Lots of resorts are starting to share their plans. I’ll do my best to keep up with adding them below as they are posted. If you see one that’s not listed below, please let me know – contact@slopefillers.com – and I’ll get it added.
Alterra
Key Points: “We are prioritizing access for season pass holders and will tightly regulate the number of daily lift tickets that will be available by advance purchase only. To this end, walk-up window sales will be eliminated, and the sale of some undated lift ticket products will be discontinued until further notice.”
Full Details→
NOTE: IKON does have a page setup with reservation requirements at each resort. While only a few resorts are requiring ticketing reservations at this time, POWDR resorts appear to be requiring parking reservations (see point #3 in the fine print).
List of IKON Resorts Requiring Reservations→
Arapahoe Basin
Key Points: “eservations will not be required for Arapahoe Basin Season Pass and Any Day Pass holders. The number of passes sold will be limited. Ikon and Mountain Collective Pass holders are welcome and are encouraged to ski and ride A-Basin. Access details are still to be determined. Lift tickets will be available every day. Arapahoe Basin will require all lift tickets to be purchased in advance, online through our website.”
Full Details→
IKON Pass Reservations Update→
Big Sky
Key Points: “At this time, it is not our intention to limit access to the mountain. Big Sky Season Passholders are welcome to access the resort any day of the season their pass is valid, at any time during operating hours, and walk up to the lifts as usual. Ikon Passholders can ski when their passes permit access and must use Ikon’s reservation system to let us know when they plan to visit. Mountain Collective passholders may be required to make a reservation before their visit. Lift Ticket holders can purchase their desired days of skiing at this time, with no anticipated restrictions.”
Full Details→
Copper Mountain
Key Points: “We are implementing an online parking reservation system. Copper Mountain will open for the 20/21 ski season on November 30th. We’re confident that starting our season later than we have historically opened, with more acreage and lifts open, will help guests spread out and maintain appropriate distance.”
Full Details→
Jackson Hole
Key Points: “Reduced capacity in each of our restaurants…Reduced crowding in the base area through queue management and maze configurations, along with increased lift speeds…Commencing with the holidays and continuing as long as necessary and when possible, we will start the Teewinot, Sweetwater and Après Vous lifts at 8:30 a.m….The Aerial Tram will operate but at a significantly reduced capacity “
Full Details→
Jay Peak
Key Points: “As we rely on traffic from our Canadian brothers and sisters at an index of 50%, and the reality that many counties within our US markets will have quarantine restrictions and limitations, means you should expect room to roam here. Following that, we will not expect Jay Peak Season Passholders to make a reservation, we will not force day trippers to buy tickets in advance (although you’ll get the best rate when you do), and we’ll be happy, euphoric even, to sell you a walk-up, window rate ticket if you’re chasing a storm or the spirit simply moves you.”
Full Details→
Killington
Key Points: “We’re confident that starting our season with more acreage and lifts open will help guests spread out and maintain an appropriate distance while also providing a higher quality on-snow experience from day one of the season…As a result, we plan to open for skiing and riding at Killington Resort November 14, weather and terrain permitting…Throughout the season, we will be limiting the number of guests at the resort in order to facilitate physical distancing. Our primary method for limiting the number of guests will be accomplished by adjusting our ticket and pass product offerings and sales channels as well as limiting the number of tickets we sell on any given day…We are also implementing an online parking reservation system for all guests.”
Full Details→
Magic Mountain
Key points: “The third thing is to plan on making reservations online, in advance, to ski and ride here whenever we are open, with check-in upon arrival to get a lift ticket (both pass holders and ticket buyers) so we can control exactly how many people are at Magic to meet our capacity restrictions. Reservations will also most likely be needed to obtain limited table space for (on weekends/holidays) upstairs at the lodge at the Black Line Tavern and downstairs in the cafeteria so we can meet and accurately control our limited capacity numbers.”
Full Details→
Powder Mountain
Key Points: “Powder Mountain Resort will be operating within 3 different scenarios, Green, Yellow, and Red, for the 2020/21 winter. This will enable the mountain to provide the safest environment for the guest while recreating on mountain. The transition between scenarios will be dictated by recommendations, policies and/or laws from our national, state, and/or county governments.”
Full Details→
Schweitzer
Key Points: “Our season pass sales are currently pacing at record levels, which will certainly require daily limits on available lift tickets in order to maintain social distancing expectations…We plan to launch date specific ticket inventory on Nov 9th after our Oct 31st fall season pass deadline with the potential of adding additional date specific inventory as the season progresses…We WILL always accommodate anyone that has booked lodging through Schweitzer Property Management with the ability to purchase lift tickets.”
Full Details→
RCR
Key Points: “Face coverings will be required. No daycare…We are in the process of developing comprehensive plans for all aspects of our business, these plans will be made available on our websites once complete.”
Full Details→
Revelstoke
Key Points: “Reservations will not be required on ski dates for Season Passholders and any pre-purchased lift products. It is important to note that we may need to implement capacity restrictions during periods of high demand.”
Full Details→
Ski Sante Fe
Key Points: “Eventually the OnePass became our answer about how to ski and ride this season. The OnePass has a low upfront cost and an inexpensive daily activation fee and will allow most users to ski as much as in previous years for around the same amount of money.”
Full Details→
Squaw Alpine
Key Points: “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.”
Full Details→
Snowbasin
Key Points: “Snowbasin will not be implementing a reservation requirement for Snowbasin season pass holders. Instead, our aim is to mitigate large gatherings in bottleneck areas, including lodges, the base area and lifts. To ensure a positive and safe ski experience we will carefully monitor volume during peak periods.”
Full Details→
Steamboat
Key Points: “NO Reservation Required for lift access at this time. At this time single and multi-day lift tickets, not associated with a package, are not available. Guests who pre-book packages through Steamboat Central Reservations, or approved travel partners, prior to November 2 will have access for the dates of their pre-booked package.”
Full Details→
Sunday River
Key Points: Opening day will be based on when we are able to offer top-to-bottom skiing with no lift downloading. We will initially open to passholders only. We do not currently plan on requiring reservations for Season Pass, Ikon Pass, or ticket pack holders. Lift tickets may have limited availability on peak dates. Tickets in ski and stay packages will not be affected.
Full Details→
Sugar Bowl
Key Points: “Sugar Bowl has decided to pause sales of all 2020/21 season passes in order to provide the safest possible ski and snowboard experience for guests and staff this winter…We had already decided to limit daily lift ticket sales this winter and to require advance, online purchases so we know who is coming and when.”
Full Details→
Vail Resorts
Key Points: “This season we will be implementing a reservation system across each of our mountains. Pass holders will be required to make a reservation before arriving at the mountain.
Throughout the season, pass holders will be able to make as many week-of reservations as their pass type and availability allow. The early season will be reserved for pass holders only. We will not sell lift tickets until Dec. 8.”
Full Details→
Whitefish
Key Points: “Uphill Enthusiasts will need to obtain a pass to travel uphill. Pass will be complimentary for Winter Season Passholders, requires fee for others.”
Full Details→
About Gregg & SlopeFillers
I've had more first-time visitors lately, so adding a quick "about" section. I started SlopeFillers in 2010
with the simple goal of sharing great resort marketing strategies. Today I run marketing for resort ecommerce and CRM provider
Inntopia,
my home mountain is the lovely Nordic Valley,
and my favorite marketing campaign remains the Ski Utah TV show that sold me on skiing as a kid in the 90s.
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