Industry News
The battle between independent skiing and corporate consolidation reached a boiling point this morning as three major Midwest destinations—Lutsen Mountains (MN), Granite Peak (WI), and Snowriver Mountain Resort (MI)—officially exited the Indy Pass to join the Ikon Pass for the 2026-27 season. The move, announced by Alterra Mountain Company as part of Ikon’s spring launch, was met with a sharp and candid response from Indy Pass Managing Director Erik Mogensen, who claimed his team only learned of the departure “second hand” late last night.
In a message addressed to Midwest passholders, Mogensen did not mince words regarding the shift toward the “Mega Pass” ecosystem.
“I hate seeing the corporations that have compromised the sport and culture of skiing grab more,” Mogensen wrote, highlighting the stark price disparity between the two products.
Mogensen noted that the Indy Base Pass starts at $349, while the Ikon Base Pass begins at $924. He further contrasted the top-tier products, pointing out that the Indy+ sits at $399 compared to Ikon’s “staggering” $1,349 price point.
Recognizing that many Midwest skiers purchased the Indy Pass specifically for access to the departing resorts, Mogensen reiterated the pass’s transparent refund policy.
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Eligibility: Passholders may request a full refund for an unused pass if a favorite resort from the 2025-26 season does not renew for 2026-27.
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Deadline: The cut-off for these “no questions asked” refunds is December 1, 2026.
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Support: Mogensen emphasized that Indy’s Colorado and New Hampshire-based support teams are available to assist affected skiers.
Despite the loss of the Midwest Family Resorts trio, the Indy Pass remains defiant. While the pass previously jettisoned partner Buck Hill (MN) after it joined Ikon’s two-day program last year, the tour currently boasts more than twice as many partners as Epic, Ikon, and Mountain Collective combined.
Mogensen hinted that more growth is imminent, confirming that Indy Pass is currently “sitting on a significant amount of new resorts that have been contracted.” Several of these new partners are expected to be announced following the conclusion of the spring pass sale, with more reveals scheduled for the fall.
“We all have a role to play in keeping skiing independent,” Mogensen concluded.
Honestly I think the whole pass thing compromised skiing. I used to love skiing all over New England. I would need to have FIVE passes to accommodate all the various places that use to be AFFORDABLE to enjoy various spots in New England. Skiing for me is ruined forever.