Neihart, Montana — Should ski resorts be open on Christmas? It’s something that’s a decent debate in the ski industry. While most businesses are closed for the federal holiday, the ski industry seems like an outlier. It looks like most stay open for the Holiday, partly because they operate only during a limited number of months. However, there’s another side to the argument.
Avery Patrick, who’s the partial owner of Showdown Montana, explained in an Instagram reel why they kept the mountain closed that day. Her grandfather decided that the importance of Christmas being an off day was to have strong employee morale.
I do think there’s valid reasoning behind operating on Christmas, especially if you’re a large ski resort. However, I do respect those who make Christmas an off-day, as it shows the operators care about their employees.
About Showdown Montana
Montana’s oldest ski area is one of the best independent skiing gems in the USA. The ski area features 39 trails, 4 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,400 feet. No snowmaking infrastructure means that they rely on 280 inches of natural snow annually to open the slopes. They also own the Edith Hotel, providing a relatively nearby overnight option for guests. Currently, the Montana ski area has all of its trails and lifts open. This is thanks to 90″ of natural snowfall so far this winter.
Image/Video Credits: Showdown Montana, Avery Patrick
