What Skiers Would Change About Their Home Resorts: Insights from Our Facebook Followers
Skiing enthusiasts are a passionate bunch, and when we posed the question on our Facebook page—”If you could change one thing about your home ski resort, what would it be?”—the responses poured in. From heartfelt pleas for more vertical drop to sharp critiques of corporate ownership, our community shared a mix of practical suggestions, humorous wishes, and frustrations born from years on the slopes. With over 150 comments, it’s clear that while everyone loves their local hill, there’s always room for improvement. In this post, we’ll dive into the key themes, feature some standout quotes, and include a colorful bar chart visualizing the most common desires. We’ll also touch on why small ski areas—often the backdrop for these responses—deserve more love, backed by some supporting facts.
Key Themes from the Responses
The answers revealed a diverse set of priorities, but certain ideas kept popping up. Many respondents hailed from smaller, regional resorts in places like the Midwest, where modest elevations were a sore spot for some skiers. Others focused on infrastructure, pricing, and the impact of mega-passes like Epic and Ikon, which have transformed the industry but not always for the better in locals’ eyes. Ownership changes were a hot topic, with frequent calls to oust big corporations like Vail Resorts in favor of more community-oriented management.
To make sense of it all, we categorized the responses and tallied the top requests. Below is a visual bar chart showing the distribution of the most common desires (based on approximate counts from the comments).
As the chart shows, reducing crowds topped the list with 25 responses, reflecting a widespread desire for more exclusive, less hectic experiences. Tied for second were calls for ownership changes and boosts to vertical drop (20 each), highlighting both operational and geographical gripes. Lift upgrades and cheaper prices (15 each) followed closely, with more snow (12), closer locations (10), and better parking (8) rounding out the key concerns.
Spotlight on Quotes: Voices from the Community
Our followers didn’t hold back, offering everything from witty one-liners to detailed rants. Here are a few highlights that capture the spirit of the discussion:
- On increasing vertical: “Since it’s only 200 vertical, make it at least 25X taller” – Joe Manning. This sentiment echoed across responses from flatland skiers, like Ben Johnson from Missouri: “Since its only a 300 foot vertical….about 2000 feet.”
- On lift upgrades: “All lifts to be high speed…. two are not. The 80’s are over, ketchup already.!!! ( pun intended )” – Gary Oak. Similarly, Perry L Croft lamented, “New lifts at Palisades. Skiing Granite Chief is like a step back in time. It’s a premium mountain serviced by bottom basement lifts.”
- On ownership and corporate influence: “That the Evil Empire would sell it and someone(s) could buy and operate it.” – Simone Marie. Jeremy Buzzard was more direct: “The owners. I want Vail Resorts out of Park City (and ideally out of every ski resort in the world).”
- On reducing crowds: “No multi mountain pass holders…EVER” – Matheu Klinkhammer. Steve Mahaffey proposed, “Make it a season pass holders only area. Everyone else can go to one of the 4 other places within an hours drive.”
- On prices: “A cheeseburger that is less than $20” – John Hagen. Cole Bach kept it simple: “Cheaper and better burgers.”
- On more snow: “More snow, the answer everywhere is always more snow.” – Jeff Cunico.
These quotes show a blend of realism and fantasy, but they all stem from a deep affection for skiing and a hope to enhance the experience.
The Charm of Small Ski Areas: Why They’re Worth Cherishing
While many of our respondents dreamed of transforming their modest home resorts into alpine giants, small ski areas have unique strengths that larger destinations often can’t match. These hidden gems provide relaxed atmospheres with shorter lift lines and a more familiar, community vibe. They’re ideal for families, offering clear layouts, central access points, and affordable lift passes that make them perfect for beginners and returnees. Economically, they support local communities by creating flexible jobs and serving as multifunctional recreational hubs with social and educational benefits. Ecologically, smaller operations tend to have a lighter footprint, and many invest in snowmaking and grooming to maximize their terrain despite limited scale. Resorts like those mentioned in our comments—such as Giants Ridge or midwestern hills—often feature perks like free lessons for kids or expert-only runs, proving that size isn’t everything. In fact, skiers on forums rave about the uncrowded slopes and genuine experiences at these spots, even if they lack the glamour of big-name mountains.
Small ski areas also foster resilience in the industry, especially in regions vulnerable to climate shifts, by focusing on sustainable practices and local loyalty. So, while it’s fun to imagine adding 2,000 feet of vertical, these resorts remind us that great skiing is about the joy of the sport, not just the stats.
