Lift Ticket Prices 2009-10 - going down...

[billski]

I never realized how steep Okemo's lift tickets are. They have maintained the 4th highest ticket price in the northeast for 3 years running. This year they weigh in at 79$ weekend rate, with "special pricing" (unpublished) for the holiday period.

I must admit the last time I skied there was 1982 before the pulled the last poma lift out.

 

[mikestaple]

I never realized how steep Okemo's lift tickets are. They have maintained the 4th highest ticket price in the northeast for 3 years running. This year they weigh in at 79$ weekend rate, with "special pricing" (unpublished) for the holiday period.

I must admit the last time I skied there was 1982 before the pulled the last poma lift out.

You have to hand it to the Mullers(sp?). They are masters of marketing and making a mountain work - financially. They just provide blue level groomers, hike the prices, and make the moola. Will be interesting to see how long they are involved with Sunapee now that they didn't get the land swap they needed to build condos there...........

 

[deadheadskier]

You have to hand it to the Mullers(sp?). They are masters of marketing and making a mountain work - financially. They just provide blue level groomers, hike the prices, and make the moola. Will be interesting to see how long they are involved with Sunapee now that they didn't get the land swap they needed to build condos there...........

There good, but not without fault. Their gamble and loss on Crested Butte is what forced the sale of Okemo.

It's a tough business. Even the best can go down with a poor investment choice. Almost all of the big players have had their struggles at times.

 

[Geoff]

I never realized how steep Okemo's lift tickets are. They have maintained the 4th highest ticket price in the northeast for 3 years running. This year they weigh in at 79$ weekend rate, with "special pricing" (unpublished) for the holiday period.

I must admit the last time I skied there was 1982 before the pulled the last poma lift out.

You're paying the southern Vermont "proximity tax". Stratton, Mount Snow, and Okemo can charge a premium on weekends and holidays with everybody gettting at least $75.00. KMart does the same thing on Saturdays & holidays where they get $82.00.

Stowe still wins. They get a western-like $89.00 during peak periods.

 

[Talisman]

You're paying the southern Vermont "proximity tax". Stratton, Mount Snow, and Okemo can charge a premium on weekends and holidays with everybody gettting at least $75.00. KMart does the same thing on Saturdays & holidays where they get $82.00.

Stowe still wins. They get a western-like $89.00 during peak periods.

What amazes me is that the market for what Stratton, Okemo and Mount Snow sells is so huge. Those mountains are completely packed most weekends and super crowded on Holiday weekends. I'd never pay the rack rate, but when Stratton comes up with a free ticket I'll ski there. Stratton and Okemo have great mountain operations from ticket sales, lift corral management, lift operations, snow making and grooming. People I work with go into happy trances just talking about how much they love Okemo and Stratton despite the walk up tickets prices. Season passes aren't a baragin either.

 

[billski]

What amazes me is that the market for what Stratton, Okemo and Mount Snow sells is so huge. Those mountains are completely packed most weekends and super crowded on Holiday weekends. I'd never pay the rack rate, but when Stratton comes up with a free ticket I'll ski there. Stratton and Okemo have great mountain operations from ticket sales, lift corral management, lift operations, snow making and grooming. People I work with go into happy trances just talking about how much they love Okemo and Stratton despite the walk up tickets prices. Season passes aren't a baragin either.

Living in an area with over-booked, over-clocked families I begin to understand but not agree with their mentality. The mantra is, frankly, convenience. Make it convenient and they will come. I have lost count of the times I've heard the "I wish it was an hour closer" , or, what, you drove 3 hours? or, I drove 85mph and got in by 11pm Friday (only to depart Sunday noontime). "It's your money or your time." The kids get to thinking that way too. Are they really having a quality weekend? I wouldn't think so, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe they just want another notch in their holster for braggin' rights (See how well-rounded we are? We do everything!)

 

[Bostonian]

What amazes me is that the market for what Stratton, Okemo and Mount Snow sells is so huge. Those mountains are completely packed most weekends and super crowded on Holiday weekends. I'd never pay the rack rate, but when Stratton comes up with a free ticket I'll ski there. Stratton and Okemo have great mountain operations from ticket sales, lift corral management, lift operations, snow making and grooming. People I work with go into happy trances just talking about how much they love Okemo and Stratton despite the walk up tickets prices. Season passes aren't a baragin either.

Well the reason why they do so well is in the overall product that they produce. The top tier resorts offer amenities that the smaller ones do not. Their advertising campaign is for the "entire family" where your kids are safe on the slopes, the wife can enjoy the spa, and you can get some runs in... Just looking at Okemo's website right now, if you click on "Why Okemo" you will see them boast about their snow making and grooming, family friendly atmosphere, and guest services. They are trying to sell a product which is more then just skiing. it is the whole experience. It's the same reason my wife keeps after me to go to stowe... It's not for the skiing, but the "skiing experience" I like to think of it is as the "pink hat wearing" red sox fans... They will pay the price for the image.

 

[deadheadskier]

Are they really having a quality weekend? I wouldn't think so, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I grew up as an Okemo weekender. Wouldn't change the experience for the world. 100% quality weekends. The travel time makes a difference for many. My investment banker father was out the door by 5:45 AM to work in Boston and didn't get home until 8 at night. With that schedule, time matters and they found Okemo to offer the best experience for the family and bought there. He'd blow out of work at 3:30 on Friday, we'd be on the road by 5 and having dinner at DJs by 7:30. Sunday we'd leave at 3 and be home for dinner.

The convenience of being an hour to and hour and half closer is completely worth it for many people who have busy professional lives. With young kids, that extra hour can mean a world of gray hairs and baldness.

 

[Geoff]

I grew up as an Okemo weekender. Wouldn't change the experience for the world. 100% quality weekends. The travel time makes a difference for many. My investment banker father was out the door by 5:45 AM to work in Boston and didn't get home until 8 at night. With that schedule, time matters and they found Okemo to offer the best experience for the family and bought there. He'd blow out of work at 3:30 on Friday, we'd be on the road by 5 and having dinner at DJs by 7:30. Sunday we'd leave at 3 and be home for dinner.

The convenience of being an hour to and hour and half closer is completely worth it for many people who have busy professional lives. With young kids, that extra hour can mean a world of gray hairs and baldness.

That's my take on it. In particular, if you're doing it every weekend, an extra 3 hours of driving per weekend in a car gets to be a bit much. Then layer in snow storms where the extra 3 hours might expand into 2x that.

 

[RootDKJ]

What the hell is up with Stratton's pricing this year? They claim to be opening in 14 days but don't have updated 09/10 lift tickets up yet (or package building for lodging & tickets).

 

[billski]

What the hell is up with Stratton's pricing this year? They claim to be opening in 14 days but don't have updated 09/10 lift tickets up yet (or package building for lodging & tickets).

No big suprise. Certain resorts always hold their cards close till nearly opening day. I've been tracking for 5 years now, this is typical. Last year, late November the Strat. free ticket contest opened. Sometimes they do this to encourage passes and other longer-range commitments.

 

[riverc0il]

Bill, you are famous!
http://www.thesnowjunkies.com/2009/12/09/what-recession-10-most-expensive-lift-tickets-in-the-us/

TheSnowJunkies used your data for their list.