Industry News
Okemo Mountain Resort and Hunter Mountain to Open Sunday, December 1; Stowe and Mount Snow to Open Tuesday, December 3; Afton Alps to Open Saturday, November 30
Vermont, New York, Minnesota—November 27, 2024— Winter is here! Vail Resorts announced five more opening days for the 2024-25 winter season today across Vermont, New York, and Minnesota. Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont and Hunter Mountain in New York will open on Sunday, December 1, Stowe and Mount Snow will open on Tuesday, December 3, and Afton Alps in Minnesota will open on Saturday, November 30, thanks to their state-of-the-art, energy-efficient snowmaking systems. Guests can ski and ride all five resorts and a total of 42 across the globe with significant pre-season savings by purchasing an Epic Pass before the December 2 deadline.
Vail Resorts Northeast + Midwest Opening Dates:
- Afton Alps: Saturday, November 30, at 10:00 a.m. CT
- Okemo: Sunday, December 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET
- Hunter: Sunday, December 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET
- Stowe: Tuesday, December 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET
- Mount Snow: Tuesday, December 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Last Chance to Buy Your Epic Pass is December 2
2024-25 Epic Pass products, including regional passes and day passes, are still on sale and available to purchase for a limited time. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the best value in skiing and riding by purchasing in advance, with various options for every type of skier and rider from Epic 1-7 day passes, the Epic Local Pass, and the full Epic Pass. All Epic Pass products come with Epic Mountain Rewards, offering 20% off lodging, rentals, dining, and more. The last chance to buy is this Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Visit EpicPass.com for more information.
The My Epic app lets you buy, view, and manage your passes and lift tickets, check out the interactive trail maps, and receive real-time terrain and slope updates. New to the app, the Find My Friends feature makes it easier to stay connected with your group while out enjoying the mountain. In addition, the My Epic app offers a variety of guest-favorite features, including GPS-enabled trail maps, mountain alerts, and resort updates. Stay informed with grooming reports, terrain status, snow conditions, and more, all in one place.
Whether planning to hit the slopes one day or every day, purchasing a pass now will give guests the best value, plus flexibility and benefits not offered with traditional lift tickets. That includes 20% off on-mountain dining, group ski and ride lessons, lodging, rentals, and more with Epic Mountain Rewards.
Locking in a Pass now provides Pass Holders immediate winter lodging savings. During the lodging Cyber Sale happening now, Pass Holders can save up to 30% on room rates across Vail Resorts’ portfolio of hotels and vacation rentals conveniently located near the mountains. Pass Holders get the maximum savings, and the sale can be booked through December 3. Minimum night stay requirements and other terms and conditions apply.
Lock in Access to Premium Gear, Available Slopeside, for Only $50 with My Epic Gear from Vail Resorts
New across all three Vermont destinations–Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo, and Mount Snow–comes My Epic Gear, an innovative gear-membership program that’s better than renting, easier than owning, designed for you. Don’t haul your gear to the mountain this season; unlock access to more than 60 of the latest ski and snowboard models with slopeside pick-up and drop-off all from your phone. Memberships are limited, so visit myepicgear.com or download the My Epic app to sign up.
Vermont: Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo Mountain Resort, and Mount Snow
Stowe: Opening Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Stowe Mountain Resort, home to Vermont’s highest mountain peak, is where skiers and riders come to renew and deepen their connections to family, nature, and adventure. From Skål–a series of on-mountain champagne and sparkling cider toasts at the Octagon Café deck–to Epic Pass Holder events, Stowe Mountain Resort has events for everyone. New this season, Women & Wine is a special lesson program with après fun designed by women and taught by women, specifically for women. We’re also elated to introduce Cider Time, brought to you by Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Cider Time features a rotating menu of complimentary scratch-made baked goods and warm cider on select Saturdays in the Mansfield base area.
Looking ahead to spring, we’re excited to announce that the pond skim returns (yes, you read that correctly) as part of our 1st annual Spring Bash on April 11 and 12. Spring Bash features two days of free live music in the Mansfield base area from some of Vermont’s top talent. Learn more about these events at stowe.com.
Okemo: Opening Sunday, Dec. 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Okemo is a home-away-from-home for Northeast skiing and snowboarding families. This summer, Vermont’s most efficient snowmaking system boosted snowmaking capabilities by adding five new HKD fan snowguns and 17 new low-energy snowguns, significantly increasing our firepower in essential mountain areas. The team installed two brand-new carpet lifts to elevate the Ski and Ride School experience. The existing 50-foot carpet has been upgraded at Jackson Gore, and a new 100-foot carpet lift has been added. The replaced 50-foot carpet has been strategically relocated to the Ski School slope at the main base area.
“Thanks to our team’s hard work and expertise, we are ready to kick off winter at Okemo with plenty to look forward to this season. In addition to skiing and riding, guests can expect many great new and returning events and activities, including Après Afternoons, Let It Glow, snow tubing, Timber Ripper mountain coaster, First Fridays, Slush Cup, and more.”
– Bruce Schmidt, Vice President and General Manager of Okemo Mountain Resort
Mount Snow: Opening Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Vermont’s closest destination ski resort to Boston and New York City, Mount Snow, is looking forward to another season full of events. All season long, Mount Snow will celebrate 70 years of legendary moments with giveaways, lively après, and a full event calendar, including two anniversary parties – one on Founder’s Day (December 12) and the other on January 24, 2025. In addition to a full event calendar, Mount Snow offers snow tubing, après nightlife, and Naturespa at the Grand Summit Hotel.
This season, guests will also enjoy a range of bars and restaurants to fuel their day on the slopes, including shareable dishes at The Bullwheel, a variety of pub and comfort food at Cuzzins Bar & Grill, and more. Plus, pass holders can take 20% off a quick lunch, their afternoon pick-me-up, or an après experience with Epic Mountain Rewards.
New York: Hunter Mountain
Hunter: Opening Sunday, Dec. 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Located just over two hours north of New York City in the northern Catskill Mountains of New York State, Hunter is enhancing the guest experience tenfold this season. Skiers and riders have much to look forward to, thanks to two new Epic Lift Upgrades increasing uphill capacity and a major automated snowmaking expansion to boost snowmaking capabilities. Together, these enhancements are a pivotal move that aligns with Hunter’s commitment to providing a progressive learning experience for visitors of all ski and ride levels, from beginners to seasoned pros. Guests will also enjoy a robust calendar stacked with new and returning events, including a 65th Anniversary Celebration (January 11, 2025), Rail Jams, New Year’s Eve Bash, LGBTQ+ Ski & Ride Weekend, Denim Dash, and more.
Minnesota: Afton Alps
Afton Alps: Opening Saturday, Nov. 30, at 10:00 a.m. CT
Afton Alps is the largest resort in the Twin Cities area, covering 300 acres. Founded in 1963 by local farmers with a vision to transform their land into a lively ski retreat, Afton Alps is surrounded by the stunning Afton State Park. Just 25 minutes from downtown St. Paul, Afton Alps offers an accessible, affordable, and fun experience. This big-time resort with a small-town feel has introduced thousands of first-timers to a lifelong love of skiing and riding.
Afton Alps is thrilled to announce the return of tubing this season, a long-awaited comeback for Twin Cities thrill seekers. The new bubly™ Tube Park will feature 10 tubing lanes in the Highland Zone near the refreshed Alpine Chalet. Guests can expect another fun-filled season of skiing, riding, and incredible events, including Ullr Fest, Hot Dish Rail Jam, Spring Fling, and more.
