So, we rode the lift with a patroller yesterday who kinda gave us the scoop on the whole park thing:
Basically, the new management wants multiple park locations, while simultaneously cutting the park budget a bit. So, with less money and more terrain to cover, they ditched the park pass. He didn't seem too thrilled on the developments, either. They've seen more dangerous behavior already.
On the one hand, management seems to be trying to make the parks big and good enough to attract more people and maybe compete with Snoqualmie, but safety is kinda being sacrificed at the moment. Apparently the new management comes from Mountain High, so they may just be applying some philosophies from there, which isn't necessarily the best for up here. They do seem to be supportive at least in word, so hopefully they'll be willing to change if stuff doesn't work out.
But big ups to park crew for doing big things so soon in the year and with what they've been given. They're killing it right now.