When Vail Resorts bought Park City and connected it with The Canyons a couple of seasons ago they created the largest ski resort in the United States. As of August, Vail Resorts also owns Whistler/Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America. Ink hit paper on a whopping $1.05 billion deal for 100% ownership. This happened only a few weeks after Whistler announced the Renaissance project, a $500 million off mountain improvement project for its base area designed to support and promote new four-season mountain biking, rock climbing and sightseeing well into the future.
All indications are this will have little effect on visitors to Whistler. Nothing will change with regard to the day-to-day operations. Whistler Blackcomb will honor the resort’s existing season pass products through the 2016-17 season. Vail Resorts plans to add Whistler Blackcomb into its Epic Season Pass for the 2017-18 season.
Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz added, “With our combined experience and expertise, together we will build upon the guest experience at Whistler Blackcomb while preserving the unique brand and character of the resort as an iconic Canadian destination for guests around the world.”
For those keeping score, Vail Resorts’ North American ski areas now include Vail, Whistler, Park City, Kirkwood, Heavenly, Mt. Brighton, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Afton Alps, Northstar, and Wilmot Mountain.
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