marzNC
Angel Diva
When Vail Resorts bought Stowe in 2017 the cost of a Stowe-only season pass was about $2000. It was the first acquisition in the northeast. Locals were pretty happy with the idea of getting an Epic Pass for around $1000, which gave them full access to Stowe plus lift access at Epic resorts out west after mid-March when the northeast ski season was winding down. However, when the parking lots were overflowing with travelers the next few seasons, not all the locals were stayed happy.Wow, that’s serious bang for your buck! Barely any more than a Wachusett weekday pass, but so many more hills.
When it comes to season pass and lift ticket prices, it's like real estate . . . location, location, location. A weekend ticket in the southeast is $80+ for under 100 acres, mostly under 1000 ft vertical. A weekend ticket at Wachusett is $68, with 110 skiable acres and 1000 ft vertical. A weekend ticket at Smuggs is $84, which gives access to 1000 acres on three peaks, around 2600 ft vertical.
People like the Epic pass because they feel like it's a bargain for where they plan to ski, whether that's locally or at a destination resort.