Who owns which Ski Mountains and Resorts and the Corporations that are trying to grow and acquire more!!

[MidnightJester]

Over the last decade, there has been a trend toward consolidation of ski resort ownership. Whether you love it or hate it, it can be interesting to see which companies own which resorts. 480 ski areas in the United States operated during the 2022-23 season. Ten corporations own 112 of those ski resorts or approximately 23%. Below is the list of those companies and the resorts they own. It is sorted by the state in which the company is headquartered.

Ski Resort Ownership: Who Owns Which Mountain Resorts? - SnowBrains

Article updated February 11, 2024. Over the last decade, there has been a trend toward consolidation of ski resort ownership. Whether you love it or hate it, it can be interesting to see which companies own which resorts. Related: The Future of Ski Resort Ownership and Viability 480 ski areas in...

snowbrains.com

368 Ski areas are privately owned and ready to be Gobbeled up at the right moment!

 

[thetrailboss]

I hate to give this guy credit, but Skiology did have an interesting "editorial" on market consolidation. It is here:

Editorial: Alterra Positioned to Lead the Ski Industry

There have been some significant moves coming from Alterra Mountain Company in the last 6 months and along with their Ikon Pass and they are poised to take over ski industry leadership status from Vail Resorts should they continue to execute their strategy effectively. The news started last...

skiology.com

One thing that he asked is, "who is next to be consumed by Alterra or Vail?" Citing to industry sources, including SAM, he echoed what I have been saying about POWDR being the next one to be sold:

If you ask around the industry for opinions on what Alterra's next move may be, buying POWDR is at the top of almost everyone's list. Ski Area Management Magazine shared the following in a recent article on Alterra's continuation vehicle funding.

"The most-mentioned targets include the usual multi-area suspects, from POWDR to Sun Valley/Snowbasin. As one source said, "there are not many big targets out there."

Sun Valley and Snowbasin wouldn't really move the needle much so they don't seem like top targets to me, but POWDR looks like a home run as the top acquisition target since 6 of their resorts are on the Ikon Pass and both Eldora and Copper Mountain are unlimited despite not being owned by Alterra. Owning those properties along with Arapahoe Basin, Steamboat, and Winter Park in Colorado would not change the pass landscape for consumers, but it makes POWDR even more valuable to Alterra than just the assets themselves because they could keep significant additional revenue. In the Northeast having POWDR's Killington and Pico as unlimited partners on the Ikon Pass would probably make their pass more attractive than Epic Pass for big mountain skiing in the Northeast, and moves like that can dramatically reshape the pass landscape where presently there are only two unlimited options on Ikon.

POWDR hasn't been partaking in the consolidation in the industry outside of joining the Ikon Pass and has focused most of their expansion efforts on Woodward facilities instead. They seem ripe as an acquisition target and they are worth more to Alterra than anyone else. POWDR sees about $300-350 million in annual revenue based on extrapolating from a 2021 baseline of $256 million reported by Moody's. They probably see somewhere above 3 million skier visits across their resort properties with a sizeable percentage coming by way of the Ikon Pass. No other ski resort operator is more tied to the Ikon Pass than POWDR.

How much might POWDR sell for? Well, valuations in the last decade for larger resorts have skyrocketed as a result deep-pocketed industry consolidation led by none other than Vail Resorts and Alterra. Based on more recent examples I'm would guess that the present going rate would be around $1.5 billion given that POWDR's 3 largest resorts each see around double the visitation of Arapahoe Basin and likely have stronger ancillary revenue opportunities. This is inclusive of full ownership of Snowbird which is majority owned by POWDR's founder, along with adjustments for debt.

I am just going to pin this here.

 

[Bratwurst]

One thing I learned from my spiritual advisor, Baba Rum Raisin, AKA George Carlin, is that the people who own America are not interested in free enterprise and the competition that leads to lower prices and more efficiency. They want MONOPOLY, which leads to great wealth for themselves and the power to own the politicians who make laws. It's the same in every industry. Buy up the competition, create a monopoly, jack up the prices. Look at healthcare, Internet Service Providers, energy and utility companies, insurance companies. They're all the same.

Trick is to make the FUBAR economic system work for you. If you ski more than 10 times a year, suck it up, make a deal with the corpos who own the ski areas and buy the pass. If I ski 20 times this season, I'll be paying about $22 per day. Not bad in 2024. Don't buy anything at the mountain. Support the local businesses in the local towns and just ski at the mountain.

 

[MidnightJester]

George Carlin might say
"Well you know what a front row seat looks like?? Its like First chair on a Powder day on the Best mountain with No other Motherfuckers around!"
"NO Jerrie's"
"No Bode's"
"No Ski Patrol"
"No fucking Kids! I hate Kids"

AI George Carlin Full Special I'm Glad I'm Dead 2024! Its Good ​

 

[BodeMiller1]

NSR:
The NFL is considering letting holding corps (instead of people) own teams. What could go wrong?

Back on topic:
Where people are free - you will have good people and bad people.
Where people have more freedom - you will have better and worse people.

When you look at all of the countries which exist The United States is by far the best place to build and keep a fortune.
People risk everything to come here while people in other countries. do everything to come in.

There is a movement toward smaller hills as skiers get fed up with the conglomerates and the beat goes on.

 

[Bratwurst]

George Carlin might say
"Well you know what a front row seat looks like?? Its like First chair on a Powder day

Every day was a powder day for George in the 70's...bolivian marching powder! George did have his vices!

AI horrifies me but at least at this early date I can tell the difference.

 

[Bratwurst]

NSR:
The NFL is considering letting holding corps (instead of people) own teams. What could go wrong?

After Citizens United, corporations ARE people. So you meanies at AZ better stop making fun of Mr. and Mrs. Vail Resorts. You might hurt our feelings!

 

[Tin Woodsman]

I hate to give this guy credit, but Skiology did have an interesting "editorial" on market consolidation. It is here:

Editorial: Alterra Positioned to Lead the Ski Industry

There have been some significant moves coming from Alterra Mountain Company in the last 6 months and along with their Ikon Pass and they are poised to take over ski industry leadership status from Vail Resorts should they continue to execute their strategy effectively. The news started last...

skiology.com

One thing that he asked is, "who is next to be consumed by Alterra or Vail?" Citing to industry sources, including SAM, he echoed what I have been saying about POWDR being the next one to be sold:



I am just going to pin this here.

I would point you to the recent article on Alterra's new continuation vehicle from The Storm. There is no new pot of money to fund huge purchases like POWDR - they fund cap ex via existing cash flow (and likely debt for anything really big). This money will go to pay out existing shareholders who want liquidity and will otherwise act as the equity capital base for Alterra at a higher valuation than originally existed. It really should have no bearing on the prospect of a transformative deal like a POWDR acquisition.

 

[thetrailboss]

I would point you to the recent article on Alterra's new continuation vehicle from The Storm. There is no new pot of money to fund huge purchases like POWDR - they fund cap ex via existing cash flow (and likely debt for anything really big). This money will go to pay out existing shareholders who want liquidity and will otherwise act as the equity capital base for Alterra at a higher valuation than originally existed. It really should have no bearing on the prospect of a transformative deal like a POWDR acquisition.

Yeah, I had heard that as well.

 

[PAabe]

One thing I learned from my spiritual advisor, Baba Rum Raisin, AKA George Carlin, is that the people who own America are not interested in free enterprise and the competition that leads to lower prices and more efficiency. They want MONOPOLY, which leads to great wealth for themselves and the power to own the politicians who make laws. It's the same in every industry. Buy up the competition, create a monopoly, jack up the prices. Look at healthcare, Internet Service Providers, energy and utility companies, insurance companies. They're all the same.

Trick is to make the FUBAR economic system work for you. If you ski more than 10 times a year, suck it up, make a deal with the corpos who own the ski areas and buy the pass. If I ski 20 times this season, I'll be paying about $22 per day. Not bad in 2024. Don't buy anything at the mountain. Support the local businesses in the local towns and just ski at the mountain.

View attachment 61119

I agree except that, if by purchasing a corporate pass, you and your friends/family ski less days at independent areas than you otherwise would, those areas will have decreased revenue, will not be able to compete nor spend to attract further customers, and will shut down or be bought up.

I am happy to buy a meal and drinks on the hill of a small operator to bolster their revenue.

 

[MidnightJester]

A-Basin COO Alan Henceroth Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Acquisition​

It has been nine days since we announced that Alterra intends to purchase Arapahoe Basin. A number of you have shared your thoughts, either via social media or with me directly. While many have shared positive thoughts about the change, others have expressed more negative feelings. I understand that people have anxiety. This is a big change and we have been through big change before.

A-Basin COO Alan Henceroth Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Acquisition

Arapahoe Basin COO Alan Henceroth shares his thoughts on the recent acquisition by Alterra.

unofficialnetworks.com

Director Of Indy Pass And Entabeni Systems Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Purchase of A-Basin​

Director Of Indy Pass And Entabeni Systems Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Purchase of A-Basin

Indy pass congratulates AB 27 years of remarkable growth and independence, teases new partners

unofficialnetworks.com

 

[thetrailboss]

A-Basin COO Alan Henceroth Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Acquisition​

It has been nine days since we announced that Alterra intends to purchase Arapahoe Basin. A number of you have shared your thoughts, either via social media or with me directly. While many have shared positive thoughts about the change, others have expressed more negative feelings. I understand that people have anxiety. This is a big change and we have been through big change before.

A-Basin COO Alan Henceroth Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Acquisition

Arapahoe Basin COO Alan Henceroth shares his thoughts on the recent acquisition by Alterra.

unofficialnetworks.com

Director Of Indy Pass And Entabeni Systems Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Purchase of A-Basin​

Director Of Indy Pass And Entabeni Systems Shares His Thoughts On Alterra Purchase of A-Basin

Indy pass congratulates AB 27 years of remarkable growth and independence, teases new partners

unofficialnetworks.com

I found the correct photo of the COO:

 

[jimmywilson69]

LOL

I sure hope not!

 

[thetrailboss]

LOL

I sure hope not!

You know, I just realized that a fair number of folks will not understand the reference.