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Vail buys Okemo, Sunapee, Crested Butte & Stevens Pass

marzNC

Angel Diva
Not much new news came out of the info session held in NH about the pending sale of Sunapee as part of Vail Resorts buying Triple Peaks from the Mueller family. Another public hearing is planned before Oct. 1. Pat Campbell, the President of VR Mountain Division and long time VR exec, was the spokesperson for VR. She joined VR in 1999 as the Ski School Director at Breckenridge and became COO for Breck in 2009 after three years as COO at Keystone. Tim and Diane Mueller were at the meeting and thanked people for their support over the years.

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Resi...sed-Sunapee-takeover-by-Vail-Resorts-19060136

" . . .
Even though the deal is not done, the state has limited ability to turn it down. Attorney General Gordon MacDonald promised a “robust and thorough process” in vetting whether the proposal meets the lease’s standards. And he said a separate public hearing would be made once the review was complete and the department or resources made its decision, likely by Oct. 1.

Addressing residents’ anxiety, Campbell, president of the mountain division for Vail Resorts, said the company would do what it had done at its other resorts: make the skiing and community a higher priority than the land and real estate. And she said there were no plans to initiate development on the recently acquired West Bowl area, a longtime worry of the surrounding community.

“That is not our focus and interest at this time,” Campbell said. “We’re really excited to get in, understand the resort, operate the best that we can today, and down the road, if we consider doing an expansion, we will have a very robust dialogue at that time.”

More than anything, Vail wants to be a good neighbor, Campbell said.

“This is our first experience in New Hampshire, we’re new here, but already we’ve had a lot of conversations and want to acknowledge that we really recognize this is a very special place,” she said.

Many in the room appeared supportive.

“Candidly, Vail is a dream partner, positioned to continue the excellence that the Muellers have so reliably provided over the past 20 years,” said Hess Gates of Sunapee. “Decision makers: This should be an easy decision.”
. . ."
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Not much new news came out of the info session held in NH about the pending sale of Sunapee as part of Vail Resorts buying Triple Peaks from the Mueller family. Another public hearing is planned before Oct. 1. . . .
Oops, read too quickly. Won't be another public meeting until AFTER a decision is made by the NH Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources. Hard to imagine they won't approve the sale to VR.

The report by NH public radio is pretty balanced.

https://www.nhpr.org/post/vail-reso...-questions-future-sunapee-state-park#stream/0
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
It's done. NH govt approved the sale of Sunapee to Vail Resorts as part of the purchase of Triple Peaks. The decision was presented to the public at an open meeting on Sept. 26, 2018.

https://www.unionleader.com/article/20180927/NEWS02/180929595

"NEWBURY — Mount Sunapee ski area will be under new management this winter, as the state announced Wednesday night it is approving the lease transfer to Colorado-based Vail Resorts.

“We have come to the conclusion that New Hampshire can be confident that Vail is a great fit for our state,” said Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stewart.

The decision was announced to applause in the crowded Sunapee Lodge at the resort.
. . ."
 

ski diva

Administrator
Staff member
And it's finalized with Okemo, too. From Vail Resorts:

VAIL RESORTS CLOSES ITS ACQUISITION OF OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT, MOUNT SUNAPEE RESORT AND CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT

27 September 2018

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

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Sept. 27, 2018 — 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 honoring 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.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Did you miss this news during the summer? I don't think anyone really thought that the sale wouldn't go through. Just took a little longer to make sure NH government could show they were actively involved.

Does make getting an Epic pass for a season somewhat more interesting to me. Do a ski safari in Colorado in Jan or Feb, and then wander around VT/NH in March. Or even also satisfy my curiousity about midwest skiing and go visit my cousin near Detroit during the winter. :smile:
 

santacruz skier

Angel Diva
Or ski Heavenly, N*, and Kirkwood in Tahoe with me
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Or ski Heavenly, N*, and Kirkwood in Tahoe with me
Perhaps. But I've skied around Tahoe a few times. Not in a while, but I'm more interested in checking out new places while I still have the energy for the travel involved. Then I'll know where I want to go and just settle in for a week or three or four later on.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Vail Resorts has created an executive position with the most recent GM at Kirkwood, Doug Pierini, as Chief Operating Officer of the Northeast Region. Pierini was a ski instructor and ski school Director before moving higher up in management. He will also be the Okemo GM as of Oct. 25, 2018 because Bruce Schmidt is moving over as GM of Sunapee. The GM of Stowe will report to Pierini in the COO NE role.

https://vtskiandride.com/the-new-face-of-okemo-and-vail-resorts-east/

". . .
Pierini has worked for Vail Resorts for eight years. Pierini got his start in the ski industry working as a ski instructor at Jackson Hole Resort in Wyoming, working his way up to Ski School Manager at Jackson Hole and later to Ski School Director for Booth Creek Resorts, the former owner and operator of eight ski areas across the east and west coasts, including Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe in Calif., Grand Targhee in W.Y. and Cranmore, Loon and Waterville Valley in N.H.


Okemo general manager Bruce Schmidt will take over as general manager of Mount Sunapee and current Mount Sunapee General Manager Jay Gamble “will stay on to support the transition until Friday, Nov. 9.” Vail Resorts said in a statement issued by Bonnie MacPherson, director of communications for Okemo, on Oct. 29. MacPherson has been promoted to Vail Resorts communications manager, Northeast. Jeff Wise, director of communications for Stowe Mountain Resort, will now also serve as senior communications director for Vail Resorts, Northeast.

Schmidt and Stowe Mountain Resort general manager Bobby Murphy will now report to Pierini, according to the same statement.
. . ."


A little more about recent corporate restructuring at Stowe, Okemo, and Sunapee:
https://vermontjournal.com/featured...okemo-focuses-on-unified-northeast-management
 
Last edited by a moderator:

marzNC

Angel Diva
Old news, but with the recent announcement that VR is buying out Peak Resorts, I've been looking back at how other acquisitions and transitions have been handled. Found an article about Crested Butted I hadn't seen before. Has more details about the work to set things up for opening day than the usual article. Didn't know that Erica Mueller stayed on as a consultant to help VR folks with community relations. Or that when the new GM took over, the VP of Sales and Marketing was out of a job. Not too much of a surprise though given that Sales and Marketing for a VR resort is very different than for a single resort.

https://crestedbuttenews.com/2018/10/all-hands-on-deck-vail-officially-takes-over/
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Question for people who are local to Okemo, Sunapee, Crested Butte, or Stevens Pass . . . are you getting an Epic pass for 2019-20? If so, which one? If not, are you getting a different multi-resort pass instead?
 

MilkyWookiee

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Question for people who are local to Okemo, Sunapee, Crested Butte, or Stevens Pass . . . are you getting an Epic pass for 2019-20? If so, which one? If not, are you getting a different multi-resort pass instead?
I mostly ski okemo. I have an epic local, and I bought one last year as well. This year it ended up being extremely worth it, as I have a trip to park City (first time going out west!) and I ski a few of the formerly peak resorts.
The bottom line is, you have to ski about 7 days for the epic local to be financially worth it. I would say it's a good investment anyone who thinks they'll put at least 10 days on it
 

Christy

Angel Diva
I didn't know which of our many Vail threads this should go under, but this seemed as good as any. Vail announced they won't operate the Stevens Pass mountain bike park this year and will evaluate its future soon. This is the only lift served bike park in WA. Judging by social media people are furious. This doesn't affect me but I wonder why they would choose to stay closed this summer without giving a reason. There are no other activities there. It seems like ski resorts are moving toward doing more summer activities not less. There never used to be any summer stuff at WA ski areas but in recent years Crystal and Stevens have developed summer activities.

Under the category of, "how can we continue to rub people the wrong way..." they also announced people are still free to walk the Pacific Crest Trail where it crosses through the ski area. Well of course they can; this is public land.
 

SallyCat

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Interesting, considering Vail is opening the bike park at Okemo this summer, and it is the most underwhelming bike park in New England. It's located on the opposite side of the mountain from all of their other summer activities, so it has a weird ghost-town feel. And it boasts the most boring and poorly-designed trails I've ever ridden a lift for. I can't imagine that park is a money-maker for them with all the other quality options nearby <shrug>.
 

Jilly

Moderator
Staff member
Tremblant had to close their trails years ago because of insurance issues. Maybe a reason....maybe some construction happening this summer that they don't want to announce yet, which could be anything from snow making to new trail maintenance/contours.
 

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