Ikon Pass Parent Company to Purchase Its 17th Ski Area
This article originally appeared on Ski Mag
Ikon Pass parent company Alterra Mountain Company will soon have 17 ski resorts under its ever-widening belt. The Colorado-based company announced plans this morning to acquire Idaho's Schweitzer Mountain Resort, a ski area in the state’s panhandle that has been on the Ikon Pass since the 2021-'22 season.
Schweitzer is the biggest ski resort, acres-wise, in the Pacific Northwest with just shy of 3,000 skiable acres. It also benefits from its remote location, pulling relatively few crowds with whom to share the goods. Known for its laid-back vibe and world-class tree-skiing, Schweitzer is also blessed with amazing multi-state vistas across Montana, Washington, and even up into the Canadian Rockies, but the best views are out over Lake Pend Oreille, giving the place a Tahoe-vibe, but without the Tahoe skier volume. The neighboring town, Sandpoint, frequently finds itself on "up-and-coming ski towns" lists for a good reason.
"With an incredible mountain in one of the most beautiful settings in the country and a world-class operating team, Schweitzer has everything we look for in a destination," said Jared Smith, Alterra President & CEO. "The mountain has been a valued partner on the Ikon Pass for several seasons, so we've been able to see the exceptional team, community, and opportunities for continued investment up close."
Get to Know Schweitzer: Party in the Panhandle
If the place sounds familiar but you're not sure why. Schweitzer has been on the up-and-up for the last several years. Investing over $100 million in capital improvements in the last decade, Schweitzer boasts a new boutique hotel, The Humbird, a sweet new skier day lodge, the Sky Lodge, and a terrain expansion and new lifts, with more upgrades to come. One of the most exciting plans is the development of Schweitzer Creek Village, which will eventually include another day lodge and other crucial skier amenities.
Given that, it shouldn't be too surprising that the resort made its SKI Magazine Reader Resort Survey debut at an impressive No. 11 last year. Readers are starting to catch onto this place, commenting that Schweitzer is "truly a hidden gem with great snow, few skiers, and friendly service from the hotels and restaurants to the lifties and instructors on the mountain."
Also Read: How to Choose the Best Season Pass For Your Family
The man behind the big plans, Schweitzer president and CEO Tom Chasse, will stay on at the resort, and no access changes on the Ikon Pass are expected for the 2023-’24 ski season. Full Ikon Pass holders will continue to get seven days with no blackout dates, and Ikon Base passholders will get five days with limited blackouts.
Chasse emphasized the importance of retaining Schweitzer's small-town vibe and commitment to its local skiers. "The company's commitment to preserving the authenticity of their mountain communities while investing in the overall mountain experience is what we're most looking forward to as the newest member of the Alterra family," he said.
That's good news for Schweitzer devotees, Sandpoint locals, and anyone else who plans to visit this unique destination in the years to come.
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