Record numbers hit the slopes in Whitefish

Skiing and snowboarding wrapped up Sunday for a record-breaking winter for skier visits at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

It was the second straight season with nearly 345,000 total skier visits, up 7 percent over last year and the fourth time the ski area has exceeded the 300,000 mark. 

The resort, which ended its season on Sunday, also set a new record for the most skier visits in a single day with 7,654 last Dec. 30.

“We are thankful for the steady growth we’ve experienced these past several years,” said Dan Graves, the resort’s president. “We are committed to creating a high-quality, affordable experience with exceptional, easygoing hospitality that encourages our guests to keep coming back.”

In addition to skier visits, the resort’s ski and snowboarding school experienced growth across the board. Notable growth was seen with Junior daily lessons and seasonal programs, which were up 31 percent and 16 percent, respectively.

Lodging at resort properties was up 7 percent over last year, with the majority of visitors arriving from Montana, Alberta, Washington, Sasketchewan and Minnesota. Arrivals through Glacier Park International Airport were ahead of last year’s numbers from December, January and February.

Local residents account for roughly half the visitation at the resort. Season passes were up 6 percent over last season, and this season marked the most pre-season winter pass sales in the history of the resort.

Whitefish Mountain Resort also had a banner season for snowfall. The resort still had 146 inches of snow at the summit this weekend.