Pass-holder only weekends?

[saratogahalfday]

I never know those existed, but Bohemia is pass-holder only on Saturday's, and Powder is going that route this season on every weekend in February.

I wonder if that will ever catch on here in the east?

 

[MarzNC]

Wintergreen in VA used to only sell unlimited season passes to people who owned property at the resort. Anyone else could only get a Sun-Fri pass. Buying a day ticket on Saturdays was possible. I don't know if they ever sold out post-pandemic. Ironically, that changed recently so that anyone can buy an unlimited season pass.

Limiting weekends to pass holders wouldn't make any sense in the southeast. That's because most weekend folks only a few days a season. They are the ones who are helping to pay the bills. Not the locals who are season pass holders and rarely spend any other money at the resort. A traveler (drives more than 2 hours) with or without a season pass probably helps the local economy since they do buy groceries or visit a bar or eat out in the evenings.

 

[MarzNC]

Powder is going that route this season on every weekend in February.

I wonder how many season passes will be bought for 2024-25. PowMow used to limit the number of season passes. I think the numbers were 3000 season passes and 1500 day tickets. That meant no more than 4500 people on a given day and probably under 4000 people even on weekends. PowMow had over 7000 acres after the lifts that have since been taken private were installed.

 

[Harvey]

It's not a crazy idea IMO. I think. What am I missing?

 

[gorgonzola]

another reaction to the shitification of skiing

 

[x10003q]

The bulk of northeast skiing is on or around a weekend. It would be decision based on the individual data of each area and what other choices are available for the customers you are turning away. A place like Plattekill cannot afford to turn away business. A place like Stratton will sell every $199 walk up ticket it can sell. I do not see it ever happening (under normal/ non-covid years) in the northeast.

Bohemia is an odd duck as they sell a season pass for 7 day/week season pass for $109 and 6 day/week (excludes Sat) season pass for $99 from Nov 27,2024 to Dec 7, 2024. There are additional fees for each pass. Why wouldn't you spend the additional $10 even if you think you might never ski a Saturday? Is Bohemia now overrun on Saturdays?

Season Passes | Mount Bohemia - Extreme Skiing - Upper Peninsula of Michigan

www.mtbohemia.com

 

[Brownski]

I think their lift is crazy slow so that is the limiting factor. I guess it doesn't take much to cause long lines

 

[MarzNC]

It's not a crazy idea IMO. I think. What am I missing?

Suppose you are a family who lives in Ogden. The kids have other activities most weekends, so they usually only go skiing a few times. With PowMow limiting all Saturdays and Sundays in February, that means no possibility of getting in a day that month.

One reason Indy chose to include 2 days at each location is that number of people who only ski 4-5 days a season. The original target market were adults who work full-time and families with kids in school. Presumably some of the people who are in that market live near PowMow.

Would you think it's a good idea to lock out people from buying day tickets to Gore on weekends during the best weeks of the season?

Keeping people from going on Saturdays mid-season is one thing. Including Sundays as well is another level of exclusion that seems unusual.

 

[MarzNC]

I think their lift is crazy slow so that is the limiting factor. I guess it doesn't take much to cause long lines

PowMow has new lifts for 2024-25.

December 2023

Powder Mountain Plans Four New Lifts in 2024

Netflix founder and Powder Mountain CEO Reed Hastings will invest $20 million next summer, replacing two lifts and building two new ones servicing parts of the mountain currently accessed by snowca…

liftblog.com

 

[Brownski]

I was talking about Bohemia’s lift specifically. I’m not saying it’s a good or bad idea to limit weekends to pass holders either. Every hill is different. Maybe it fits one hill’s business plan but not another’s?