Industry News
Enhancing on-site guest experiences across the world this upcoming winter season
As winter in North America approaches, Ikon Pass brings the good stuff as pass holders can look forward to over $1 billion in new and improved infrastructure and experiences aimed at enhancing the guest experience, including new terrain expansion, reimagined base areas and lodges, innovative beginner areas, new lifts and gondolas, expanded snow making, imaginative culinary offerings, improved skier services and more.
Winter 23/24 also offers pass holders new destinations – Alyeska in Alaska and Snow Valley in California – additional pass holder benefits, endless adventure and exceptional experiences at the most unique mountain destinations across the globe. An exciting winter season awaits.
NEW TERRAIN
This winter, skiers and riders will have access to more than 1,000 additional acres of terrain across multiple Ikon Pass destinations.
Highlights:
- Steamboat’s new Mahogany Ridge adds 650 acres of advanced and expert terrain, making Steamboat the second largest ski resort in Colorado.
- Aspen Mountain will see its largest expansion project in decades, adding a new lift that will serve 153 acres of new terrain, expanding intermediate, advanced and gladed runs.
- Loon Mountain’s South Peak Expansion will add 30+ acres of new terrain, a new quad chairlift, with 50% more beginner terrain.
- Sugarloaf’s West Mountain expansion will add 120 new skiable acres, beginner and intermediate trails, transformational lift upgrades, including the new Bucksaw Express high-speed quad.
BEGINNER ZONES
Ikon Pass destinations look to welcome new skiers and riders with a more accessible and comfortable experience.
Highlights:
- New beginner and intermediate trails available at Loon’s South Peak and Sugarloaf’s West Mountain
- Revelstoke is adding a centralized progressive zone.
- Stratton will offer a completely re-imagined Learning Zone with new surface lifts and terrain.
- Taos Ski valley is upgrading the Pioneers beginner area with a new lift and regraded terrain.
- Copper continues to expand its Western Territory, with the introduction of new beginner trails and gladed areas.
- Steamboat’s Greenhorn Ranch, dedicated to beginner terrain, will open for its second season at the mid-station of the Wild Blue Gondola.
- Look for an enhanced beginner area also at Boyne Mountain and Revelstoke.
NEW LIFTS
Ikon Pass holders will enjoy more than 25 new state-of-the-art lifts this upcoming season, significantly increasing uphill capacity at their favorite mountains and helping ease congestion to maximize time on the mountain. Across all Ikon Pass destinations, new and modernized lifts will also improve access to high-elevation beginner terrain, create better skier and rider circulation, and allow skiers and riders of all abilities to enjoy scenic vistas. Others will provide faster and easier connections between different skiing areas within a destination.
Highlights:
- Big Sky Resort’s iconic Lone Peak Tram will transform access to the highest scenic overlook in Montana presiding over the peaks of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, as well as Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
- Steamboat’s second and final leg of its Wild Blue Gondola will open in December, becoming the longest and fastest 10-person gondola in North America, taking guests from bottom to top in 13 minutes.
- The Highlands in Michigan is installing a new six-person, high-speed Doppelmayr D-Line bubble chairlift, complete with heated seats – the first lift of its kind in the Midwest.
- Tremblant, Stratton and Crystal Mountain will begin offering direct to lift access with new RFID technology at all major lifts.
- New and upgraded lifts at Winter Park, Snowshoe, Aspen Mountain, Mammoth Mountain, Solitude, Schweitzer, Taos Ski Valley, Sun Valley, Brighton, Loon Mountain, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Snowbasin, Mt. Bachelor, Boyne Mountain, The Highlands, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Dolomiti Superski, Kitzbühel, Thredbo (2024).
NEW LODGES & CULINARY OFFERINGS
Ikon Pass holders will also discover eight new lodges this winter season, from new and innovative on-mountain spots to redesigned mid-mountain lodges, all offering delicious new culinary offerings and comfortable yet fun spaces to recharge and relax.
Highlights:
- Deer Valley will transform the second level of Royal Street Cafe into a new après destination.
- Bear Mountain’s highly anticipated redesigned Laybacks Bar is slated to become the ideal place to après all day. Bear Mountain will also add a 12,000 sq. ft. patio extension, stretching across the entire east end of the base area.
- Snow Valley will boast fully remodeled food and beverage venues.
- Copper will debut its stunning 25,000-square-foot mid-mountain lodge, The Aerie, which includes a full-service on-mountain restaurant, “Forage and Feast.”
- Steamboat will open The Range Food & Drink Hall, elevating the culinary and après experience with cashless dining, boasting a variety of vendors including Sunshine Bowl Ramen, Pioneer Pie, Twister Tacos, Why Not Sandwich Shop, plus a full bar and lounge experience with indoor and outdoor seating.
- Sundog Tap Room is a new dining and gathering space in the heart of the Winter Park Resort base-area village, complete with a new menu and a grand self-serve tap wall with more than 30 different taps of beer.
- Brighton’s new hybrid Snake Creek Lodge is made of repurposed shipping containers and will offer two dining halls and expansive exterior seating areas on a heated concrete terrace.
- Crystal Mountain will open a new Midway Yurt, featuring grab and go snacks, drinks, and retail.
- Windham Mountain will offer an Italian Alps-style eatery with high-end dining service and an on-site sommelier.
- A new 5,000 sq. ft. patio is coming to Snowbasin’s Strawberry side with heated cobblestones and over 180 seats with multiple dining options.
- On the lodging side, Sugarbush has completed over $1 million in renovations to the Sugar Lodge, now called The Lodge at Lincoln Peak, with 24 rooms including two suites, and The Black Sheep Pub.
UPGRADED SKIER SERVICES
Ikon Pass holders will benefit from upgraded skier services and diversified offerings, all designed to create a seamless experience on- and off-the-mountain, with redesigned rental shops, updated locker rooms, more spacious base lodges, improved parking lots, re-imagined children’s facilities, and fun off-mountain activities.
Highlights:
- A new Kids Ski School lunch center is slated to debut at Deer Valley.
- Schweitzer forges ahead with the new Schweitzer Creek Village project, creating a dedicated area for day guests, perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers and riders, as well as ample parking and additional rental and SnowSports school facilities.
- Windham will unveil revamped facilities in its base lodge and private club.
- Creekside snow-front services will debut this winter at Steamboat, conveniently located adjacent to the slopes and Steamboat Square, with new guest lockers, ski valet, UCHealth Urgent Care Clinic, and additional restrooms.
ENHANCED SNOWMAKING
Snowmaking upgrades allow Ikon Pass destinations to open terrain faster and more efficiently, helping to provide guests with an early season. Automated and energy-efficient snowmaking systems allow destinations to take advantage of shorter snowmaking windows and recover from weather events more quickly.
Highlights:
- Look for upgrades at Eldora, Mammoth Mountain, Steamboat, Blue Mountain, Copper Mountain, Sugarbush, Dolomiti Superski, Sunday River, Panorama, Sun Peaks, Killington-Pico, Sugarloaf, Windham Mountain, Boyne Mountain, Thredbo (2024).
Ikon Pass is currently on sale for the 23/24 winter season. For more details, please visit www.ikonpass.com.
