Imagine you just woke up to a beautiful bluebird morning. It just dumped a foot of fresh powder and you’re itching to get after it. You gear up, grab your skis and run out the door. As your eyes gaze upon the liftline, you realize the only two people in line are your buds. The three of you hop on the lift and head up the mountain. Below are a handful of runs, all untouched. You end up skiing deep powder until the lifts stop turning. After a long day on the mountain you soak in the hot tub and sip a beer with the homies. This may sound like a dream, but for a private resort member, this is just another day in the life.
To most skiers in the United States, this dream ends with a beeping alarm clock. Private ski resorts are few and far between, and are primarily for the one-percent of the one-percent. Though if money were no object, some of these resorts sound quite intriguing.
In general, private ski resorts are run much like a country club in your home town. To be a member, you have to pay some kind of yearly or monthly fee to be a member. With no surprise this often comes in at a hefty price. The Yellowstone Club, for example costs a minimum of $250,000 USD to become a member of the exclusive Montana ski resort. This is chump change compared to the price of a home at the club, upwards of $35 million USD.
When you are paying a quarter of a million dollars to join a club, the amenities are quite nice. Aside from the mountain, most private ski clubs offer a golf course and a run-way for your private jet. There is typically access to private dining experiences, health clubs, movie theatres, snowcat access, and hundreds of opportunities to put it on the tab.
Some of the more notable in the United States are The Hermitage Club (Vermont), The Yellowstone Club (Montana), and The Cimarron Club (Colorado).
The Cimarron Club, situated in the San Juan Range, between Telluride and Crested Butte is the newest private ski resort in the country. Cimarron’s ski terrain consists of 5 different zones on nearly one thousand privately owned skiable acres. With a 15 member capacity and terrain only accessible by snowcat, members will likely have fresh powder for weeks after a storm. The Cimarron Club is in the process of building a base lodge, club cabins, staff housing, high speed internet and warming huts across the mountain. Membership will come in at nearly $60,000 USD a year, not including housing.
Outside of the United States, private resorts do pretty well. In Ontario they are common and not entirely closed off to the public. Many private ski clubs in Ontario often sell passes to non-member locals and college students. Of course these folks do not get all of the luxury of the members, but they do get access to the mountain.
Private ski resorts don’t necessarily have to be to Aspen and Vail standards. As long as they are privately owned and closed to the public, they’re legitimate. Maybe a private resort would be a more realistic answer to the aspired Mount Newschoolers.
Yearly membership starting at $420.69 USD.
To most skiers in the United States, this dream ends with a beeping alarm clock. Private ski resorts are few and far between, and are primarily for the one-percent of the one-percent. Though if money were no object, some of these resorts sound quite intriguing.
In general, private ski resorts are run much like a country club in your home town. To be a member, you have to pay some kind of yearly or monthly fee to be a member. With no surprise this often comes in at a hefty price. The Yellowstone Club, for example costs a minimum of $250,000 USD to become a member of the exclusive Montana ski resort. This is chump change compared to the price of a home at the club, upwards of $35 million USD.
When you are paying a quarter of a million dollars to join a club, the amenities are quite nice. Aside from the mountain, most private ski clubs offer a golf course and a run-way for your private jet. There is typically access to private dining experiences, health clubs, movie theatres, snowcat access, and hundreds of opportunities to put it on the tab.
Some of the more notable in the United States are The Hermitage Club (Vermont), The Yellowstone Club (Montana), and The Cimarron Club (Colorado).
The Cimarron Club, situated in the San Juan Range, between Telluride and Crested Butte is the newest private ski resort in the country. Cimarron’s ski terrain consists of 5 different zones on nearly one thousand privately owned skiable acres. With a 15 member capacity and terrain only accessible by snowcat, members will likely have fresh powder for weeks after a storm. The Cimarron Club is in the process of building a base lodge, club cabins, staff housing, high speed internet and warming huts across the mountain. Membership will come in at nearly $60,000 USD a year, not including housing.
Trail Map of The Cimarron Club.
Outside of the United States, private resorts do pretty well. In Ontario they are common and not entirely closed off to the public. Many private ski clubs in Ontario often sell passes to non-member locals and college students. Of course these folks do not get all of the luxury of the members, but they do get access to the mountain.
Private ski resorts don’t necessarily have to be to Aspen and Vail standards. As long as they are privately owned and closed to the public, they’re legitimate. Maybe a private resort would be a more realistic answer to the aspired Mount Newschoolers.
Yearly membership starting at $420.69 USD.
