Red Bull Signature Series event, two competition-spec halfpipes will be constructed side-by-side, complete with rails, wallrides, channels and other unique features.

SAM Magazine--Richmond, Utah, March 6, 2014--A new resort in Cache County, Utah, (close to Logan) is set to open its doors next season, bringing the state's total to 15 mountain resorts. Called Cherry Peak Ski Resort, the small 200-acre resort will postion itself as a teaching mountain. According to Utah Public Radio, the resort will feature three lifts, a small lodge and a parking lot for 300 cars. Cherry Peak is on private land owned by John Chadwick and was set to open this year, but a lawsuit brought on by a neighbor hampered opening efforts.

SAM Magazine--Denver, Colo., March 6, 2014--Like cell phone companies, Intrawest has roled out a new pass product designed for the "modern" family. Called the Intrawest Passport, the pass will offer children 12 and under free skiing and riding, as well as redefine who can be included in the product. The season pass includes six days of skiing at each of six participating North American ski resorts during the 2014-15 season--Steamboat Springs and Winter Park, Colo.; Blue Mountain, Ont.; Mont Tremblant, Que.; Stratton Mountain, Vt.; and Snowshoe, W.V.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Feb. 28, 2014—With many resorts already selling season passes for the 2014-15 season, Vail Resorts (VR) is adding one of the snowiest powder skiing resorts in the world—Niseko, Japan—to its Epic Pass program. Epic Passholders will receive five complimentary consecutive days at Niseko, Japan, for the 2014-2015 winter season. The five free consecutive days of skiing and riding will be reciprocated for Niseko All-Mountain Season Pass holders.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Feb. 28, 2014—Olympian Tiger Shaw will take over as president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) effective Mar. 3 as part of a planned transition, replacing longtime USSA chief Bill Marolt.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Feb. 26, 2014—Despite the legalization of private use of marijuana in Colorado, public use of pot remains illegal. And so, over the past several weeks, Vail Resorts (VR) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have destroyed a number of structures associated with prohibited marijuana use. The structures had been constructed illegally on USFS lands within the permitted boundaries of the company’s four Colorado resorts—Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.

SAM Magazine—Sochi, Russia, Feb. 24, 2014—A record-matching 17 Team USA skiers and snowboarders left the Sochi Olympic Winter Games with medals, including a record eight gold in on-snow events. Of course, it helped that there were more events for skiers and snowboarders—a total of 30 in all, including new slopestyle and ski halfpipe competitions.

SAM Magazine—Sochi, Russia, Feb. 24, 2014—Canadian skiers and snowboarders racked up a dozen medals during the Sochi Games, nearly half of the 25 medals won by Canadian athletes. They also took home four of Canada’s 10 gold medals. All that helped Canada rank fourth in the overall medal count, and third in the gold-medal count, just ahead of the U.S.

SAM Magazine—North Woodstock, N.H., Feb. 21, 2014—Winter resorts in New Hampshire generated $1.15 billion in direct and secondary sales for the 2012-13 season, according to Ski NH’s most recent economic study. That impact stemmed from visits by 3.26 million winter and summer guests at the group’s 33 member areas and more than 200 lodging properties.