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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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Vail Closes on Triple Peaks

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 28, 2018—Vail Resorts has finalized its purchase of Triple Peaks, LLC, after first revealing its plan to acquire the company more than three months ago.    Vail purchased Triple Peaks, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte...

NSAA Hires National Marketing and Communications Director

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Sept. 25, 2018—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has named Adrienne Saia Isaac to the newly formed position of marketing and communications director. Isaac most recently served as marketing and communications manager at Arapahoe Basin, Colo., for the past six years.  At The Basin, Isaac managed m...

Show Off Your Terrain Park, Your Bread and Butter, Win Fame and Fortune

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 25, 2018—Mountain resorts from around the world have only 10 days to submit entries for SAM’s 14th annual Terrain Park Contest, sponsored by Burton Learn to Ride. The November issue of Ski Area Management (SAM) magazine will showcase entries from the 2017-18 season in three categories: terrain ...

Peak Resorts to Acquire Snow Time, Inc.

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Sept. 24, 2018—Peak Resorts has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Snow Time, Inc., which owns and operates Roundtop, Liberty, and Whitetail in Pennsylvania, for $76 million in total consideration. The transaction is expected to be completed prior to the start of the 2018-19 ski season, subject to closing...

Aspen Snowmass, Smuggs’ Lead SKI’s “Resorts of the Year”

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., Sept. 21, 2018—SKI Magazine readers have named Aspen Snowmass, Colo., and Smugglers’ Notch, Vt., the Best in the West and East, respectively, in the magazine’s revamped reader—and now editor/contributor—poll. The magazine presents top picks for a wide range of resort services and characteristics in its Octob...

2018 ISKINY-PSAA Expo at Peek’n Peak

The combined forces of Ski Areas of New York (ISKINY) and Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA) once again staged an informative, lively, and entertaining expo, this time at Peek’n Peak in western New York. A total of 324 ski area personnel and suppliersNSAA's Mike Lane uses props to demonstrate ski lift functions with the help of Doppelmayr'...

Snow People - September 2018

Sarah Crockett, Burton Sarah Crockett has been named Burton’s new chief marketing officer. Previously, Crockett was VP of integrated marketing and community engagement at REI, where she led well-known campaigns such as Force of Nature and #OptOutside. Before her time at REI, she was VP of global consumer marketing at Vans. At Burton, she will o...

U.S. Ski Hall of Fame Names Eight to the Class of 2018

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Sept. 18, 2018—The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame introduced the Class of 2018 last Friday in Ishpeming, Mich. Inductees include resort veteran Bill Jensen, longtime U.S. Ski & Snowboard spokesman Tom Kelly, Olympians Bode Miller and Andrew Weibrecht, two high-profile women athletes—moguls champion Hilar...

Magic Mountain Debuts Holiday-Only Pass

SAM Magazine—Londonderry, Vt., Sept. 19, 2018—Magic Mountain has created an unusual, peak-season pass product specifically for Christmas-New Year’s, MLK weekend, and President’s week. Called the White Out holiday pass ($239-$279), it’s aimed at skiers and riders who want a deal over the holidays, as well as those who may have bought a dis...

Lodging Growth Spreads Into Winter for Western Destinations

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 18, 2018—Summer lodging business in Western mountain destinations remained strong despite wildfires and smoke in July and August, and winter bookings have continued that trend, according to the monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing.  DestiMetrics data for Western resorts comes from 290 property management compani...

New England Summit 2018

Nearly 450 resort staff, industry partners, and exhibitors attended the 2018 New England Summit Sept. 11-12 at Sunday River Resort, Maine.Wintry Mix's Alex Kaufman helps us develop PodSAM at NES (Photo courtesy of Dave Gibson) The event kicked off with seminars on topics ranging from web trends to climate change and ended with multiple sessio...

Summer Ops Camp 2018 Recap

The theme “Summer Ops 2.0” prevailed at SAM’s ninth annual Summer Ops Camp Sept. 4-6 at Aspen Snowmass, Colo. More than 150 resort professionals and industry suppliers from around the world came ready to listen, learn, and experience summer programming. With a focus on business and equipment trends, safety, planning, as well as on-brand appro...

Special Report: Capital Improvements Across the Country

Resorts look to ease congestion and meet increasing demand with capital improvements.Concrete being poured for a lift tower footing for Winter Park's new gondola. The snowsports industry has seen a recent influx of cash, and resorts across the country are making massive capital improvements. The money is being spent in a variety of ways—resorts ...

Northeast Winter Weather Summit Planned at Stratton

SAM Magazine—Stratton, Vt., Sept. 12, 2018—Stratton Mountain Resort and The North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) will present the 2018 Northeast Winter Weather Summit, Dec. 2-4 at Stratton Mountain, Vt. The two-day event will bring together meteorologists, resort associates, varied ski industry businesses, journalists, and ...

Peak Resorts Q1 Report

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Sept. 12, 2018—Peak Resorts reported revenue of $7 million during its 2019 first quarter, comprised of the three months ended July 31, down from $7.5 million during the same period a year ago. Operating expenses rose 5.4 percent year over year to $14.3 million, and the company reported a net loss of nearly $11.8 mill...

HKD Snowmakers Acquires the Controls Division of Sno.matic

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 7, 2018—HKD Snowmakers has acquired the controls, monitoring and automation business of Sno.matic Controls and Engineering, a company that specializes in providing products that monitor snowmaking systems andSno.matic president Scott Barthold (left) with HKD president Charles Santry automatically control pump s...

Revelstoke Mountain Resort Names Dave Brownlie as President

SAM Magazine—Revelstoke, B.C., Sept. 7, 2018—Dave Brownlie has been named Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s new president. Brownlie started his industry career nearly 30 years ago as Blackcomb Mountain’s director of finance and eventually became Whistler Blackcomb president and CEO, and finally COO. He stepped down from that role more than a yea...

Alterra to Acquire Crystal Mountain Resort in Washington

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 7, 2018—Less than three weeks after Vail Resorts closed on its acquisition of Stevens Pass in Washington, Alterra Mountain Company has entered into an agreement to purchase Crystal Mountain Resort, located about three hours south of Stevens. The acquisition would bring Alterra’s portfolio to 13 mountain resorts in N...

Aspen Snowmass Launches Give A Flake

SAM Magazine—Aspen Snowmass, Colo.—Sept. 6, 2018—With its national advertising campaign—Give A Flake—Aspen Snowmass once again departs from traditional ski resort marketing. The campaign invites guests and fellow travelers to join the resort in acting on behalf of climate change and equal rights. It is a continuation of last season’s As...

Soldier Mountain Looking for Another New Owner

SAM Magazine—Boise, Idaho, Aug. 30, 2018—Ripe for a no-frills ski/ride/telemark/cat ski ownership opportunity? You’re in luck: Soldier Mountain, Idaho, is up for sale—again. The area could be just the ticket for an enterprising individual or family who wants to run a ski area and earn an income that allows them to enjoy a skiing lifestyle. ...

Boyne Resorts Now All-In on the Ikon Pass

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 29, 2018—This week’s multi-day reveal of additional resorts included on Alterra Mountain Company’s Ikon Pass continues, with today’s door opening on the four remaining Boyne Resorts ski areas previously not included, and news of expanded access to three others. The Summit at Snoqualmie, Wash., Cypress Mountain, ...

Midwest Ski Areas Association Summer Meetings and Tradeshow 2018

More than 450 ski area and supplier members attended the Midwest Ski Areas Association Summer Meetings and Trade Show, Aug. 19-22, at Boyne Highlands Resort in northern Michigan.MSAA president Amy Reents with two-time Olympic medalist, and Midwesterner, Nick Goepper. Photo: Dave Gibson, Propeller Mediaworks The event was NSAA president Kelly Pawla...

Ikon Adds Solitude, Brighton and Taos to Growing Pass Roster

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 27, 2018—The Ikon Pass has added Solitude Mountain Resort, following Alterra’s closing on this acquisition earlier this month, and added neighboring Brighton Resort as an Ikon partner. This brings Ikon’s five Utah connections—Solitide as a full unlimited access member, and Deer Valley, Alta/Snowbird and Brighton ...

Boyne Resorts Realigns Leadership, Defines Regions

SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Aug. 27, 2018—Three Boyne Resorts executives have been selected to lead operations for the company’s portfolio, based on geography and business specialty. Rick Kelley, previously senior vice president of mountain operations, has been appointed chief operating officer of eastern and Michigan mountain resorts. J...

Ski Area Audit Puts Focus on Child Labor Laws

SAM Magazine—Manchester, N.H., Aug. 27, 2018—The Fairbank Group labor audit and subsequent recent publicity appear to indicate a heightened focus on child labor laws. That’s noteworthy, as it coincides with historically tight labor markets nationwide and uncertainty over the status of J-1 and H-2b foreign worker visas in the Trump administrat...

Purgatory’s Mountain Coaster Debuts This Weekend

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., Aug. 23, 2018—The southwest region’s only mountain coaster is making its debut this Saturday, Aug. 25, at Purgatory Resort, Colo. The Inferno Mountain Coaster, built by Aquatic Development Group, is located in the base area and will be a summer and winter attraction at the resort. The Inferno is 4,000 feet long w...

Stickelman Named Interim CEO of National Ability Center

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Aug. 22, 2018—Following the departure of Gail Barille, the National Ability Center’s (NAC) chief executive officer for the last eight years, former NAC chief operating officer Kevin Stickelman has been appointed by the board of directors as interim CEO. Stickelman joined NAC two years ago as its first COO. Prior...

Midsummer Occupancy and Revenue Cools at Western Destinations

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 22, 2018—As of July 31, the midpoint of the summer season for western mountain destinations, occupancy growth is slowing slightly, but overall metrics continue to edge upward toward a seventh consecutive record summer, according to Inntopia’s monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing. The Market Briefing aggregates lodgi...

Positive Signs on the Foreign Worker Front

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Aug. 21, 2018—How much access to foreign workers will U.S. resorts have under the J-1 and H-2b programs this winter? According to NSAA’s monthly Capital Watch, hiring conditions could be favorable. Both houses of Congress are preparing legislation that would protect current levels of foreign workers or even expan...

Snow People, August 2018

This is the August edition of Snow People, where we highlight happenings to prominent people in the mountain resort industry. Sunday River, Maine Sunday River has made a variety of staff changes, elevating several members of its team to new positions. Jim Largess was promoted to executive director of the Sunday River Community Fund. Largess join...

Registration is Closing Soon for This Year’s Summer Ops Camp

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 21, 2018—Registration for SAM’s ninth annual Summer Ops Camp—a series of seminars, on-hill workshops, demos, and networking events that explore the current state of mountain resort summer operations—closes Saturday, Aug. 25. A few spots are still available for Camp, Sept. 4-6 at Aspen Snowmass, Colo. Here...

Deer Valley’s Wheaton Moving On to Alterra, Shallan Taking Over

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Aug. 17, 2018—Deer Valley’s longtime leader and current president and chief operating officer Bob Wheaton will be transitioning into a senior strategic advisory role with the resort’s owner, Alterra Mountain Company. Hospitality Bob Wheatonindustry veteran Todd Shallan will be Wheaton’s successor, working alo...

Vail Resorts Closes on Stevens Pass Acquisition

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Aug. 17, 2018—Vail Resorts this week closed on its acquisition of Stevens Pass Resort in Washington from Ski Resort Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate. The final purchase price, after adjustments for certain agreed-upon terms, was $64 million. The 2018-19 Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Australia Pas...

New Owners Making Improvements to Pine Mountain, Mich.

SAM Magazine—Iron Mountain, Mich., Aug. 15, 2018—An anonymous buyer recently purchased Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort in Iron Mountain, Mich., and has already begun making improvements to the year-round resort while business operations continue uninterrupted. The same anonymous buyer also purchased the nearby Four Seasons Resort, a hotel a...

Ron Cohen Named President and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

SAM Magazine—Olympic Valley, Calif., Aug. 15, 2018—Ron Cohen is now officially president and chief operating officer of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows after four months of serving in the position in an interim capacity. Cohen succeeds Andy Wirth, who vacated Ron Cohen, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. Photo: Ben Arnstthe position ...

Jordan Elliott to Succeed Gifford as PNSAA President

SAM Magazine—La Conner, Wash., Aug. 13, 2018—The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSAA) has hired Jordan Elliott to succeed John Gifford as the association’s president. Elliott will begin transitioning into the new role in mid-October, and officially take the seat on Jan. 1, 2019, after Gifford retires on the last of the year. Giffor...

Report: Summer Business Perseveres Despite Weather, Fires

SAM Magazine—Jeffersonville, Vt., Aug. 10, 2018—Resorts are investing bigtime in their summer operations. It seems to be paying off: Despite wildfires and wet weekends, summer business levels across North America seem to be steady. Many resorts have reported slight growth, and those who are off target are only shy by a small percentage. In both...

Tim Donahue Named Alterra CFO and Executive Vice President

SAM Magazine—Denver, August 7, 2018—Longtime finance industry executive Tim Donahue has been appointed as Alterra Mountain Company’s new chief financial officer and executive vice president. Donahue spent the last 19 years at JPMorgan Chase & Co., most recently serving as head of the company’s Leveraged Finance Capital Markets Group, he...

Vail Reassures Locals Regarding Sunapee Takeover

SAM Magazine—Newbury, N. H., July 26, 2018—Vail Resorts representative Pat Campbell spoke to an audience of around 100 people at an information session last night regarding the proposed lease transfer of Mount Sunapee to Vail Resorts. Campbell discussed the benefits the company could provide both the resort and the community, citing Vail’s charitable work, commitment to sustainability, and strong existing roster of resorts.

Reeser Named COO of Big Bear

SAM Magazine—Big Bear, Calif., July 26, 2018— Big Bear Mountain Resort (BBMR) has named Wade Reeser as its new chief operations officer. Reeser was raised in Big Bear Valley and has been with BBMR for 25 years. He has served in numerous roles within the company; most recently, he was the resort’s general manager, overseeing BBMR during its integration into the newly formed Alterra Mountain Company. 

SANY, State Collaborate on New Snow Gun Program

SAM Magazine—Jamesville, N.Y., July 26, 2018—Ski Areas of New York, Inc. (SANY) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) have collaborated on a new program to help ski areas in the state purchase energy-efficient snowmaking guns. The program will provide up to $5 million for New York ski areas to upgrade and ex...

Snow People- July 18

Snow People is where we highlight recent happenings to prominent people in the mountain resort industry.

Summer Visits Remain Strong for Western Destinations

SAM Magazine—Denver, July 17, 2018—June occupancy and revenues continued to climb, keeping summer 2018 on pace to reach record levels in mountain destinations across the West, according to the latest DestiMetrics Market Briefing. Actual occupancy for the month was up a robust 7.9 percent compared to June 2017. Bolstered by a 3.3 percent increas...

Spencer

Jimmie Spencer, Legendary Head of CWSAA, Dies

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., July 17, 2018—Jimmie Spencer, who led the Canada West Ski Areas Association for 32 years, died July 16 in Vernon, B.C., at age 92. He led CWSAA from 1979 through 2011.“Likely his greatest legacy … will be the generation of leadership and cooperative culture he expected and created between competitors to establish...

Record Fourth Quarter for Peak Resorts

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., July 16, 2018—Peak Resorts reported record revenue of $56 million for its fiscal 2018 fourth quarter ending April 30, a 9 percent increase over the same period last year. Reported EBITDA edged up 4 percent to $21.5 million. For the year as a whole, revenues rose to $131.6 million compared to $123.2 million a year ago...

Utah’s Nordic Valley Eyeing Huge Expansion

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, July 16, 2018—The operators of Nordic Valley, Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), are floating the idea of a massive expansion that would grow Utah’s smallest ski area from 140 skiable acres to more than 2,800. The proposal for the expansion into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest includes a 4.3-mile-long gondola pl...

Vermont Settles with Stenger and Quiros, Other Lawsuit Pends, EB-5 Regional Center Ordered to Close

SAM Magazine—Newport, Vt., July 11, 2018—Vermont attorney general T.J. Donovan said in a press conference today that the state has settled its civil lawsuit against former Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros and former Jay Peak CEO Bill Stenger. The case has been pending since 2016 after the two men were accused of misappropriating millions of dollars ...

Summer Ops Camp Adds New Sessions

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., July 12, 2018—The SAM Summer Ops Camp has added several sessions that reflect the needs of summer ops 2.0, the next evolution of this growing business. Focused on programming, operations, marketing and risk management, these sessions can help winter resorts become more knowledgeable and sophisticated about summer o...

Timberline Lodge Purchases Summit Ski Area

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., July 11, 2018—R.L.K. and Company, operator of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, has purchased Summit Ski Area in Government Camp, Ore., which is located on Mt. Hood less than six miles from Timberline. Included in the sale is Snow Bunny, a snow play area and parking lot, approximately 1.5 miles east of Governmen...

Government Seeking Private Operator or Investment for Marble Mountain

SAM Magazine—Steady Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, July 9, 2018—The Newfoundland and Labrador government, which owns and operates Marble Mountain Ski Resort, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from potential private investors, operators, or even new owners for the resort. According to reports, Marble Mountain hasn’t turned a profit in yea...

Mike Quinn Named VP/GM at Mt. Hood Skibowl

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., June 25, 2018—Industry veteran Mike Quinn has been hired to lead Mt. Hood Skibowl as its new vice president and general manager. This is a return to Skibowl for Quinn, who served as the resort’s operations manager from 1992 to 2000. He brings 32 years of ski industry experience to his new position. Most re...

Lawmakers Question USFS About Arizona Snowbowl Remaining Closed

SAM Magazine—Flagstaff, Ariz., June 25, 2018—The threat of wildfires in the west has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to close access to several areas of public lands, including access to some businesses that operate through permits in public lands. This includes Arizona Snowbowl, which was ordered to close summer operations a few days before M...

Ikon Pass Now Includes Thredbo in Australia

SAM Magazine—Denver, June 25, 2018—Alterra Mountain Company is gradually covering all its competitive bases, the most recent being a pass partnership with Thredbo, Australia. This is the first resort outside of North America to be included on the Ikon Pass, and inserts the company into a market that, until now, was only occupied by Vail Resorts...

Jury Acquits Vail in Teen’s 2012 Avalanche Death

SAM Magazine—Eagle, Colo., June 21, 2018—A jury ruled in favor of Vail Resorts on June 20 in the wrongful death trial of 13-year-old Taft Conlin, who was killed in an in-bounds avalanche at Vail in 2012. HN vailacquitted 62118Vail’s ski patrol had closed the upper Prima Cornice run, but a lower entry to the slope had remained open. Conlin had entered and climbed up toward the cornice when the avalanche occurred. Conlin’s parents, Dr. Louise Ingalls and Dr. Stephen Conlin, had sued the ski company for negligence, saying the resort had violated Colorado’s Skier Safety Act because it did not close the run properly.

Powder Alliance Adds Monarch Mountain

SAM Magazine—Wrightwood, Calif., June 21, 2018—Colorado’s Monarch Mountain—one of the pioneers in season pass partnerships—has joined the Powder Alliance, becoming the 20th mountain resort monarch mountain joins powder allianceto be a part of the reciprocal pass partnership.

New Exclusive Retailer for Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo

SAM Magazine—Waltham, Mass., June 21, 2018—BEWI Productions, Inc., the organizer of the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo, has partnered with Sun & Ski as the exclusive retailer for this year’s event, Nov. 16-18 at the Colorado Convention Center. Sun & Ski has recently expanded to Colorado, opening shops in Avon and Dillon, with more lo...

Vail Certified by Sustainable Travel International

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., July 30, 2018—Vail has become the first U.S. destination and the first mountain resort in the world to achieve certification as a "sustainable destination" by Sustainable Travel International. Certification efforts took more than five years, and required work and involvement by the resort, the town of Vail, and the U.S...

Registration Now Open for Summer Ops Camp at Aspen Snowmass

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., June 20, 2018—Registration is open for SAM’s ninth annual Summer Ops Camp, a series of seminars, workshops, and site visits that explore the state of the art in summer operations. Camp also provides a great opportunity to get hands-on with a wide range of summer activities, and to explore product offerings with a d...

Utah Records Strong 2017-18 Despite Lean Snowfall

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, June 18, 2018—Despite limited help from Mother Nature during the 2017-18 ski season, Utah ski areas posted their sixth-best season in terms of skier visits. Starting Nov. 21 at Brighton Resort and ending May 13 at Snowbird, visits for the season totaled 4,145,321—down 9.6 percent from last season’s all-tim...