Ski industry updates: Vail Resorts opening dates and new Snow Pass launch

Vail Resorts has announced its opening schedule for the 2026/27 North American ski season. Keystone Resort in Colorado is expected to be the first to open, potentially in early October. Other scheduled openings include Breckenridge on November 6, Vail Mountain on November 13, and several resorts including Whistler Blackcomb and Park City Mountain on November 20. The company faces recent challenges, including a decline in visitors and revenue at its Rockies resorts, as well as ongoing legal challenges regarding lift pass pricing and instructor disputes.

In a separate development, New Jersey-based operator Snow Partners is entering the multi-mountain pass market with the launch of the Snow Pass. Aimed at regional skiers in the Northeast and Eastern Canada, the pass offers 28 days of skiing across 14 partner resorts for a launch price of $339.99. The partner network includes several New York Olympic Regional Development Authority mountains, such as Whiteface and Gore Mountain, as well as locations in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Nova Scotia, Colorado, and Wyoming.