These Three Independent Resorts Are Bucking the Big Ski Giants
And it’s great news for US skiers and snowboarders hoping for an authentic experience—and to avoid crowds.
The rebranded Windham Mountain Club.
Source: Windham Mountain Club
In the ski industry in recent years, the murmurs around every independent resort have been the same: How long until Vail Resorts Inc. or Alterra Mountain Co. comes and plants its flag? In 2008, Alterra didn’t exist, and Vail owned just five mountains. Today the two represent more than half the skiable terrain in the US—and counting.
But in 2023 it’s looking likely that independent mountains will have a moment to shine. While residents around many newly acquired Alterra and Vail resorts criticize the corporate tendency to put profit above community, and visitors grow frustrated with the massive crowds driven by the companies’ respective Ikon and Epic passes, indies are drawing new customers. And crucially, they’re also finding lifelines in prominent investors.