Indy Pass Keeps Adding Resorts – like Vermont’s Jay Peak

The Indy Pass is on a roll. The upstart pass program created last year by Portland (OR) marketing guru Doug Fish, the Pass now boasts 57 resorts scattered throughout the U.S. from coast to coast. Vermont’s Jay Peak (photos) is the latest addition. New York’s Swain Mountain joined the group recently as well.

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The Indy Pass can be purchased for $199, far less than either Alterra’s Ikon or Vail’s Epic. Indy allows purchasers to visit each resort two times during the season. Participating Eastern resorts stretch from northern Vermont (Jay Peak) to North Carolina (Cataloochee). The Midwest group is clustered throughout Michigan, Minneapolis and Wisconsin with one in South Dakota. The Western line up is spread over a large swath of land from Arizona to Alaska with a sprinkling of Canadian resorts in the mix. Of course, as of this writing, borders are closed between the U.S. and Canada.

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The total number of resorts in each region are about the same with 20 in the west, 17 in the Midwest and 18 in the East. There is a good chance than many have not heard of Indy Pass resorts since they tend to be more local and regional in nature except, perhaps, for a handful, with a less commercial veneer.

“We’re happy to be joining this collection of independent resorts who have created an important product in this day where season pass options seem to have an unremarkable sameness about them”, said Jay Peak’s GM Steve Wright.” None of the Independent Pass resorts treat the sports of skiing and snowboarding like commodities; that’s important to us”. 

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The pass offers an industry-leading buyer’s assurance program that provides an automatic 20-80% credit if passholders use their pass less than four days – no questions asked. Prices will increase on December 1, 2020 and again on January 1, 2021.

According to Indy Pass founder Fish, sales are up more than 600% over last year. “Our independent ski areas are just the ticket for individuals and families looking for less-crowded slopes and short lift lines this season”, he said.