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particularly important in that region. Somewhat smaller THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY
shares of season pass visits are seen in the Rocky Mountains SKI AREAS INCLUDE NONSNOWSPORTS
(40.2 percent), Pacific Southwest (38.8 percent), Northeast
(37.3 percent), and Midwest (32.8 percent). The Southeast CHAIRLIFT RIDES, MOUNTAIN BIKING, ZIP
region has a much smaller share of visits from season LINE/CANOPY TOURS, DISC GOLF, AND GOLF.
passholders (25.7 percent).
Certain amenities are more prevalent in some regions
NON-SNOWSPORTS ACTIVITIES than others, at least within the respondent group. Resorts
In a revised question about non-snowsports amenities, the in the Northeast are somewhat more likely than resorts in
most popular activities offered by ski areas includes non- other regions to offer scenic chairlift rides (76 percent), zip
snowsports chairlift rides (which 55 percent of ski areas lines/canopy tours (49 percent), ropes/challenge courses
offer), mountain biking (42 percent), zip line/canopy tours (27 percent), and Euro bungee (24 percent). Resorts in
(28 percent), disc golf (26 percent), and golf (21 percent). the Southeast are more likely than average to offer golf (38
Somewhat lower shares offer a climbing wall (19 percent), percent) and waterpark/water features (14 percent). Rocky
ropes/challenge course (14 percent), Euro bungee (13 Mountain resorts are somewhat more likely to offer mountain
percent), mountain coaster/alpine slide (13 percent), and biking (68 percent), disc golf (34 percent), a climbing wall (29
waterpark or water features (7 percent). percent), and mountain coaster/alpine slide (18 percent).

Only 30 percent of responding resorts nationally do not Measuring the number of visits that these various non-
offer any of the identified non-snowsports activities; this snowsports activities generate is also of high interest in
percentage is highest in the Pacific Northwest (62 percent), the industry. Among resorts offering activities in summer,
followed by the Midwest (55 percent), Pacific Southwest water park/water feature usage is particularly high, with
(33 percent), Southeast (19 percent), Rocky Mountains
(18 percent), and Northeast (14 percent).

Geise

Engineering

Handle Tow Lifts

Magic Carpet®

TABLE 2 SKI INDUSTRY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 (PROJECTED)
$30,705,744
NEW/UPGRADED LIFTS $60,056,607 $46,200,487 $96,494,558
$86,805,000
www.sgeise.com OTHER ON-MOUNTAIN $173,244,659 $172,628,388 $9,062,880
570-490-2818
REAL ESTATE $21,028,050 $25,971,555 $223,068,182
30 | NSAA JOURNAL | FALL 2015
SUMMER/FALL SPECIFIC $17,432,951 $22,572,786

TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES $271,762,267 $267,373,216