With the economic downturn and people cutting corners, the price to spend a Saturday enjoying the mountain making runs continues to break the bank. Many resorts throughout the northeast average between $70 and $85 for a one day lift ticket. Where did the days of $50 and $60 lift tickets go? I remember not to long ago when we thought that was a bit unreasonable. Now it is off the charts.
Up until recently myself and friends would take off on Friday evening and make a three hour drive to our choice of several ski resorts where we would spend Saturday morning into the early afternoon enjoying our male bonding experiences. Unfortunately, with the crazy prices of lift tickets we have discontinued this ritual. One resort we frequented has doubled their lift ticket price in the last eight years.
I think I have discovered one reason the ticket prices have shot through the roof. I recently read a USA today article where one resort in Hancock, Mass, Jiminiy Peak has had electric bills that hit the $635,000 for the year. Granted they have put measures in place such as using recycled motor oil to heat the mountain operations center, installed waterless toilets and developed more efficient snow making guns.
Their next step was to invest in a $3.9 million windmill to see if it will cut cost. Many resorts will be watching to see if this impacts the bottom line.
I for one hope it does. Maybe this will help make it possible for many people to continue their own Saturday rituals of enjoying a day on the slopes. Now I know why the other resorts are raising their lift tickets!
I don’t go skiing or snowboarding really (I seem to only snow-plow), but to have something double in eight years doesn’t seem drastic to me. It seems like a reasonable increase. Think of all the other things that have doubled in less time – like movie ticket prices, milk, gas (multiple times…), the cost of houses even! – well, until recently.
I think that the biggest cause of lift ticket prices doubling is simply the demand for it. Sure, cost of business has gone up, but with all the hype of things like the X-games, and winter sports, the popularity of going skiing or snowboarding has greatly increased! It’s now the very cool and trendy thing to do in winter – and I am sure everyone has noticed the carelessness and lack of manners on the slopes that has gone with that…
But that being said, I do hope that ski resorts find a more efficient way of doing business. Maybe we will see the difference in our ticket prices.