Snow Business: Update on Okemo, Epic Pass and Vail

LUDLOW, VT — One of the most frequently asked questions so far this preseason from Connecticut skiers and snowboarders is about what happens to the Epic passes at Okemo now that the sale to Vail Resorts has been announced.

To get an update, I called Bonnie MacPherson, the communications manager at Okemo.

Here's her take on it:

"With Okemo and Mount Sunapee now owned by Vail Resorts, Epic Pass holders have more eastern options. The 2018-19 Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, and Military Epic Pass now include unlimited and unrestricted access to Okemo Mountain Resort and Mount Sunapee Resort, and the Epic 7 Day and the Epic 4 Day now offer up to seven and four unrestricted days, respectively.

"Okemo season passholders don’t have to worry. Vail Resorts is still going to honor those passes. But, Vail Resorts is also offering those passholders an opportunity to turn their Okemo season pass into an Epic Pass. Instructions for doing that will be posted at okemo.com very soon, and a list of FAQs is available at epicpass.com.

"For skiers and riders who have been on the fence about buying a season pass for this winter, the window of opportunity for getting the best price on an Epic Pass is closing soon. The price goes up on Oct. 7."

On June 4, Vail Resorts, Inc. announced that it had entered into an agreement to purchase Triple Peaks LLC, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor who has been writing about snowsports for two decades. He is the past president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association. The Snow Business column runs regularly during the season.