Industry News
In a letter to guests yesterday, Big Sky Resort general manager Troy Nedved revealed that next year’s season passes will not include Lone Peak Tram access as standard, and guests will have to pay either on the day or buy a season-long access pack. According to their website, a day ticket for the Tram will cost between $20-$80.
For the 21/22 season, lift access products including lift tickets, Ikon and Mountain Collective passes, and select Big Sky Resort season passes will no longer have Tram access included as part of their base product. Tram access will now be offered as a day-of purchase at the Tram, or through a season-long Tram Access Packs that will offer guests a limited number of days to be used any day of the season.
The resort hopes that the change will continue to offer guests the most exceptional on-mountain experience possible and minimize wait times for the Tram back to a consistent 30-minutes. Lone Peak Tram offers the only lift-served access to 1,200-acres of expert terrain. To access this terrain otherwise requires a 45-minute bootpack. The season-pass offered to employees will also restrict Tram access.
The Gold Season Pass, offering unlimited ski days, unlimited Tram access, and Ikon and Mountain Collective access comes in at $1,899. A Double Black Season Pass, with unlimited skiing at Big Sky with ten days Tram access is $1,449. And the Black Pass with unlimited mountain access but no Tram access is $1,049.
Full letter below:
Big Sky Skiers & Riders,
Spring is here and the skiing has been fantastic. With two weeks remaining in the season, we’re confident that we will finish out the season as planned on April 18. We couldn’t have done it without our incredible team members, guests, and the entire Big Sky community working together to make it a success. We have a busy offseason ahead of us, with Swift Current 6 construction resuming on April 19, and complete renovations of the Huntley Lodge and Summit Hotel already underway.
With this season nearly in the rearview mirror, we’re already looking ahead to the next by debuting our 2021-2022 season pass lineup, launching today, April 6, and offering the lowest prices on all pass options through April 30.
This season taught us a lot. Through several operational adaptations, our goal has always been to deliver guests the most exceptional on-mountain experience possible. We hope to continue that effort by making a significant shift to our pass lineup and lift ticket model to maximize our guest’s ability to ski and ride the high-alpine terrain off Lone Peak and minimize wait times at the Tram.
For the 21/22 season, lift access products including lift tickets, Ikon and Mountain Collective passes, and select Big Sky Resort season passes will no longer have Tram access included as part of their base product. Tram access will now be offered as a day-of purchase at the Tram, or through a season-long Tram Access Packs that will offer guests a limited number of days to be used any day of the season.
For those who are committed to the high-alpine experience on Lone Peak, the Gold Pass remains the best option with unlimited, season-long access, including unlimited Tram access, with additional benefits offered from last season. With this new approach, Gold Passes will have limited availability so we encourage guests to secure their purchase while supplies last.
The Double Black Pass will also offer full-season ski access with 10 Tram days. We also added additional passholder benefits included with your purchase.
Ultimately, this quality versus quantity approach is a major shift in how we sell and manage access to our Tram. Our goal is to improve the guest experience and get the Tram line back to 30 minutes on average consistently. This requires strategic changes to make this a reality. The Lone Peak experience is like no other in North America, and we want to ensure a quality experience for all guests.
Big Sky Resort’s unique advantage has always been our 5,850 skiable acres, and we encourage everyone to use the entire mountain to create their desired ski experience. With these adjustments, we intend to improve the Tram experience for all.
We understand this is a significant shift and requires an additional stage of planning to access the Tram. However, we believe this model will provide guests with an elevated experience to the high-alpine terrain available, and alleviate the Tram wait times we’ve seen in the last few years.
While our complete pass lineup is now available for purchase at the lowest guaranteed prices, the new Tram Add-On products will be available for purchase later this summer, alongside daily lift tickets.
I know there will be many questions about the Tram Pack add-on – and while we are still working to organize all the intricacies of this paradigm shift – please reference the Tram FAQ to review our season pass lineup and learn more about the details we have to share at this time.
There is no doubt our community of skiers is growing and welcoming guests from all over the world. As we continue to grow as a destination, we will embrace those guests willing to explore our resort for the first time and those returning for their love of the mountain we have. At our core, we believe the guest experience takes priority, and we will not sacrifice that value and become just another high-volume ski resort.
The Big Sky mountain experience continues to evolve, and our commitment to keeping it unique and special stays true. Our 2025 Vision articulates the plan to build a best-in-class infrastructure to complement what is already the best ski terrain in North America.
We wish you a great summer ahead and hope to see you on the mountain next season.
-Troy Nedved
General Manager, Big Sky Resort
Posted April 6, 2021
There are plenty of other ski areas in the US. If you don’t like the Big Sky changes you should look for epic skiing elsewhere.
It’s called pay to play.
Did Vail buy them? lol
uuhhhh this seems more in-your-face than anything I’ve seen Vail do.
Reducing access for employees seems like a dick move as well. All in all seems like a bad idea
Well, canceling my trip there next winter now. What a scam. How about to alleviate lines you do a reservation system? Why lie and hide you are just trying to squeeze more money out of people. Way to solidify the income gap and elite status that resort skiing has become in America making it further difficult to bring new or lower income sectors into the sport. Great job Big Sky.
+1 … I’m sick of the “resort” experience resort skiing has become. When’s someone going to figure out there’s a market for a solid local mountain experience for reasonable price. I hate feeling like I’m being bilked for every dollar when I just want to hitch a ride up the side of the mountain.
As if Big Sky isn’t gentrified enough let’s turn the tram into a case of the have vs the have nots
Personally I love it. If you want to ski the tram there should be a premium. I’ll gladly fork over $1900 if that reduces the gargantuan size of the tram line.
Charge extra to take that little “tram” are you freaking kidding me…..forget it Big Sky I’ll bring my ski club to another resort who doesn’t want to nickel & dime us…..this is outrageous mistake
Big Sky is quickly revealing itself to be one of the whackest run resorts in the west, what a joke