Skiing Facilities

The 3005 skiing facilities in the US operate downhill, cross-country, or related skiing areas and/or operate equipment, such as ski lifts and tows. These establishments often provide food and beverage services, equipment rental services, and ski instruction services.

Highly Seasonal Demand

Peak ski season generally runs from mid-November through mid-April.

Struggle for Growth

The snow sport industry has struggled for about a decade to grow participation.

Oct 19, 2026 - US Ski Visits Fall 14.5% Amid Poor Western Snow Conditions

• US ski area visits declined 14.5% during the 2025–2026 season to 52.6 million, down from 61.6 million the previous season, according to final National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) data discussed in a September 23 report. The season ranked 32nd among 48 seasons tracked, as unusually warm weather and poor snowfall reduced visitation across Western ski regions. The Pacific Northwest was particularly affected, while the Northeast and Southeast posted their second-best seasons of the past decade. Season passes accounted for 49% of visits nationally, compared with 31% for daily and multi-day tickets. The results highlight US skiing facilities' dependence on favorable weather and the importance of snowmaking investments, regional diversification, and advance pass sales in stabilizing revenue during challenging seasons.
• Vail Resorts' North American ski pass unit sales fell approximately 12% year over year through September 18, 2026, while pass revenue fell about 6%, according to company earnings released September 28. Pass days sold decreased approximately 10%. For fiscal 2026, Vail reported that ski visits declined 13.4%, contributing to an 11.7% decrease in resort EBITDA to $745.7 million. Management attributed much of the weakness to challenging snow conditions during the previous season. The results suggest that US skiing facilities may face continued pressure on advance bookings and customer demand heading into the 2026–2027 winter season. Resorts may need to emphasize marketing, pricing flexibility, snowmaking capabilities, and customer retention while managing operating costs.
• An August 2026 class-action lawsuit alleging price fixing by Vail Resorts, Alterra, Boyne, and Powdr could increase legal and regulatory scrutiny across the US skiing industry, particularly around lift-ticket pricing, season passes, acquisitions, and data sharing, according to a recent POWDER magazine report. The claims have not been proven in court, but the lawsuit alleges flagship lift-ticket prices have risen more than 55% since 2019-20, while Ikon Pass prices have increased more than 45%. If the case advances, major resort operators could face higher legal costs, changes to pricing practices, limits on information sharing, or greater scrutiny of consolidation. For skiers, the litigation could intensify debate over affordability and competition at destination resorts. Even without a ruling, operators may become more cautious about pricing coordination, benchmarking, and future acquisitions, while independent resorts could benefit from renewed emphasis on competitive differentiation.
• Early indicators for the 2026–27 US ski season are cautiously positive, as lower-priced early-winter lodging offers helped lift July booking pace for arrivals through December by 3.1% year over year, according to the latest DestiMetrics Market Briefing from Inntopia in Ski Area Management. December bookings were a particular bright spot, suggesting resorts may be successfully using discounts to rebuild demand after a weak-snow winter. Mountain destinations also enter winter from a stronger financial position: summer occupancy is up 2.7%, average daily rates 5.7%, and revenue 8.6%. However, the data point to greater price sensitivity, with consumers favoring cheaper months and properties. International demand is another risk: Canadian bookings remain up 16.6% versus last summer but slowed sharply after new tariff threats, while bookings from Mexico, Western Europe, and Oceania declined. Overall, value-focused pricing could be key to sustaining ski visitation this winter.

Industry size & Structure

The average skiing facility employs about 154 workers and generates $12 million annually.

• The skiing facility industry consists of about 305 firms that employ about 47,000 workers and generate $3.6 billion annually.
• Industry revenue is highly concentrated; the top 50 companies account for 82% of industry revenue. However, the resort market is fragmented; less than 20% of the roughly 480 ski resorts in the US are owned by companies with four or more properties.
• Large firms include Vail Resorts, Aspen Skiing, Alterra Mountain, Powdr Corp., and Boyne Resorts.