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Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Jacob Posada Jacob Posada New York, United States Last Updated: January 2025 NAICS 71392

Revenue

$4.2bn

2025

$4.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

70,054

Businesses

314

Wages

$X.Xbn

Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry analysis

Over the last five years, the ski and snowboard industry has faced many challenges and opportunities. As climate change takes its toll, snowfall levels across the US have steadily decreased, disrupting traditional winter sports seasons and raising resort operational costs. The 2023-2024 snowfall fell 10% below the 10-year average, shrinking ski seasons and pressuring resorts to invest heavily in snowmaking to maintain viable operations. Technological advancements have allowed resorts to streamline operations, enhance skier experiences and foster customer loyalty. Smaller resorts are especially vulnerable as larger companies fight for market dominance through acquisitions and multi-resort season passes. The industry’s revenue grew at a CAGR of 2.0% into 2025, expected to reach $4.2 billion.  

Trends and Insights

  • Economic tailwinds might give ski resorts a boost. As disposable incomes climb, more families are likely to splurge on skiing getaways, promising increased lift ticket sales and ancillary revenue like rentals and dining.
  • Millennials are the key to skiing's future, valuing experiences over possessions. By catering to their adventurous spirit and spending habits, resorts can tap into this market's enthusiasm for unique recreational activities.
  • Resorts are centered geographically near mountainous areas that receive good snowfalls. Being located near large population centers is also beneficial, as transportation costs are low for customers.
  • Resort consolidation has slowed, but the pressure's still on smaller operations. Small resorts face high competition and dwindling customer bases because of reduced snowfall and a lack of capital for upgrades.

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.2bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Falling amounts of snowfall pressure operations' revenue and costs

  • Climate change has significantly hindered snowfall levels over the past five years, challenging winter sports participation and industry revenue. According to Environmental Protection Agency data, snowfall is decreasing by an average of 0.19% annually across the US. The 2023-2024 season’s snowfall totaled 158 inches, 10% below the 10-year average. Less snow and higher temperatures shortened the average ski season in the 2000-2019 period between 5.5 and 7.1 days, compared to 40 years earlier.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic tailwinds poised to boost resorts

  • As the global economy shows signs of strengthening, disposable income trends among consumers are on an upward trajectory. With falling interest rates and managed inflation, more families will find extra cash in their pockets, prompting a surge in leisure spending. Over the last five years, the ski and snowboard industry has seen revenue move with disposable incomes, suggesting a potential boom ahead as income levels are projected to climb steadily.

Biggest companies in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025
Vail Resorts, Inc.
1,325.9
223.9
16.9
Alterra Mountain Company
551.9
52.6
9.5
Boyne Resorts
275.9
18.9
6.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Skiing facilities, Food and beverages and Ski schools. Skiing facilities is the largest segment of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US.

Trends and Insights

Skiing facilities grow amid rising disposable incomes

  • Skiing facilities are the primary products offered by the industry.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Ski and snowboard resorts engage in operating downhill, cross-country or similar skiing areas, or operating equipment, like ski lifts and tows. Resorts often provide food and beverage services, equipment rental services and ski instruction services. Four-season resorts without accommodations are also included in this industry, but companies that own and do not operate ski resorts are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Operation of alpine, cross-country, downhill and four season skiing facilitiesSki school operation Food and beverage salesEquipment rental

Companies

Vail Resorts, Inc.Alterra Mountain CompanyBoyne Resorts

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

SUSTAINABLE SLOPES GRANT PROGRAMDESTINATION SKIERIN-STATE SKIER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 71392 - Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Economic tailwinds might give ski resorts a boost. As disposable incomes climb, more families are likely to splurge on skiing getaways, promising increased lift ticket sales ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Millennials are the key to skiing's future, valuing experiences over possessions. By catering to their adventurous spirit and spending habits, resorts can tap into this marke...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Resorts are centered geographically near mountainous areas that receive good snowfalls. Being located near large population centers is also beneficial, as transportation cost...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Resort consolidation has slowed, but the pressure's still on smaller operations. Small resorts face high competition and dwindling customer bases because of reduced snowfall ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Technological advances and rising infrastructure costs have made acquiring competitors more feasible for larger operators, compared to building a new resort which requires sig...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Vail Resorts, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Alterra Mountain Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Boyne Resorts's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Vail Resorts, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Alterra Mountain Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Boyne Resorts, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Ski resorts are subject to various federal, state, regional and local laws and regulations. For example, companies must comply with the National Forest Management Act and the...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Depreciation costs are soaring as ski resorts modernize their facilities. This investment in lifts, snowmaking equipment, and other amenities is crucial for drawing younger c...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States in 2025?

The market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States is $4.2bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in 2025?

There are 314 businesses in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts market in United States are Vail Resorts, Inc., Alterra Mountain Company and Boyne Resorts

What does the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US in United States include?

Operation of alpine, cross-country, downhill and four season skiing facilities and Ski school operation are part of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Vail Resorts, Inc..

How competitive is the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States.

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Complementors

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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