BROOMFIELD, Colo. — The number of skiers and snowboarders visiting Vail Resorts fell 20% compared to same period last year, the company reported to investors Thursday. Revenue generated from ski school was also down 14.9%. There was a 15.9% drop in revenue generated from food vendors as well, Vail Resorts said.
"We experienced one of the worst early season snowfalls in the western U.S. in over 30 years, which limited our ability to open terrain and negatively impacted visitation and ancillary spending for both local and destination guests during the period," the company's Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz said.
Vail Resorts collected data from the company's North American ski resorts, starting at the beginning of this ski season, through Jan. 4, 2026. The numbers were stacked up against those for the previous ski season through Jan. 5, 2025 at the same resorts.
While the company owns nearly three dozen North American resorts, in Colorado, it owns Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte.
"Snowfall at our western U.S. resorts for November and December was approximately 50% below the historical 30-year average. In the Rockies, snowfall was down nearly 60% versus the historical 30-year average, resulting in approximately 11% of terrain being opened in December," Katz said.
Vail Resorts is one of many businesses impacted by this year's unseasonably warm winter. The heat and lack of snow has had a negative effect on snow plow fleets and farmers, in addition to ski resorts, while golf courses have benefited.
Related coverage:
- The ski season isn't a washout yet, but it's not going to be great
- Warm winter gives a boost to Colorado golf courses while plow fleets sit idle
- Ice Castles in Cripple Creek open Saturday, Jan. 10, after historically warm temperatures
- Uncertainty growing for Colorado farmers as drought conditions persist
- Colorado kicks off the winter season with tie for worst snowpack on record
- Colorado ski resorts adjust to slow start as warm temperatures linger
- This is the driest start to our snow season ever, but experts are not yet concerned
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