Resort sets record for winter pass sales
A snowboarder slashes through powder in Hellroaring Basin at Whitefish Mountain Resort. (Matt Baldwin/Daily Inter Lake FILE)
Whitefish Mountain Resort hit a new high mark for winter season pass sales, topping 12,500 for the first time.
The total sales are 10% ahead of last winter, which was the previous record, according to the resort.
The resort announced in May that it would not increase season pass prices for the 2020-21 winter season. An adult season pass was priced at $675 through Sept. 30.
“Frankly, we’re not shocked that the Whitefish Mountain Resort ski community has said louder and clearer than ever that we’re going to ski this winter even given the pandemic,” said Nick Polumbus, Director of Marketing and Sales.
The resort is offering a full refund “no questions asked” before opening day for people who bought a pass prior to Sept. 30.
Also new this year is the resort’s guarantee of 100 days of skiing. A prorated credit toward a 2021/22 season pass for lost operating days due to a mandated closure or a stay-at-home order related to COVID-19 is being implemented. The 100-day guarantee begins on Dec. 10 and credit is based on the purchase price of the pass.
In an effort to follow COVID-19 safety measures, Whitefish Mountain Resort is altering some of its procedures for various areas of the mountain, such as lift lines.
“While skis/boards provide built-in social distancing front to back, maze configuration does not guarantee social distancing on either side,” the resort noted in a press release.
Masks must be worn in lift lines while loading and unloading. There will be no singles lines and lifts will be loaded by self-identified groups like households or guests traveling together. Those who sit with people other than their self-identified group are strongly recommended to keep their masks on during the lift ride.
The resort added that guests should expect longer wait times, especially on holidays and big snow days.
“Employees and guests alike will have to be more patient with each other than ever knowing that honoring our changes to operations is the best way to be sure we all get to ski for this full La Niña season,” Polumbus added.