What's new in the ski industry?
/Steve Coxen
NWSCC Director of Public Affairs
September 24, 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 North America, plus CMH heli-skiing in Canada.
Summer Improvements to nearby resorts:
Red Mountain in BC is working on installing a connecting lift from the Grey Chair to the Silverlode Chair, while also adding additional parking, along with building a new hostel. There is also a new ski-in, ski-out on-mountain hotel – The Josie.
Whistler Blackcomb is undergoing $50 million worth of upgrades and updates this summer, which includes three new lifts. A 10-person gondola will replace the Wizard and Solar lifts on the Blackcomb side of the mountain, while the resort's Family Ski Zone's four-passenger Emerald Express is replaced by a new high-speed six-passenger chair. The three-seater Catskinner lift is also being replaced by a new high-speed four-passenger chair.
Big Sky Resort, Montana will soon be the first ski destination in North America to feature an eight-seater chair. Dubbed the Ramcharger 8, the high-speed mega lift will be the first of its kind in the world, featuring bubble chairs with heated seats and a high-resolution LED screen located at the lower terminal which will provide skiers with up-to-date mountain information. Additionally, the Shedhorn lift, which is currently a double chair, will be replaced by a high-speed quad.
Deer Valley Resort is making $8.1 million in mountain updates for the 2018-19 season. The Utah resort is replacing the Homestake lift, which transports skiers from the Silverlake Village to the top of Bald Mountain, with a detachable high-speed quad. Deer Valley is also installing more efficient snowmaking equipment.
Heavenly Ski Resort is replacing the two-seater Galaxy lift with a three-person chair this summer. This upgrade will increase skier access to 400 acres of Heavenly's intermediate terrain.