Vail Resorts reported a 20% decline in skier visits so far at its 26 North American mountains, as historically weak snowfall in the West took its toll.
The year-over-year figure accounts for ski areas visits through Jan. 4, which includes the holiday season.
"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 season," Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said in a Jan. 15 statement.
He said that snowfall across Vail's western U.S. resorts was approximately 50% below the historical 30-year average. In Colorado, it was 60% off that average, resulting in just 11% of terrain at Vail's six ski areas in the state being open in December.
Better than average snowfall across Vail's eight Northeastern resorts have helped visitation there offset weak numbers in the West, but only partially.
Despite the sharp drop in visitation, Vail's lift revenue was off only 1.8% through the holidays. The figure, which includes daily lift tickets sales and an allocated portion of Epic Pass revenue, demonstrates the protection that season-pass sales provide Vail against snowfall-related volatility.
But Vail's ancillary sales aren't similarly insulated. The company said season-to-date ski school revenue was off 14.9% through Jan. 4, and dining revenue was down 15.9%. Retail/equipment rental revenue dipped 6%.
Katz said that snowfall picked up in the Rockies immediately after the holidays, although it remains near historical lows for this time of year.
At Vail Mountain Resort, for example, 155 of 277 runs were open Jan. 15, and most of those were beginner or intermediate terrain. Vail's famed back bowls remain closed. At Park City Mountain Resort, 183 of 349 runs were open Thursday.