Is It the Forest Service? Why Ski Resorts Close "Early"

Some winters, the snow doesn't stop. Powder day, powder day, another powder day? Then, spring arrives, and despite all the snow, ski areas start shutting down for the season.

While much of skiing's clientele pivots to different, more seasonally appropriate activities when the weather warms up, the core crowd is left befuddled. Why close when there's still snow on the ground?

Speculations vary, but the scapegoat you might hear blamed is the United States Forest Service (USFS), as many ski resorts throughout the U.S. operate in conjunction with the agency on National Forests via a permit system.

"Oh, they have to close this April. The Forest Service says so", is a common refrain in end-of-season conversations amongst skiers pining for one more turn of the lifts. The reality, though, is different.

“The conclusion of winter operations is a business decision made by the Ski Area Permit holder,” the Forest Service confirmed via email. “There are occasionally a few exceptions where the Forest Service requires seasonal closures due to wildlife considerations, but this is not the norm.”

Ski resorts like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, select opening and closing dates independent of the Forest Service each year during the submission of a winter operating plan. While the Forest Service must approve these dates, they don't influence JHMR's internal decision-making process.

In selecting its closing date—which typically lands in April—JHMR considers various operational factors. "For example, this year we are installing the Sublette lift replacement, and we had to get up on the hill immediately following closing day, and we have a very tight schedule to be able to complete an installation of that lift," says Mary Kate Buckley, the resort's president.

Buckley explained that the seasonal nature of ski resort work—and employee considerations—also shapes JHMR's schedule. Previously, the resort opened on Thanksgiving but eventually decided to open after the holiday at the request of employees.

As the season winds down across the U.S., resort workers regularly move on to other activities and forms of employment, notes Kelly Pawlak, CEO of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). "This often leaves the core year-round staff to run the resort. Although this can work for a week or two, it is not sustainable for months at a time," says Pawlak.

At Alta Ski Area, Utah, the seasonal schedule is constructed primarily with employees in mind. Like JHMR, Alta usually closes in April, which is a decision made by management—not the Forest Service. That closing window was selected because many Alta employees live at the ski area during the season.

"We set those dates so seasonal employees can plan their winter schedules accordingly," says Andria Huskinson, Alta's communications manager.

Money makes the world—and ski resorts—go round. Employees aren't the only ones who move on as the weather warms up. Skiers do, too, even if the late-season conditions are great.

Before serving as the NSAA’s CEO, Pawlak was the general manager of Mount Snow Resort, Vermont. There, she regularly pushed for the ski area to remain open late, only to have a few hundred skiers show up. In a 2017 conversation with the Reno Gazette Journal, resort industry veteran Tim Cohee said the short answer behind closing date decisions at ski areas is very simple: "Lack of business."

"Commonly, skier and rider interest wanes before the snow is gone," explains Pawlak. "As spring approaches, so do spring sports for youth and adults, yard work, spring events, and travel to other destinations." Once, Pawlak worked for an owner who was more interested in opening as early as possible to meet pent-up demand during the fall, a sentiment reflected by the broader industry trend that sees ski resorts jostling to welcome the season's first skiers.

Last fall, an unexpected contender, Ski Ward, Massachusetts, won that battle by using a device that can blow snow even if the outdoor temperature is as high as 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, for some resorts, like Killington, Vermont, staying open as late as possible is a selling point, even if skier visits might be lower. "It's all about the bragging rights. There are not many people out there in the Northeast that can say that they skied in June," says Kristel Killary, Killington's Brand Marketing & Communications Manager. This year, the resort remained open until June 1st.

Keeping the ski season alive in June requires intentionality, particularly in the Northeast. Killington made snow until early April, adding to the snowpack the resort builds for the World Cup in November. Significant natural snowfall in March and April helped, too. "It's just up to us to maintain it throughout the season so that we can stay open as late as we do," says Killary.

Skier visitation numbers, summer construction projects, workforce considerations—these factors likely impact when your favorite ski resort chooses to end the season, assuming the snow hasn't already melted.

These decisions aren’t made lightly. "I can tell you that closing dates are one of the things that ski area operators spend a lot of time discussing and worrying about. You want to do what is best for your staff and guests—especially season pass holders who have made a season-long investment," says Pawlak. "But you also do not want to operate for too long at a loss."

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