Vail Resorts closes it acquisition of Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
- The Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass and Military Epic Pass now include unlimited, unrestricted access to Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the 2018-19 season
- Passes for the 2018-19 season are currently on sale, with prices increasing Oct. 7
Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that the Company has closed on its acquisition of Triple Peaks, LLC, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado. The Company purchased Triple Peaks from the Mueller family for a final purchase price of approximately $74 million, after adjustments for certain agreed-upon terms. As part of the transaction and with funds provided by Vail Resorts, Triple Peaks paid off $155 million in leases that all three resorts had with Ski Resort Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate.
Okemo Mountain Resort and Mount Sunapee Resort join Stowe Mountain Resort in Vail Resorts’ northeastern network of resorts, providing even more options for skiers and snowboarders in the region. Okemo, approximately three hours from Boston and four hours from New York City, sits just above the Vermont village of Ludlow and has developed a reputation for superior guest service, incredible snow quality, grooming, terrain parks, and family programs. Mount Sunapee, located in the Mount Sunapee State Park, is the premier ski area in southern New Hampshire and is just a short 90-minute drive from Boston. The four-season, family-focused ski area has breathtaking views overlooking Lake Sunapee and consistently receives accolades for excellence in snowmaking and grooming.
With the addition of Crested Butte to Vail Resorts’ Colorado network, pass holders now have access to up to seven world-class resorts throughout the state, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Telluride. Crested Butte Mountain Resort is located in southwest Colorado’s Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests and is known for the colorful and historic town of Crested Butte, renowned mountain peaks, and legendary skiing and riding terrain.
The 2018-19 Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, and Military Epic Pass now include unlimited and unrestricted access to Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort; the Epic 7 Day and the Epic 4 Day now offer up to seven and four unrestricted days, respectively. All 2018-19 season passes are currently on sale, with prices increasing on Sunday, Oct. 7.
“We are thrilled to offer pass holders even more one-of-a-kind experiences in the northeast and in Colorado with the addition of Okemo, Mount Sunapee and Crested Butte to our network of world-class resorts,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “Unlimited, unrestricted access to these resorts through the Epic Pass, Epic Local, and Military Epic Pass, as well as access on the Epic 4 Day and Epic 7 Day, will be a tremendous benefit to skiers and snowboarders.”
Today’s acquisition closure on Triple Peaks, LLC, is the second of two acquisitions announced in June 2018 to be finalized. In the first, separate transaction, which closed on Aug. 15, Vail Resorts announced the acquisition of Stevens Pass Resort in Washington from Ski Resort Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate. Less than 85 miles from Seattle and renowned for its plentiful snowfall, the resort sits on the crest of the Cascade Range within two national forests – the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on the west side, and the Wenatchee National Forest on the east.
Following today’s closing, Vail Resorts plans to invest $35 million over the next two years across the four resorts to continue to elevate the guest experience. In addition, annual ongoing capital expenditures are expected to increase by $7 million to support the addition of these four resorts.
Visit www.epicpass.com for details, FAQs and to purchase.
2018-19 season pass options for Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort skiers and snowboarders:
- Epic Pass™: For $929, the Epic Pass offers unlimited, unrestricted access to 19 mountain resorts plus additional access to 46 more, including 20 new mountains for the 2018-19 season. Discover 65 of the world’s premier resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. The Epic Pass pays for itself in just over four days of skiing or snowboarding. Enjoy unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Stowe and Okemo in Vermont; Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; and Perisher in Australia for the 2019 season. New for the 2018-19 season, Epic Pass holders will receive seven days of skiing or snowboarding with no blackout dates at both Telluride in Colorado and at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort in British Columbia, Nakiska in Alberta, and Mont-Sainte Anne and Stoneham in Quebec), in addition to five total consecutive days with no blackout dates at Hakuba Valley’s nine ski resorts in Japan. The Epic Pass also grants limited access to Les 3 Vallées, Paradiski and Tignes-Val D’Isere in France; 4 Vallées in Switzerland; Arlberg in Austria and Skirama Dolomiti in Italy. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $479.
- Epic Local Pass™: For $689, guests receive access to 27 resorts, including unlimited, unrestricted access to Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Stevens Pass, Arapahoe Basin, Wilmot, Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton with limited restrictions at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Stowe, plus a combined total of 10 days at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb with holiday restrictions. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just over three days. New for the 2018-19 season, Epic Local Pass holders will receive access to 13 new mountains including Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Stevens Pass plus five total consecutive days with no blackout dates at Hakuba Valley’s nine ski resorts in Japan. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $369.
- Epic 7-Day Pass™: For $689, receive a total of seven unrestricted days valid at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Telluride, Keystone, Crested Butte* and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Stowe and Okemo* in Vermont; Mount Sunapee* in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Whistler Blackcomb, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Nakiska, Mont-Sainte Anne and Stoneham in Canada; plus an additional 7 free days total at Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin. After the seven days, regardless of the resort at which they were redeemed, pass holders can get 20 percent off additional lift tickets at Telluride. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $369.
- Epic 4-Day Pass™: For $479, a convenient option for a short ski trip as the pass pays for itself in just over two days and includes a total of four unrestricted days valid at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Telluride, Keystone, Crested Butte* and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Stowe and Okemo* in Vermont; Mount Sunapee* in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Whistler Blackcomb, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Nakiska, Mont-Sainte Anne and Stoneham in Canada; plus an additional 4 free days total at Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin. After the four days, regardless of the resort at which they were redeemed, pass holders can get 20 percent off additional lift tickets at Telluride. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $259.
- Military Epic Pass: In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Epic Pass on March 18, 2018, Vail Resorts is honouring the epic service of the Company’s founders from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, and the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force with the introduction of a new $129 Military Epic Pass for active and retired military personnel and their dependents – more than an 85-percent off the regular Epic Pass price. Additionally, as the first of its kind in the mountain resort industry, all other U.S., Canadian and Australian veterans and their dependents are eligible for a $529 Military Epic Pass, which offers more than a 40-percent discount off the regular price ($289 for children under 18 years of age). Vail Resorts will donate $1 for every 2018-19 season pass sale to Wounded Warrior Project® to benefit wounded veterans and their families, which would exceed $750,000 based on last year’s sales. Visit www.epicpass.com/military for all details on military pass options.
Vail Resorts will continue to offer pre-existing 2018-19 season pass products for Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Crested Butte, and Stevens Pass through the duration of the fall sales season.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 15 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe and Okemo in Vermont; Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
You can see more news on what is going on with the conglomeration of ski passes in our section of Ski Passes News. Here is the story when Vail Resorts was to acquire Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Okemo, Mount Sunapee and Stevens Pass Resort. Or when the acquisition of Stevens Pass was closed.
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Featured Image: Crested Butte. Colorado, photo credit Robb Pennie. Crested Butte is now part of Vail Resorts and is EPIC, with Okemo Mountain Resort and Mount Sunapee Resort.
