Industry News
Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), the largest ski area operator in the U.S. Southwest and current operator of Valle Nevado and La Parva in Chile, has announced plans to acquire a controlling stake in Andacor S.A., a family-owned company that operates four ski areas across central and southern Chile. The proposed acquisition, announced July 2, remains subject to customary corporate and regulatory approvals. If finalized, MCP would assume majority control of El Colorado, Parque Farellones, Pillán (Villarrica), and Volcán Osorno—significantly expanding the company’s footprint in the Southern Hemisphere.
Founded in the late 1940s by a group of pioneers and led for over 75 years by the Leatherbee family, Andacor has played a formative role in the development of skiing in Chile. The company’s flagship resort, El Colorado, is located just outside Santiago and is one of the country’s most visited alpine destinations.
MCP said the deal would integrate operations across all four resorts, enhancing financial stability and unlocking potential for interconnected access across a wide range of terrain. That could eventually create one of the largest lift-served ski domains in the Southern Hemisphere.
The four ski areas include:
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El Colorado, known for its above-treeline terrain and proximity to Santiago, is the only ski resort in Chile to have remained under family ownership for more than seven decades.
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Parque Farellones, Chile’s oldest ski area, has evolved into a family-oriented snow park offering tubing, sledding and beginner slopes.
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Pillán (Villarrica), located on an active volcano, is known for its cultural ties to the Indigenous Mapuche people and offers both lift-served and backcountry volcanic terrain.
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Volcán Osorno, in southern Chile’s Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, provides panoramic views of lakes and rainforests, with snow-covered lava fields offering a rare ski experience.
MCP has rapidly expanded its portfolio over the past decade, acquiring or managing resorts across Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and now Chile. The company entered the Chilean market in 2023 with its acquisition of Valle Nevado and partnership with La Parva.
If approved, the Andacor acquisition would mark a significant consolidation of ski infrastructure in Chile. No timeline has been announced for final approval or integration. For more information, visit mcp.ski.
