Industry News
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Vail Resorts, alleging the company failed to disclose the impact of a ski patrol strike at Park City Mountain during the peak holiday season, leaving thousands of skiers and snowboarders dissatisfied with their experience. The lawsuit, led by Illinois resident Christopher Bisaillon, represents anyone who purchased a lift ticket at Park City Mountain between December 27, 2024, and January 8, 2025, reports Park City-local news station KPCW. Bisaillon claims he spent $15,000 on a week-long ski trip, only to ski fewer than 10 runs due to operational disruptions caused by the 13-day strike.
The strike by 204 unionized ski patrollers and mountain safety staff significantly reduced available terrain, with the lawsuit alleging less than 20% of the mountain was open at times. Lift lines stretched for up to three hours, according to the complaint, while digital trail maps inaccurately advertised shorter wait times. Bisaillon argues Vail Resorts should have warned guests of the strike’s potential impacts, especially since the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association began filing federal labor complaints on December 16 after months of stalled contract negotiations. The strike officially began on December 27, with only 20 local safety personnel and 30 replacements from other Vail properties maintaining operations.
The strike coincided with the busy Christmas holiday period, leading to widespread frustration among visitors. Local lodging providers reported increased cancellations and early departures, while some skiers reportedly ducked ropes to access closed terrain, raising safety concerns. During the strike, Park City Mountain removed the metric displaying terrain availability from its website. Although the resort acknowledged the strike’s effects in social media posts, those posts were later deleted. By the strike’s second week, resort officials publicly addressed guest dissatisfaction, with Vail Resorts Mountain Division President Bill Rock issuing an apology after the strike concluded.
The plaintiffs, represented by attorneys from Tarpey Wix, Meyers and Flowers, and the Spence Law Firm, are seeking damages exceeding $5 million. They argue Vail Resorts’ failure to disclose the strike deprived guests of the premium ski experience they had paid for, which can range between $10,000 and $20,000 for a full trip. Vail Resorts has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
The strike and lawsuit shed light on just how messy labor disputes can get during peak ski season, impacting everything from operations to safety to how happy guests are with their trips.
