Pass gives access to more mountains
I n my imaginary life where I have a sage grandpa sprinkling my days with wisdom, he’d tell me this about this unique ski season: “Hard times buff shine some lovely silver linings.” There could perhaps be no example more clearly fitting of that than the boom in visits to smaller, independently owned and operated ski areas this season.
Part fueled by necessity (hitting the smaller hill closer to home for perhaps the first time has been a trend), but also by the great new “Indy Pass” season’s ski pass that gives you access to resorts nationwide, smaller resorts have seen an uptick in visits.
This week, there’s news: Not only is it not too late this season to get in on the fun (and the deals), Indy Pass (www. indyskipass.com) has sweetened the Eastern skier and rider pot with two new additions to their lineup:
As of Feb. 23, New Hampshire’s Waterville Valley Resort (www.waterville.com) and Maine’s newly reopened Saddleback Mountain (www.saddlebackmaine.com) are joining the pass lineup, not only bringing to 51 the total resorts a pass holder can access, but also adding two “destination”-type eastern resorts with not just great slope-side lodging and amenities, but with something all Indy Pass resorts share: a rich history.
To celebrate the additions, Indy Pass has launched a “Spring Pass,” that lets you in on the pass benefits – including the newly added resorts – for the remainder of the season. With snow coming regularly now and most resorts open top to bottom, there will be plenty of days to get more skiing and riding in.
Indy Pass founder Doug Fish said he and his team are thrilled at the addition of both resorts to their diverse line-up.
“They are a great compliment to our other day areas,” he said.
“Our pass-holders tend to buy our pass figuring they will get day trips at (drivable day trip) resorts and then take one vacation,” he said.
While many of the Indy Pass resorts have nearby lodging, only a handful (including New England’s classic Jay Peak Resort) have things like slope-side lodging and villages. Now, Indy Pass holders will have day trip and overnight options.
Indy Pass gives skiers and riders two days of access at each of their listed resorts (some individual resorts have a few blackout dates. The website breaks down details). In addition, passes come with a discount price for tickets beyond those two days or for others joining you who may not have a pass.
Beginning March 1, the spring pass will be available for $149 for anyone 13 and over, and $69 for kids. That “spring pass” allows two days of skiing at as many resorts as you can fit in before the season ends, including the two new additions. In other words, for less than one individual day ticket may cost this season at many resorts, you can ski and ride the rest of the season.
Waterville Valley Resort is big, fun and pretty much a little ski town in itself. Its Town Square is adorable, trails are famed not just for world-class racing history but freestyle skiing as well, and is a family resort through and through. On-site lodging is plentiful, and the ski and ride school is top notch.
While Waterville was owned by the former Booth Creek Ski Company for a period
of time, it has been owned and operated by the Sununu family as an independent resort since 2010.
Joining the Indy Pass line-up, Waterville President and General Manager Tim Day said, was a natural fit.
“We believe the Indy Pass is helping keep the spirit of independent resorts alive while allowing them to be competitive against the conglomerate mega-passes,” said Smith. “We’re excited to be joining this collective of independent resorts across the country and can’t wait to welcome passionate skiers and riders to Waterville Valley.”
Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley, Maine, has long called to the soul of the independent ski lover. After its heartbreaking closure after the 2015 season, some worried it would never reopen.
But this year it’s back and thriving, independently owned.
Saddleback is away from it all in a way that works well. It’s a big mountain with plenty of trail options, and has a variety of great lodging including ski in/ski out.
Joining Indy Pass is a natural fit for them.
“We believe that the guests who have the opportunity to visit Saddleback through the
Indy Pass will not only contribute to our authentic culture, but also spread the word about what a great experience this mountain truly offers,” said Doc Tulin, Saddleback Mountain Director of Marketing.
Saddleback does have a caveat for this season: they will charge a $10 fee for each ski day used through the end of this season. Waterville will not. Those two additions to the east, Fish said, may mean the Indy Pass line-up here is complete.
“We are pretty much done expanding in New England,” he said.
Skiers and riders are loving the discovery process the Indy Pass provides. The Indy Pass Facebook page is filled with robust reviews from folks visiting more local spots, often for the first time.
The pass was created three years ago, Fish said, with the goal of making skiing affordable to the person who may only go six or so times a season.
It’s done way more than that though, somewhat as a result of the pandemic and folks looking to rack up ski days without traveling too far. So far this season? Indy Pass skiers and riders have checked in and taken runs at resorts a whopping 80,000 times.
Fish has no doubt this is not a flash in the pan, and independent ski areas will see more visits in post-pandemic years as well.
“The interest in skiing is way up, and most small ski areas are benefiting from that,” he said. “We’re thankful to be a part of it.”