Industry News
Pennsylvania ranks eighth on a 2022/23 list by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) with 25 ski resorts. Ski resorts in Pennsylvania are primarily located in the Pocono Mountains and on the Western side of the state towards Pittsburgh. Over the last few years, Vail Resorts has acquired eight of the 25 ski resorts in Pennsylvania. Two Vail Resorts in Pennsylvania are Jack Frost Big Boulder (JFBB) in the Poconos. This January, JFBB got a new General Manager, Tony Santora, and I had the opportunity to chat with him in early March to see how things were going.
“I am thrilled to join the Jack Frost Big Boulder team as the new General Manager. I am eager to bring my passion for the slopes and my experience in the industry to this new adventure in the Poconos. I look forward to meeting the incredible crew and getting to know our guests.”
– Tony Santora, GM of JFBB
Santora embarked on his career journey with Vail Resorts in 2018 as Resort Operations Manager at Park City, Utah. He honed his skills there and climbed the ranks to become the senior manager of building maintenance and village operations. In 2022, Santora took on the role of General Manager at Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Missouri. Santora’s strategic evaluation of Hidden Valley’s snowmaking process and refined approach resulted in a noteworthy increase in operating days. Hidden Valley was closed for only one day last season, a significant accomplishment for a ski resort in the Midwest. Santora’s knowledge of operating a resort in milder climates should be a great asset in running JFBB with the mild temperatures PA has experienced over the last few seasons.
A Utah native, Santora is a proud graduate of the University of Utah, where he earned his M.B.A. from the esteemed David Eccles School of Business. Before his venture into the ski resort industry, Santora served as a Sergeant with the Utah State Parks Law Enforcement Rangers, stationed at Jordanelle State Park. His expertise extended to managing Rockport State Park as a Park Manager. Santora’s proficiency in emergency preparedness was further demonstrated through his role as an experienced Emergency Vehicle Operations and Scenarios Instructor for Utah POST.
Quick Facts and History:
Jack Frost:
- First Opened in 1972
- Peak Elevation: 2,000 feet
- Base Elevation: 1,440 feet
- Trails: 20
- Terrain Park: 1
- Lifts: 9
- Beginner Trails: 21%
- Intermediate Trails: 37%
- Advanced Trails: 42%
Big Boulder:
- First Opened in 1947
- First Commercial Ski Resort in Pennsylvania
- Peak Elevation: 2,175 feet
- Base Elevation: 1,700 feet
- Trails: 19
- Lifts: 7
- Terrain Parks: 2
- Beginner Trails: 37%
- Intermediate Trails: 19%
- Advanced Trails: 44%
Located in White Haven, the adventure at Jack Frost begins at the top of the mountain, where the lodge is located at the peak of the resort. That gives guests the unique opportunity to start the day off by skiing to the bottom of the mountain and take the lift back to the top for their next run. Less than 12 miles away from Jack Frost, guests can ski under the stars at Big Boulder. Located in Lake Harmony, you can enjoy views of Big Boulder Lake as you carve down the mountain. A dedicated learning hill and several long beginner slopes are the perfect setting to learn how to ski or snowboard.
This year, on-mountain enhancements at Jack Frost and Big Boulder were a part of Vail Resort’s Epic Lift Upgrades. “We will be completing a few capital projects that will improve on these infrastructures and our ability to create experiences of a lifetime for all of our guests,” Santora said. Skiers and snowboarders at JFBB resorts will see improved terrain accessibility, reduced wait times, and more reliable lift service. Replacing and consolidating five lifts between Jack Frost and Big Boulder with fixed-grip four-person chairs greatly increased uphill capacity and access to multiple slopes throughout the mountains.
At Jack Frost, the Pocono, the Tobyhanna, and the Paradise replaced the B & C, E & F, and the East 1 and 2 lifts. Additional improvements include a new snowmaking waterline to service Jack Frost’s East Mountain, new rental equipment, and new trail signage at both resorts. Also, this year, there is an updated Bubly tubing park at Big Boulder, which is great for families to hit with their children for some snow tubing fun.
Santora is focusing on creating events that bring guests to the mountain at JFBB looking forward to next season. Some of those events are the New Beginner Take-Over Days, Winterfest at Big Boulder, Topsy Turvy Day at Jack Frost, Beach Party Pond Skim at Big Boulder, and live bands every Saturday night at E2000 (Jack Frost) and T-Bar (Big Boulder). One of Santora’s objectives is keeping JFBB family-oriented and making it a place where guests can visit and have fun. “We will be working over the summer to plan more events for next season, and we are excited to continue to bring the fun to both resorts. We are also looking at creating events over the summer that our guests will be able to enjoy,” Santora said.
Video: Skiing with Tony Santora, GM of JFBB
Jack Frost and Big Boulder offer unique complementary experiences for guests who can ski and ride at Jack Frost during the day and then ski into the night at Big Boulder on the same day. Located about two hours from Philadelphia and New York City, it is great for a day trip or weekend getaway. JFBB is on the Epic Pass, allowing guests to visit 42 different ski resorts worldwide. The Epic Pass for next season is on sale now and it is the last chance to get 10 buddy tickets to share with family and friends if purchased before April, 14.
JFBB is located just minutes off Interstate 80, a major highway, which is great for anyone who does not want to travel on back country roads for hours to get to the mountain. “I really like how Jack Frost Big Boulder complement each other. Big Boulder is a great place for the whole family to learn how to ski or snowboard and Jack Frost really has something for everyone,” Santora said.
There are eight Vail Resorts-owned ski resorts in Pennsylvania, and Jack Frost and Big Boulder are two gems less than 12 miles apart. JFBB offers a variety of skier options and is great for families with children. Santora has the best interest of the guests and locals of JFBB in mind and will continue to grow, upgrade, and make it a great place for everyone to enjoy.
For more information, visit Jack Frost Big Boulder’s website.
