By David Schissler – It seems as if every time I took my eyes off of the water this summer another seismic event took place in the ski resort ownership arena. The consolidation continues but perhaps the most significant long term development was the rise of an unexpected rival to behemoth Vail Resorts. Aspen Skiing Corp teamed up with KSL to basically absorb Intrawest’s ski holdings to form a yet to be named new company. Marquee resorts such as Mammoth Mountain, Squaw-Alpine, Steamboat, Winter Park, Mt. Tremblant, Stratton and others are all now under the Aspen-KSL banner.
Here’s the latest resort line up according to the National Ski Areas Association.
Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen Highlands, Colorado
Aspen Mountain, Colorado
Buttermilk, Colorado
Snowmass Ski Area, Colorado
KSL/Aspen Partnership (Name TBD)
Alpine Meadows, California
Bear Mountain Resort, California
Blue Mountain, Ontario
June Mountain, California
Mammoth, California
Sierra at Tahoe, California
Snow Summit, California
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Squaw Valley, California
Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, Colorado
Stratton, Vermont
Tremblant, Quebec
Winter Park Resort, Colorado
Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE : MTN)
Afton Alps, Minnesota
Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado
Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado
Heavenly Mountain Resort, California/Nevada
Keystone Resort, Colorado
Kirkwood Mountain Resort, California
Mount Brighton, Michigan
Northstar California, California (1)
Park City Ski Area, Utah
Perisher Ski Resort, Australia
Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont
Vail Mountain, Colorado
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Wilmot Mountain, Wisconsin
(1) Resort is operated under long-term agreement by Vail Resorts, Inc.
Resort is owned by EPR Properties.
Alpine Valley Holding Co.
Alpine Valley, Michigan
Alpine Valley Resort, Wisconsin
Bittersweet Ski Area, Michigan
Devil’s Head Resort, Wisconsin
Mount Holly Ski Area, Michigan
Pine Knob Ski Area, Michigan
Boyne USA, Inc.
Big Sky Resort, Montana
Brighton Ski Resort, Utah (2)
Boyne Highlands Resort, Michigan
Boyne Mountain Resort, Michigan
Cypress Mountain, British Columbia (2)
Loon Mountain, New Hampshire (2)
Sugarloaf, Maine (2)
Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington (2)
Sunday River Ski Resort, Maine (2)
(2) Resorts are operated under long-term agreement by Boyne USA.
Resorts are owned by Ski Resort Holdings, LLC.
Peak Resorts, Inc.
Alpine Valley, Ohio
Attitash, New Hampshire
Big Boulder Ski Area, Pennsylvania
Boston Mills/Brandywine, Ohio
Crotched Mt. Ski Area, New Hampshire
Hidden Valley, Missouri
Hunter Mountain, New York
Jack Frost, Pennsylvania
Mad River Mountain, Ohio (3)
Mount Snow, Vermont
Paoli Peaks, Indiana
Snow Creek Ski Area, Missouri
Wildcat Mountain, New Hampshire
(3) Resort is operated under long-term agreement by Peak Resorts, Inc.
Resort is owned by EPR Properties.
State of New York
Belleayre Mountain (Olympic Regional Development Authority)
Gore Mountain (Olympic Regional Development Authority)
Whiteface (Olympic Regional Development Authority)
Snow Time, Inc.
Liberty Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania
Ski Roundtop, Pennsylvania
Whitetail, Pennsylvania
Pacific Group Resorts, Inc.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort, British Columbia
Ragged Mountain Resort, New Hampshire (4)
Wintergreen Resort, Virginia (5)
Wisp Resort, Maryland (5)
(4) Resort is operated under long-term agreement by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc.
Resort is owned by RMR-Pacific LLC.
(5) Resorts are operated under long-term agreement by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc.
Resorts are owned by EPR Properties.
Powdr Corp.
Boreal Ski Area, California
Copper, Colorado
Eldora Mountain Resort, Colorado
Gorgoza Tubing Park, Utah
Killington, Vermont
Lee Canyon, Nevada
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Pico Mountain, Vermont
Soda Springs Ski Area, California
Sinclair Oil Corporation
Snowbasin, Utah
Sun Valley, Idaho
Triple Peaks LLC
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colorado (6)
Mt. Sunapee, New Hampshire (7)
Okemo Mountain Resort, Vermont (6)
(6) Resorts are operated under long-term agreement by Triple Peaks LLC. Resorts are owned by Ski Resort Holdings, LLC.
(7) Resort is operated under long-term agreement by Triple Peaks LLC. Resort is owned by State of New Hampshire and Ski Resort Holdings, LLC has lease rights.
CANADA
Mont Saint-Sauveur International Inc.
Edelweiss Valley, Ottawa
Mont-Avila Ski Area, Quebec
Mont Gabriel, Quebec
Mont Olympia, Quebec
Mont Saint-Sauveur Ski Area, Quebec
Ski Morin Heights, Quebec
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc.
Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, British Columbia
Kimberley Alpine Resort, British Columbia
Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec
Nakiska Ski Area, Alberta
Stoneham Mountain Resort, Quebec
NOTE: Ski Resort Holdings, LLC also owns Mountain High Resort, CA (operated under long-term agreement by Mountain High Associates), Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA (operated under long-term agreement by Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc.), Stevens Pass, WA (operated under long-term agreeement by Stevens Pass Mountain Resort, LLC), and Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, MA and Cranmore Mountain Resort, NH (both operated under long-term agreement by Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, LLC).
Source: National Ski Areas Association, Lakewood, Colo.
Number of Ski Areas Operating in the United States, 1991-2016
2015/16 463
2014/15 470
2013/14 470
2012/13 478
2011/10 474
2010/11 486
2009/10 471
2008/09 473
2007/08 481
2006/07 485
2005/06 478
2004/05 492
2003/04 494
2002/03 490
2001/02 493
2000/01 489
1999/00 503
1998/99 509
1997/98 521
1996/97 507
1995/96 519
1994/95 520
1993/94 518
1992/93 529
1991/92 546
Source: The National Ski Areas Association