Vail Resorts offers 50% credit to those who skied during Park City patrol strike — but not in cash
Jan 16, 2025, 2:22 PM | Updated: Jan 17, 2025, 6:04 am
Skiers at Park City Mountain Resort's Canyons Village look down at ski patrollers on strike as they ride the Cabriolet Ski Lift on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — After the ski season took a downhill turn at Park City Mountain Resort with a 13-day ski patrol strike, the company was hit with a class action lawsuit by skiers who visited during that time. On Thursday, the resort responded with an offer.
In the midst of the strike, union workers accused the resort of flying in other staffers from locations run by its parent company, Vail Resorts. As the strike continued, guests expressed their frustration with long ski lift lines and decreased terrain available to ski, creating more crowded runs and safety concerns.
Days after the strike ended and the subsequent lawsuit filing, hundreds more guests sought to get involved as plaintiffs in the case.
On Thursday, Vail Resorts announced all guests who skied or snowboarded with a pass or lift ticket during the patrol strike would be offered 50% credits for each day they skied, which can be applied toward the purchase of a new pass for the 2025/26 ski season. The credits would be offered for those who skied between Dec. 27 and Jan. 8, the company said.
Further, the credits for season passes would be calculated based on eight days and daily passes would be calculated based on the number of days purchased.
For pricing context, Park City Mountain sells day passes that cost as much as $289, and the lawsuit’s lead plaintiff, Chris Bisillion, said he paid $15,000 for his family’s vacation at Park City Mountain.
In a letter to guests who had visited Park City Mountain this season, resort Chief Operating Officer Deirdra Walsh addressed some of the frustration:
“I want to sincerely apologize for the experience you had during the patrol strike at Park City Mountain which ended January 8,” she wrote. “We deeply value your trust and loyalty, and while the mountain was open during this time, it was not the experience we wanted to provide you. We have heard your feedback and understand your frustrations.”
The letter continued to provide credit details and said personalized credit amounts would be sent out in March. Walsh further encouraged guests to review the resort’s frequently asked questions page in the meantime.
“Our hope is that these customized credits demonstrate our commitment to you as a valued Pass Holder. I am confident that our team’s collective passion for Park City Mountain, our guests, and our community is strong, and that we will provide the experience you expect, this season and into the future,” the letter concluded.
Contributing: Courtney Johns, KSL TV
This is a developing story. It may be updated.
