Big Sky Resort just announced their new suite of season pass options yesterday afternoon, and the prices have ruffled some feathers across the internet.
Most notably, Big Sky is selling their new Gold Season Pass for $2,229 for adults. Making it one of the most expensive passes on the market.
Paying over $2k seems insane, but the pass does include a plethora of benefits to sweeten the deal.
Gold passholders get unlimited access to Big Sky, unlimited access to Big Sky’s Lone Peak Tram, an Ikon Base pass, 50% off lift tickets at Mountain Collective resorts, and three days of skiing at each of Boyne’s sister resorts (Loon, Brighton, Sugarloaf, Summit at Snoqualmie, Sunday River, Boyne, Cypress, and Shawnee).
That’s kind of a steal if you’re a skier who can afford to travel the country, ya know? The pass clearly isn’t meant for everybody, and that’s okay.
On the other end of the spectrum, Big Sky is offering a midweek pass that’s extremely affordable. The Green Season Pass offers unlimited access Monday-Friday for just $539.
You can’t ski the resort on the weekend, but this pass seems more suited for locals who don’t care to navigate the busy weekend crowds anyways.
There’s a lot of outrage circulating online about Big Sky’s high prices, but I want everybody to stop and take a moment to think about this from a broader picture. Humor me for a sec.
We’re all pissed off that ‘epic’ resorts are practically un-skiable on the weekends due to overselling of passes.
Vail Resorts made their passes affordable with limited restrictions on when guests can redeem their passes. The result has been extreme overcrowding on weekends which we’ve documented throughout the season.
Can you see where I’m going with this?
Big Sky has created a dynamic pricing structure that includes numerous options to experience their resort. There’s unlimited access passes which cost a lot, and limited access passes that don’t.
I think that Boyne Resorts is banking on spreading out the skier population in a more efficient way with this pricing structure, and I genuinely hope that it works out for them.
The ski industry is stuck in this weird bubble at the moment. We’re seeing more skier visits at resorts than ever, but resorts are bogged down by lack of employees and the long-lasting effects of the pandemic.
^Photo Credit: Jeff Engerbretson/Big Sky Resort
Maybe this season pass pricing structure is the first step to righting that ship? I don’t know, but it seems like a good idea in principle.
My therapist suggested that I try to be more positive in my day-to-day life so I’ll give it a shot here…
Making skiing extremely expensive (i.e. >$2k for a season pass) sucks, but balancing it with affordable passes like the Green Season Pass could be a model for the ski industry in the future. The rich will ultimately benefit the most, but that’s just capitalism, baby.
Vail Resorts should take a page out of Boyne’s book for pricing their passes. The more dynamic, the better. Spread out the skier population and alleviate the headaches caused by unhappy guests (hopefully).
Here’s to hoping it works out for Big Sky and Boyne Resorts.
Last note. I wonder how the new tram/gondola situation will effect these season pass prices in the future? I guess that remains to be seen. Stay tuned here at Unofficial Networks for all Big Sky Resort news.
I realized I wrote different iterations of the word ‘hope’ at least three times. I’d say that’s a positive outlook, right?
Image Credits: Big Sky Resort