Industry News
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California yesterday announced their eagerly awaited operating policy for the upcoming COVID-restricted winter 20/21 season. Front and foremost in a message from COO Ron Cohen is that the resort does not intend to implement a reservation system. Instead, the resort will manage visitor numbers by eliminating walk-up day tickets and will control the number of advanced tickets for sale.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows intends to serve its guests without a reservation system. We plan to manage general visitation by temporarily eliminating the sale of “walk-up” tickets at the window, and dynamically controlling the sale of advance purchase tickets. At this time, we expect such tickets to primarily be available midweek, but we will remain flexible as we learn more throughout the season.
Our priorities right now are providing space for social distancing at our two mountains, and remaining flexible in the face of the inevitable changes to come throughout the season. While elements of the resort experience will be different this season, the experience of skiing and snowboarding itself remains the same. Skiing has always had at its center the incredible personal freedom one experiences while engaged in the sport, balanced against the personal responsibility of sharing the slopes with everyone else. This year more than ever, our guests will need to carry both sides of that equation with them, so that everyone can have the best possible experience within a Covid-modified environment. That feeling of freedom in the outdoors is something we are all craving now more than ever. We look forward to making that happen for our guests this coming season.
Every corner of our business is totally immersed in preparing for this special season. We will continue to communicate as we have more concrete information available.
Ron Cohen
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
President and Chief Operating Officer
Citing an opening day of Wednesday, November 25th, the health and safety of their guests and employees will be the resort’s top priority. Skiing and riding will remain the same, but the day-to-day operations of the resort and on the mountain will of course be impacted. The resort has modified many of its operations informed by the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State of California, and the Placer County Health Department.
As summer winds down, we are looking forward to colder and snowier days ahead. This winter, we intend to serve our guests without a reservation system. Pass holders will continue to have the best and most flexible access to the resort. We plan to manage general visitation by temporarily eliminating the sale of “walk up” tickets at the window, and dynamically controlling the sale of advance purchase tickets. At this time, we expect such tickets to primarily be available midweek, but we will remain flexible as we learn more throughout the season.
Our priorities right now are providing space for social distancing at our two mountains, and remaining flexible in the face of the inevitable changes to come throughout the season. While elements of the resort experience will be different this season, the experience of skiing and snowboarding itself remains the same. Skiing has always had at its center the incredible personal freedom one experiences while engaged in the sport, balanced against the personal responsibility of sharing the slopes with everyone else. This year more than ever, our guests will need to carry both sides of that equation with them, so that everyone can have the best possible experience within a Covid-modified environment. That feeling of freedom in the outdoors is something we are all craving now more than ever. We look forward to making that happen for our guests this coming season.
Every corner of our business is totally immersed in preparing for this special season. We will continue to communicate as we have more concrete information available.
– Resort Facebook post
Ultimately, the responsibility is on each and every visitor to the resort, to take care of their own health and be mindful of those around them.
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and deaths, especially for senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions. By visiting Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
