Despite an awful drought that kept skiers away from California Ski areas, Vail Resorts just reported $241.1 million in third-quarter earnings, up 18.9% from the same period in fiscal 2013. So if no one was skiing at Vail's Tahoe properties, where did the money come from? A surge in visitation at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone as well as loads of cash from ski passes, lodging, dining, lessons, and ski rentals, proves that Vail is very, very good at making money. To cap it off, spring sales of Vail Resorts' popular Epic Pass have hit records. So why should you care? Well, with its foot in the door in Utah and more money in its pocket, we expect Vail Resorts to just keep getting bigger.
· Vail earnings up 19% on rising visitation, Colorado resort spending [Denver Post]
· How the Vail Takeover May Impact Utah's 'Big Seven' Resorts [Curbed Ski]
· All Vail Coverage [Curbed Ski Archives]