Latest news with #IkonPass
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Epic or Ikon Pass: Are multi-resort ski lift passes worth the cost?
A lot has been written about the Epic Pass and the Ikon Pass since they were first released to skiers and snowboarders, in 2008 and 2018 respectively. Depending on who you listen to, these multi-resort season ski passes, launched by US-based companies Vail Resorts (Epic), and the Alterra Mountain Company (Ikon), have either opened up affordable multi-resort skiing to the masses, or destroyed the sport completely. As always, the truth is a little more nuanced than much of the internet would have you believe. But as the passes and the conglomerates behind them continue to evolve, with significant expansion in Europe in recent years, most people's principal questions remain the same: is a multi-resort lift pass worth it? And if so, which one should I buy? Epic, Ikon, or something else entirely? In this guide: What is a multi-resort lift pass? How much does the Epic Pass or Ikon Pass cost? Should I buy a multi-resort lift pass this winter? What are the downsides? Are there any additional perks? What is a multi-resort lift pass? A multi-resort pass is a season pass that allows you to ride the lifts at a large number of ski resorts throughout the winter for a fixed price. The Epic Pass The first mass market multi-season pass was the Epic Pass, launched by Vail Resorts in 2008. At the time, the company owned five resorts: Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone in Colorado as well as Vail itself, and Heavenly, on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, in California. The original Epic Pass offered skiers unlimited days at all five for just US$569 (£419) – a ludicrously good deal compared to typical season-pass prices for individual resorts. Some commentators thought the company was crazy, but it proved to be a visionary move. Typically, season-pass sales spiked if there was early snowfall, and slumped if there wasn't. But because the Epic pass was only on sale in the summer months, with the cheapest prices reserved for earlier buyers, the company could guarantee its cash flow for the following winter long before the snow had started to fall. Today, Vail owns and operates 42 ski resorts around the world, including Whistler in Canada, Park City in Utah, and two recently-acquired resorts in Switzerland: Andermatt and Crans-Montana. Thanks to partnership agreements, the Epic Pass for the upcoming 2025/26 winter will allow holders to ski in over 80 resorts worldwide – including unlimited days to Vail-owned destinations. The Ikon Pass Having noted the success of the Epic Pass, the Alterra Mountain Company launched their own version, the Ikon Pass, in 2018. Alterra owns 17 ski resorts (and two heli-skiing operations) all of them in North America. Their Ikon Pass offers unlimited access to most of their properties (with a few exceptions, like Deer Valley and the heli-skiing operations) and up to seven days skiing in over 60 partner resorts worldwide, including iconic destinations in Europe like Zermatt Chamonix, and the Dolomiti Superski Area. Other passes There are other multi-resort passes on offer too. As a response to the dominance of Vail and Alterra, various independently-owned ski areas banded together to launch the Indy Pass in 2019. The 2025/26 version will offer up to two-days access in over 250 resorts worldwide. In Europe, there's the Magic Pass, which offers unlimited access to just over 100 resorts – the bulk of which are in Switzerland, with a handful in France and Italy. Elsewhere, passes like the Austrian Snow Card Tirol, or the Italian SuperSkirama, Dolomiti SuperSki, and Aosta Valley passes cover collections of resorts clustered around particular locations. How much do multi-resort passes cost? A full Epic Pass for 2025/26 winter season costs US$1,075 (£794), for an adult, or US$548 (£400) for a children aged five to 12. You can also buy local versions of the pass for less. An adult Ikon Pass costs US$1,429 (£1,055), but young adults aged 13 to 22 only pay US$1,089 (£804), and kids aged five to 12 pay $439 (£324). You can buy an Ikon base pass, with unlimited access to slightly fewer resorts, for less. Indy Passes typically cost far less, but they're sold out for the forthcoming season. The Magic Pass costs CHF419 (£327) for the 2025/26 season. And are they worth the expense? If you live in the United States If you're a keen skier living in the US, then almost certainly yes. Standard lift-pass prices are astronomical in the United States (last winter, a single day at the high-end resort of Deer Valley would set you back US$279 (£206)) and if you're going on more than one ski trip a season, it's likely that a multi-resort pass will save you money. The multi-resort pass model works particularly well for people based in big, well-connected cities, who are taking multiple trips (often weekends) a winter to different ski areas. It also works well for East Coasters who might do regular day trips to a local mountain but want to do one big, week-long trip out west per winter. If you're a US-based skier whose likely to head to the same resort each weekend, or you're only going to take one week-long holiday each winter, it's worth checking out single ski area prices before you buy a multi-resort pass. If you live in Europe or beyond For most skiers based in Europe or the UK, Epic and Ikon passes probably aren't worth it. You could do a week in Chamonix and a week in Zermatt (both included on the Ikon pass) and you'd pay less for a six-day ski pass in each than you would an Ikon season pass. The exception to this rule is if you're planning on heading to the US or Canada multiple times in a single season – or if you're planning to go to the US once, and a European resort covered by one of the passes. Although most of the largest Swiss resorts are not included, the Magic Pass is a great option if you live in Switzerland, or near the Swiss border. For Australians who ski regularly at Hotham, Falls Creek or Perisher, and fancy a week-long jaunt to Whistler or somewhere in the States, the Epic pass is a great option. What are the downsides? Before you splash out on an Epic or Ikon Pass, it's worth looking at the 'blackout days'. Some resorts restrict multi-resort pass holders access during peak periods in order to prioritise those who've bought single passes. Both the Epic and Ikon passes have come in for criticism from certain corners of the ski industry, in part because of their success. Their sheer scale now means it can be hard for independent resorts to compete. The companies have also been accused of squashing the individual quirks of the resorts they buy up. Are there any additional perks? Ikon Pass holders can offer a partner service, run by a third party, but branded as Ikon Pass Travel. Kristin Rust, vice president of communications for Alterra Mountain Company explains: 'It's a travel agency in the States that are ski specialists – their claim to fame is that every single person on their staff has been to the resorts that they sell. So if you want to go to Chamonix, they can help you book your hotel, your flight and so on.' Ikon Pass holders also get discounts on gear from The North Face, Db luggage and a range of other brands, and complimentary bike park tickets in certain destinations for the summer. The Epic Pass also offers a range of ancillary benefits, including 20 per cent off food, lodging, equipment rentals, group lessons and even heli-skiing at select resorts. Epic Pass holders also get unlimited summer access to many Vail-owned resorts, including Crans-Montana in Switzerland, which is particularly well-known for its mountain bike trails. 'While winter is at the heart of what we do, summer in Switzerland offers its own kind of magic, with a full calendar of exciting events and activities,' explained Mike Goar, Vail Resorts chief operating officer for Switzerland.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Epic Pass Added Six Large Austrian Ski Resorts in the Past Week
For Vail Resorts' multi-mountain pass, the Epic Pass, last week was big. Six additional Austrian resorts have been added to the Epic Pass coverage ahead of the 2025-2026 ski season, including Sölden, Silvretta Montafon, Mayrhofen, Hintertux, Saalbach, and Kitzsteinhorn. The fast-paced announcements began Wednesday, May 21, when Vail Resorts first shared in a press release that Saalbach and Kitzsteinhorn would become Epic Pass partner destinations. The latest Vail Resorts announcement, which regarded Sölden, came over the long the new destinations, Epic Pass holders will have five days of consecutive or non-consecutive access, depending on the mountain. (In the case of two resort pairings—Mayrhofen and Hintertux, Saalbach and Kitzsteinhorn—the five days are shared).Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates. 'We're proud to join the Epic Pass and open Sölden to a new global audience,' said Jakob Falkner, CEO of Bergbahnen Sölden, in a press release. 'This partnership brings together innovation, alpine heritage, and our passion for unforgettable mountain experiences—while showcasing Sölden's unique mix of sport and entertainment worldwide.'The additions join Ski Arlberg, a mountain resort with pre-existing Epic Pass access, alongside several other European ski resorts. At the Swiss resorts of Crans-Montana and Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, Epic Pass holders have unlimited access. Epic Pass access to other European mountains varies from destination to destination. In total, with the Epic Pass, skiers can now visit 34 European resorts across ten ski areas (European ski areas, like Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, can be conglomerations of multiple mountains). Vail Resorts' expanding European presence furthers a previously-stated strategy for the company. 'Entering the European ski market has been a long-term strategic priority for Vail Resorts,' said Vail Resorts' CEO, Kirsten Lynch, in a 2022 press Resorts isn't the only major multi-pass provider to eye this year, the sellers of the Ikon Pass, Alterra Mountain Company, announced that Ischgl, Austria, had been added to the Ikon Pass, marking the multi-pass' seventh European destination. The Indy Pass, which focuses on independent ski areas, provides access to a handful of European mountains, too, like Skiwelt, Austria, and Pila, Epic Pass Added Six Large Austrian Ski Resorts in the Past Week first appeared on Powder on May 27, 2025
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
How To Use Your Multi-Resort Ski Pass This Summer
What good is a ski pass in the summer? Pretty good, actually. Many of the major multi-pass programs, like the Ikon Pass and Epic Pass, include perks that apply to the warmer months. These perks, which range from comped bike park tickets to free days at participating golf courses, may sway your decision-making process as you think about which multi-pass is right for you. Several passes also include access to ski resorts in the southern hemisphere, surely satisfying skiers in pursuit of keeping the ski season going as long as are a few standout multi-resort ski pass summer to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates. If you're frustrated by the lack of snow in the summer, you have three primary options. Go ski in a fridge, schlep up the side of a peak that might be holding onto a bit of snow, or book a plane ticket. Several of the major multi-pass programs facilitate the latter approach, provided you don't mind crossing the equator to keep the ski season going.: A small collection of southern hemisphere ski areas are accessible with the Ikon Pass, including Valle Nevado, Chile; Thredbo, Australia; and The Remarkables, New Zealand.: Three Australian ski resorts are accessible with the Epic Pass: Mount Hotham, Falls Creek, and Perisher. One note, though—2025-2026 Epic Pass holders get access to these resorts in 2026. So, don't buy an Epic Pass in the summer of 2025 expecting that you can use it to ski in Australia the same year. Instead, you'll need to plan a southern hemisphere ski trip for the following summer.: The Power Pass is an inexpensive multi-pass offering from Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), a ski resort group focused primarily on the American Southwest. However, MCP also has a foothold in South America, so if you've always wanted to ski at La Parva or Valle Nevado, the Power Pass could be a great option. The 2025-2026 iteration of the multi-pass provides ten free interconnected days at La Parva and Valle Nevado during the 2025 southern hemisphere ski biking might be the best alternative to skiing, and with the major multi-pass programs, there are several associated bike park perks to Pass: Ikon Pass holders get two complimentary bike park tickets that work at numerous mountains (Ikon Base Pass holders get one bike park ticket), including: Aspen, Colorado; Brighton Resort, Utah; and Mammoth Mountain, California, among numerous others. While these tickets can only be used once and are not eligible for one day at each destination, they still present a way for mountain-biking-curious skiers to dip their toes into the world of dirt and Pass: The Epic Pass' mountain biking benefits are more modest than the Ikon Pass. At participating destinations covered by the multi-pass, like Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, and Park City, Utah, Epic Pass holders receive a 20% discount on bike Pass: The 2025-2026 Power Pass includes unlimited access to Spider Mountain Bike Park through April 30, 2026. Located near Austin, Texas, Spider Mountain is lift-served and open year-round to mountain bikers between Friday and Monday. Plus, the Power Kids Pass, which is available for youth 12 and under for free, includes unlimited mountain biking at the Lee Canyon, Nevada; Brian Head, Utah; and Pajarito, New Mexico, bike parks, as well as Spider Passport: The Boyne Passport is a niche, expensive multi-pass product that rings in at above $2,500 for adults. In paying that price, though, you'll receive relatively expansive summer bike park access to four participating ski resorts: Big Sky, Montana; Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington; Loon Mountain, New Hampshire; and The Highlands, of course, isn't just about playing with gravity. Sometimes, a chiller experience, like a scenic lift ride, is preferable. These are some additional summer-themed multi-pass perks worth checking Pass: The Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass include scenic lift access at 16 participating ski resorts, including Crystal Mountain, Washington; Copper Mountain, Colorado; and Schweitzer, Idaho. Several Ikon Pass mountains offer 15% off food, beverages, and retail to pass holders in case you get the shopping itch or need a bite to Pass: The Epic Pass provides free scenic lift access in the summer. This access includes every Vail-owned and operated resort that is covered in the winter by whichever type of Epic Pass you purchased. For instance, if you bought the flagship 2025-2026 Epic Pass, you'll score scenic lift rides at Vail, Colorado; Stevens Pass, Washington; and Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia—to name a few. This access doesn't apply to bike hauls or partner Epic Pass resorts. A discount of 20% that applies to food, lodging, and golf is also bundled with the Epic Pass. These discounts vary depending on which resort you Pass: The Power Pass, Power Pass Select, Power Pass Core, and Weekday Power Pass all come with six discounted tickets that subtract 35% from the online rate at U.S. Power Pass mountains. These discounts can be applied to scenic lift rides or mountain bike uplifts. Golfers can also take advantage of the Power Pass' two free midweek (Monday through Thursday) golf days at Birdie Ranch or Bison Golf Club. Both courses are in Show Low, Passport: With the Boyne Passport, pass holders can access scenic lift rides at every participating resort covered by the multi-pass, as well as the SkyBridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain, Michigan, and the Gatlinburg SkyPark, Tennessee. The Boyne Passport includes discounts on lodging, food, and retail, too.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
The 6 Best Ski Resorts in Chile
It's hot, your AC's working overtime, and you can't remember the last time you saw snow. For diehard skiers in the northern hemisphere, the summertime can be a unique form of torture. But it doesn't have to be this way. As our ski season starts to wind down, mountain destinations across Chile are just getting started. And unlike some ski resorts you might visit in the southern hemisphere, Chile's mountain offerings aren't a diluted version of the Rockies or Alps. Instead, they're truly unique—both in terms of terrain and culture—serving up a distinct skiing experience that, as you might guess, can't be experienced anywhere else in the world. From tight chutes to wild backcountry terrain and deep snow, the Chilean ski experience should, if it isn't already, be on your bucket you've ever dreamed of booking a flight south to sip pisco sours and ski powder, here's where you should to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates. A sprawling major ski destination located in Chile's famed Tres Valles area, Valle Nevado is highly accessible for international visitors, with numerous major multi-passes, including the Power Pass and the Mountain Collective pass, providing days on its slopes. Valle Nevado is also the only South American ski resort included in the Ikon Pass program. It makes sense that the companies behind these passes wanted to work with Valle Nevado. The ski resort has modern amenities, luxury hotels and an expansive heli-skiing program that spans 125,000 hectares—all above treeline. The opportunity to connect with and hopefully befriend international visitors, who often crowd the slopes of Valle Nevado, adds to the appeal. Ever wanted to ski on the flanks of an active volcano? Add Nevados de Chillán to the bucket list. This ski resort is perched on the flanks of the Nevados de Chillán stratovolcano group, so skiers who moonlight as geologists can scope rock formations while they shred powder. Hot springs available at three hotels—Hotel Nevados, Valle Hermoso and Parque de Agua Termal—are another form of geothermal activity at the ski resort, serving as the ideal place to recover from a day spent skiing hard. Like many other Chilean ski resorts, Nevados de Chillán has a reputation for housing world-class backcountry terrain. One area above the ski resort is reserved for catskiing, so visitors can hitch a ride before schussing downhill. Guiding services, like Powder Quest, offer trips to Nevados de Chillán, too, making it easier and safer to experience the surrounding mountains beyond the rope stands out with its iconic bright yellow hotel. Here, the ski resort offers all-inclusive packages that include lift tickets, lodging and meals for one price. The terrain, of course, is the most important part of the experience at any given ski resort, though, and in that department Portillo doesn't disappoint. Its slopes are steep and technical, with numerous backcountry lines nearby perfect for skiers willing and equipped to venture out of bounds. These lines have made Portillo a frequent stop for North American pro skiers, like Connery Lundin, who during the austral winter have dropped clips of themselves shredding at the ski resort. Another draw for skiers seeking unique experiences is the Roca Jack—one of the funkier lifts you'll ever encounter. This unique surface ropeway functions like a giant slingshot, pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill. La Parva, another Tres Valles ski resort, shares a border and an owner with Valle Nevado. Over the past few years, both ski resorts have come under the umbrella of the Durango, Colorado-based Mountain Capital Partners. For skiers who want to enjoy La Parva and Valle Nevado as one, that's a boon—MCP's Power Pass now offers 10 interconnected days at both ski resorts. On its own, La Parva is worth visiting, too. The ski resort operates more than 10 lifts and spans over 3,000 feet of vertical. In-bounds, beginner to expert skiers will find plenty of trails worth checking out, but La Parva also shines with its backcountry offerings, which include a line named after the late, great Shane McConkey. Visitors to the ski resort can unwind in La Parva's Bavarian-style village, which houses a grocery store, three restaurants and, if you're in need of some post-skiing dance therapy, a fans, this one's for you—El Colorado features South America's largest terrain park, with a vast array of features. Outside of the jumps and jibs, the ski resort's slopes mainly skew towards the beginner and intermediate crowd, making it a solid stop for those who don't need the toughest and steepest terrain. However, skiers craving a challenge will still find some harder runs at El Colorado on the eastern side of its cone-shaped peak. A trip to El Colorado can, depending on your plans, also include checking out La Parva and Valle Nevado. El Colorado is the third Tres Valles area ski resort, although MCP doesn't own it, so you can't access the mountain's lifts using the Power Pass. The lesser-known Corralco ski resort was added to the independent ski area-focused Indy Pass in March 2025, becoming the first South American destination to join the program. It doesn't have the acreage or amenities of, say, Valle Nevado, but Corralco's off-the-beaten-path status could make for a unique trip, particularly for those craving backcountry adventure. The ski resort stands on the flanks of the picturesque Lonquimay Volcano, featuring 500 acres of skiable terrain and eight lifts, plus easy access to loads of out-of-bounds 6 Best Ski Resorts in Chile first appeared on Powder on May 26, 2025
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Forbes
North America's Best Ski Resorts 2025 Winners Announced
If you are planning a big ski or snowboard trip for next winter, right now is a good time to be thinking about it, because the two top multi-mountain passes in the industry, the Epic Pass and Ikon Pass, both recently went on sale for the 2025-2026 winter. These launch at the lowest price offered, then increase, then go off the market altogether. So, if you decide where to go now, you can buy the right pass and save some money. And if you are considering Big Sky, Montana, that's a pretty good idea. It's been the hottest destination in skiing for the past several years, and I absolutely love it. Apparently I am not alone: it was just voted North America's 'Best Overall Ski Resort' by the millions of user of The annual winners for North America's Best Ski Resorts were announced at the 2025 Mountain Travel Symposium this month. There are a lot of travel websites these days, big and small, putting out lists, and many of them are of little practical use to consumers. In fact, to me, as a professional travel expert, some are outright idiotic. But for winter sports travel, I find OnTheSnow reliable and use it regularly myself, especially for up-to-date weather and snow conditions. It also has a straightforward basic background info summary and stats overview of each mountain, so you can get a good feel for a place you have never been, along with transportation info (how to get there) and prominent lodging options. Unlike some smaller players, it claims an impressive 8 million unique visitors within North America, from which the compile their annual Visitors' Choice awards. Most importantly to me, the winners in all the categories make sense, lending credence to the process. While Big Sky was the big winner in the most important category, six other ski resorts won in multiple categories, including Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY for Best All-Mountain Terrain (Ikon Passs); Breckenridge, CO for Best Après-Ski (Epic Pass); Silverton, CO for Best Small Ski Area; Angel Fire, NM for Most Family Friendly; Purgatory, CO for Best Ski Area for Beginners; and Copper Mountain for Best Terrain Park (Ikon Pass). Of these Angel Fire is the only one I haven't been too, but it does enjoy a very good reputation for families. Jackson Hole is a no-brainer for all-mountain terrain, for which it is justifiably world-renowned. Après-ski is probly the most competitive category and there are a lot of good options, but when it comes to ski towns, those with an Old West mining pedigree are always more fun than those purpose built, and Breckenridge is definitely one of the former, with a variety of saloons and colorful watering holes. Silverton is a true giant among smaller ski areas, a pilgrimage destination for big mountain skiers, and Copper Mountain is home to Woodward, arguably the most famous dedicated training facility in the world, drawing top pros in many disciplines. Beginner is another tough category, and I probably would have leaned towards Sun Valley, ID and its awesome Dollar Mountain for first-timers, but I like Purgatory as well. 'OnTheSnow's millions of website and app users are die-hard skiers and riders who collectively take millions of ski trips each winter,' said Chad Dyer, Managing Director of Mountain News, publishers of OnTheSnow. 'The North America ski season culminates with the Visitors' Choice Awards, when we get to honor and celebrate those resorts that OnTheSnow users have rated the top in North America.' So, in short, the winners make sense and there is little to argue about here. That is especially true with Big Sky, which is just wrapping up an unparalleled decade-long massive infrastructure upgrade program called Vision 2025. Bigger is not always better, but when it comes to ski travel it is a big plus, and Big Sky is the second largest ski resort in the country with a stunning 5,850-acres, 4.350 feet of vertical (if you don't know, that is a lot), five terrain parks and 320 trails. The in-bound acreage is bigger than Jackson Hole and Telluride, my two other top U.S. favorites, combined. But the stat that may be most important of all is 400, as in annual inches of snow—more than most big Western resorts. But it's not just numbers and size. Big Sky also has a very broad variety of terrain, from first time beginner to as advanced as you can handle. In fact, they break their terrain into half a dozen designations, versus the usual four: beginner, intermediate, advanced intermediate, advanced, expert and extreme. It's a nice 50-50 split between the first three and the second three, and the double-black and beyond expert and extreme terrain off fabled Lone Peak is so challenging that America's most successful male skier of all time, Bode Miller, told me it was his favorite place in the country to ski. There are bowls, glades, groomers, long runs, steep runs, cliffs—if you can name a kind of terrain, Big Sky likely has it. But it's not just the size that puts Big Sky ahead, it's a staggering list of recent improvements, many of them best in class. Among other things, Big Sky now has the most advanced lift system in North America—by far. It's the only one with three covered bubble chairs for bad weather, including the new Madison 8, the world's longest 8-passenger chair. This is one of two 8-passenger chairs here, also a first for North America. There is a new and very fast 75-passenger tram to the summit of Lone Peak, the first new tram built in North America in in 15 years. Coming online this winter is a very fast two-stage state-of-the-art gondola with 10-passenger cabins. Overall, there are 40 lifts, which means they can move a lot of people quickly and spread them out, and with all that terrain, you can ski runs you have to yourself even on busy days. I've been to Big Sky several times, including last winter, so I personally know this to be the case. None of this happened by accident. Unlike almost every other major ski resort in the nation, Big Sky is family owned, and the family that owns it is a big believer in European skiing, which stresses larger resorts connected by mor efficient lift systems. In recent years there have been a lot of complaints about the corporate consolidation of skiing and a resulting lack of soul, but Big Sky has continued marching to its own drummer and doing things its own way while putting a lot of money where its mouth is. So, to recap, there is a ton of snow and a lot of skiing, serviced by the most efficient lift network this side of Europe, and it is less crowded than most other big resorts. That in and of itself would be enough reason to go. But there's more. Big Sky operates four of its own ski-in/ski-out hotels in Mountain Village, the resort's main base area, several of which were revamped in recent years and are better than ever (the signature property is the Summit). But it is also home to the newest mountain resort from Montage Hotels—which promptly won the highest possible Forbes 5-Star award. The Montage also earns 5-Stars for its luxury spa and 4-Stars for its Cortina restaurant. Big Sky is also home to Lone Mountain Ranch, the only luxury guest ranch located at a major ski resort in the U.S. creating a unique two-for-one vacation opportunity that I recently wrote about here at Forbes. There's nothing else like this, and for this winter, Lone Mountain Ranch just added a high-end cigar bar, a rarity in American skiing. This is a lot, much of it brand new, but Big Sky is far from done, with more hotels, dining and amenities still to come in the next few years. The biggest thing on the immediate horizon (in addition to the new 2-stage gondola) is the impending debut of the world's first ski hotel from top tier luxury operator One & Only, which currently has a dozen Forbes 4 and 5-Star properties from South Africa to Dubai to Mexico. The One & Only Moonlight Basin will open this summer, well before ski season, at the base of the Moonlight Basin section of the resort, and this might be an even bigger luxury lodging happening than the Montage. Every One & Only property I have been to has been exceptional, they do a great job, this is a great location, and there is no more anticipated ski hotel opening in North America. Big Sky is on the Ikon Pass, along with its notable Utah sister resort Brighton, outside Salt Lake City. Pray for snow!
