Industry News
It is that time of year again when we all start to get excited for the upcoming ski season and eagerly await news of opening dates. Some ski resorts are only about two months away from opening. Last year, Ski Ward, Massachusetts, was the first ski area in North America to open on October 22. Less than an hour from Boston, the small ski area surprised many in the ski industry. It has a 220-foot vertical drop, 45 acres of skiable terrain, nine trails, and four lifts, including a triple chair, T-bar, and a 250-foot carpet lift. Will Ski Ward be the first ski resort to open again this season, or will another ski resort take its place? Some ski resorts have already announced opening dates for the 2024-25 season.
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Vail Resorts has announced opening dates for some of its resorts out west, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR), Wyoming, has also announced its opening date. Both Vail Resorts and JHMR stated that the opening dates are subject to change based on weather and conditions.
- Related Article: [UPDATED] NOAA Winter 2024-25 Early Forecast: La Niña Returns and What That Means For Next Winter’s Ski Season
Vail Resorts announced opening dates for 11 of its ski resorts in a press release:
- Mid-October (pending early season conditions): Keystone (CO)
- November 8: Breckenridge (CO)
- November 15: Vail Mountain (CO)
- November 22: Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia), Heavenly (CA), Northstar (CA), Park City Mountain (UT)
- November 27: Beaver Creek (CO), Crested Butte (CO)
- December 6: Kirkwood (CA), Stevens Pass (WA)
*Opening dates are subject to change based on weather and conditions.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s season will run from November 29, 2024, until April 13, 2025, offering 137 days of skiing and riding. Guests can save up to 15% on day tickets purchased before October 1.
“We will continue to manage capacity on the mountain by restricting the number of tickets sold per day,” said CEO Mary Kate Buckley. “We initiated this practice in 2020 to improve the guest experience and offer more time on the slopes. Managing capacity has been extremely well received by our guests and employees. This early-bird sale is the best opportunity to secure daily tickets to access the resort at the best price. Construction of the new Sublette lift is on schedule, and we look forward to introducing this new lift to our guests this winter.”
The new Sublette lift, a faster detachable quad chairlift, will debut this season and reduce ride time from eight minutes to four while climbing approximately 1,600 vertical feet at 1,000 feet per minute. Also new this year is the Flex 5 Ticket, allowing guests to ski or ride any five days within a seven-day period without reservations. It offers up to 30% savings on lift tickets and access on sold-out days. The Flex 5 Ticket is available until September 30 or until sold out. Blackout days apply, and the ticket is non-refundable.
Air credits of up to $500 per airline ticket are available when reserved with lodging and lift tickets at $500 Air Credit – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Arizona Snowbowl shared on its social media accounts that the resort will open on November 22. Snowbowl was founded in 1938 and is known for offering the largest beginner terrain in the Southwest. The resort is one of the country’s oldest continually operating ski areas. It is located 14 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona, on the San Francisco Peaks and the highest mountain in Arizona (Humphreys Peak at 12,367 feet). Arizona Snowbowl offers 55 trails, 2,300 lift-served vertical feet, and over 3,000 hike-to vertical feet on 777 acres with eight lifts, four terrain parks, and three mountain lodges.
Steamboat, Colorado announced that its opening day will be November, 23 on its Instagram page. Steamboat has been shaped by its rich past and it has invested $200 million in its future. This goal is to make Steamboat a premier ski destination in the world for decades to come. Plans include an après ski plaza, new restaurants and bars, new lodging, a ski beach, and an ice rink. On the Mountain, there will be new lifts and new terrain that will make it the second-largest resort in Colorado.
It is human nature to be competitive, win, and be first. It is also fun and exciting for skiers and riders to look ahead to the upcoming season to see what mountain will open first. Here is a list of the ski resorts that opened first since the 2008-09 season:
- 2023-24: Ski Ward, Massachusetts – October 22
- 2022-23: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 18
- 2021-22: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 16
- 2020-21: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 19
- 2019-20: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 11
- 2018-19: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 13
- 2017-18: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 13
- 2016-17: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 21
- 2015-16: Killington, Vermont – October 18
- 2014-15: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 17
- 2013-14: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 13
- 2012-13: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 18
- 2011-12: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 11
- 2010-11: Sunday River, Maine – October 23
- 2009-10: Loveland, Colorado – October 6
- 2008-09: Loveland, Colorado – October 7
Most ski resorts on this list are located in Colorado, but that does not mean other resorts in North America are not that far behind. Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada; Mammoth Mountain, California; Mt. Rose, Nevada; and Killington, Vermont, have traditionally opened in early November. Warmer temperatures and climate change are factors that will affect opening dates for ski resorts in the future. Although NOAA has a long-range weather forecast for this upcoming season, the conditions look great in some parts of the country.
NOAA’s forecast for this winter is based on the expected La Niña pattern, which typically brings wetter and cooler conditions to the northern U.S. and drier, warmer weather to the southern regions. Skiers and riders should check out the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, or Northeast for the best chances of good snow conditions this winter. It is important to remember that this is a long-range forecast, and conditions can vary.
Now that some ski resorts have announced opening dates for this season, it is only a matter of time before other resorts follow suit. That means it is time to tune and wax your skis and boards, grab some new gear for the new season, and start planning ski trips. It is an exciting time for all winter enthusiasts looking forward to hitting the slopes again.
