Industry News
The days of skiing on a single season pass to one mountain resort are on the endangered list with mega passes like the Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, and the Indy Pass becoming more mainstream. It is a great option for guests to purchase one of these with the opportunity to ski their local resorts and also have the opportunity to travel to destination resorts as well. It is also beneficial to these resorts to have the stats and numbers to accurately forecast the number of guests they will have throughout the season and plan accordingly.
On Wednesday, February 5, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area announced that it was being purchased by Alterra Mountain Company, owner of the Ikon Pass, and the deal is expected to close later in 2024. A-Basin has been owned by Dream Unlimited Corp. for 27 years and was founded by Colorado Ski Hall of Famer Larry Jump in 1946 as one of the state’s original ski areas. A-Basin is located just 68 miles from Denver and boasts the longest season in Colorado, with many seasons running through the 4th of July. Many people in the industry have expressed their views and opinions and on February 14, A-Basin’s COO Alan Henceroth added his thoughts via Al’s Blog
- Related: Arapahoe Basin, CO Ends Partnership with Vail Resorts | Won’t be on the Epic Pass Next Year
Henceroth expressed to guests that things will stay normal and A-Basin will remain the same throughout the process. He stated that until the deal closes, it is business as usual.
“The same group of employees are running the resort now and are staying at The Basin through the transition to continue running the resort,” Henceroth said. He also stated guests will still receive the same great experiences they are used to at the mountain and not be concerned about the future. These words came into responses that many guests have expressed over the last two weeks since the announcement was made that Alterra was going to purchase the resort. Many guests were positive in their comments, but some had justified concerns as well. “I know the folks at Alterra want The Basin to continue to thrive and be that magical place we all love,” Henceroth said.
The ski industry has been changing and evolving more quickly over the last decade than perhaps at any other time in its history with the era of conglomerates and mega passes. Henceroth understands that wants to ensure the A-Basin locals that everything will be ok. Right after the announcement of the purchase by Alterra, Henceroth stated, “It has been a wild and fun 27 years, but it is time for the next step. Through the Ikon Pass, Alterra has created a partnership with the greatest resorts in the world. They know and understand The Basin and are enamored by its culture and vibe.”
It is a big move for Alterra to purchase A-Basin in the same year that it also announced plans for a major expansion at its Deer Valley Resort in Utah this past September. That expansion includes adding 16 new chairlifts, 135 runs, 3,700 new acres of ski terrain, and a new village. It will more than double in size of Deer Valley to 5,726 acres with a total of 37 chairlifts by winter 2025. It’s the largest U.S. resort expansion of new terrain in more than 40 years and will be larger than Vail.
In any business, when one company acquires another, there are always going to be questions, concerns, and even fears, and Alan Henceroth knows that as well. There will be no doubt hundreds to thousands of questions that people will want to know answers to but none of those answers will be known until the deal is closed sometime later this year. Henceroth acknowledged that there is going to be anticipation and questions, but stated that everyone needs to be calm and patient and that Arapahoe Basin will continue to be a wonderful place to spend your time. “Remember, it is all about the mountain and the people that spend time here. Be patient. We will come out of this better than ever,” Henceroth said.
For more information visit Arapahoe Basin’s website.
