Hitting the Slopes at a Premium: Record Ski Lift Ticket Prices in 2023/2024
Ski enthusiasts hoping to carve turns this winter are facing sticker shock, as ski resort lift ticket prices have reached record highs in the 2023/2024 season. A confluence of factors, including rising operational costs, increased demand, and a strategic shift towards season pass sales, has driven the price hike.
The pain is being felt across the industry, with popular resorts in North America reporting double-digit increases compared to last year. In Colorado, Vail Mountain kicked off the new year by setting a record. For the first week of January, a single-day lift ticket purchased on-site cost $299, the highest amount ever charged to ski the iconic resort, roughly 100 miles outside Denver. The price was $100 higher than a single-day lift ticket just six years ago, but anyone following the industry wouldn’t have felt sticker shock. The exorbitant prices came in less-than-ideal weather: Vail didn’t get a single inch of snow over New Year’s weekend. Snowfall was scarce in much of the country in late 2023. According to Vail Daily, two other Colorado resorts, Steamboat Springs and Beaver Creek, featured $299 lift tickets over New Year’s weekend. In Utah, Park City Mountain also priced its peak season one-day tickets at $299.Similar trends are being observed in California, Oregon, and Wyoming.
This surge in prices has left some skiers feeling priced out of their favorite pastime. “It’s getting to the point where it’s just not affordable to take my family skiing anymore,” lamented one skier on a popular online forum. “We’re having to seriously consider alternative winter activities this year.”
In response to the backlash, some resorts are offering discounts and incentives to attract skiers. Many are promoting multi-day packages and early booking deals, while others are touting the value of season passes, which typically lock in a fixed price for unlimited skiing throughout the season. It remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to appease cost-conscious skiers. However, one thing is certain: the days of cheap lift tickets are likely a thing of the past. For those who still want to hit the slopes, be prepared to pay a premium for the privilege.
