Why Winter 24/25 Was the Second Busiest Ever Recorded
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has released their U.S. Ski Industry reporting data from the 2024/25 season. In general, the 2024/25 ski season saw more skier visits, despite below average snowfall, in many places across the country. Healthy capital investments in ski area infrastructure were also made with an increase in the dollar amount per skier reinvested in said infrastructure. The 2024/25 ski season is ranked as the second best on record, as it pertains to ski area visitation, with a whopping 61.5 million visitors. This number is a 1.7% increase over the previous season's records. Only the 2022/23 season tops 2024/25 in skier visitation numbers with 3.9 million more visits that year. 49% of these skier visits were made by season pass holders in comparison to the 32% made by lift ticket holders. According to the NSAA report, this visitation number is crucial when it comes to determining the health of the ski industry. Skier visits are counted as every time an individual uses a lift ticket or ski pass at a ski area. This year's numbers suggest that while it doesn't quite measure up to the post-COVID boom that impacted the 2022/23 season, demand for outdoor recreation is still strong and the U.S. ski industry is relatively healthy.Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.
The growth in skier visits over the 2024/25 season can be attributed to several key factors that differ from region to region, but together indicate a new baseline of healthy industry growth. The Pacific Northwest, which includes Oregon and Washington as the NSAA defines it, recorded its best season on record in terms of skier visits during Winter 2024/25. The entire region, which includes fifteen ski resorts in Oregon and twenty resorts in Washington, recorded 4.7 million skier visits, which made for a 10.7% increase over the previous season. Although snow totals were below the 10-year average in the Pacific Northwest region, several PNW resorts had a strong start to the season and above average yearly totals, but across the board totals were slightly lower than average. Ski areas in the Pacific Northwest that surpassed their average annual snowfall included Mt. Bachelor (448' YTD, 410' average), Mt. Hood Meadows (461' YTD, 430' average), and Mt. Ashland (318' YTD, 223'). Timberline Lodge, Steven's Pass, and Mt. Baker were all relatively within their averages, albeit a bit under. Willamette Pass, Hoodoo, Summit at Snoqualmie/Alpental, and Crystal Mountain were all well below their averages. Similarly to the Pacific Northwest, despite relatively below average precipitation, the Rocky Mountain region experienced a healthy percentage of skier visits. The region, which includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico's 120 ski areas, accounted for 42.9% of all national skier visits, and had its third busiest season out of the 47 on record. Jackson Hole (445' YTD, 465' average), Vail (324' YTD, 354' average), and Alta (537' YTD, 545' average) all had total seasonal snowfalls within their average ranges. Aspen Mountain (240' YTD, 300' average) and Tamarack (250' YTD, 300' average) were within 100' of their seasonal average, while Taos (91' YTD, 200' average) and Park City (237' YTD/ 355' average) were well below. Big Sky ended the season with 48' more than its average 400' and at 115% of their normal snowpack.
The Midwest Region's 124 ski resorts saw a large increase in skier visits, especially in comparison to the previous year's 26.7% decline in skier visits. Generally above average precipitation likely helped to account for the 21.8% increase in skier visits during the 2024/25 season. Despite a relatively below average snow season, many ski areas continue to put large quantities of funding towards capital investments for resorts. During the 2024/25 season, the 135 ski areas that reported capital investments spent a total of $624.4 million. The highest percentage of these investments was put towards lift infrastructure and the 97 new or upgraded lifts installed during or ahead of the season. The same ski areas reported that projects for the 2025/26 season are underway and currently have funding totaled at $560.7 million. These plans include another 47 new lifts and 70 lifts to see upgrades. Over the last five seasons, the average ski area has invested $20.37 per skier visit back into operations. During the 2024/25 season, this number rose to $21.11 per skier visit, or roughly 28% of every lift ticker or pass sale.
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