After a flurry of complaints about problems at Stevens Pass ski resort, parent company Vail Resorts said skiers and snowboarders will get a deal if they renew their passes for next winter. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

After a flurry of complaints about problems at Stevens Pass ski resort, parent company Vail Resorts said skiers and snowboarders will get a deal if they renew their passes for next winter. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

Amid rocky ski season with 300 complaints, Stevens Pass offers deal

Vail Resorts said returning customers can get discounts for 2022-23 if they renew their passes by May 30.

SKYKOMISH — Stevens Pass skiers and snowboarders will get a deal if they decide to renew their resort passes for next winter after a turbulent start to the 2021-22 season.

Parent company Vail Resorts notified pass holders across Washington this week about the special offer. The deal requires them to renew or purchase their 2022-23 season pass by May 30, and the discount varies based on the type of pass a customer chooses, according to company spokeswoman Sara Roston.

The offer comes amid a flurry of complaints to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office about problems at the resort, on U.S. 2 near Skykomish, since it opened for the winter on Dec. 15.

Nearly 300 complaints had been filed against Stevens Pass and its ownership as of late Wednesday afternoon.

Skiers and snowboarders have called for pass refunds and better wages for staff, citing long lift lines, parking problems and mountain closures.

Those who now have season passes to only Stevens Pass can get them renewed at a reduced price: $50 off for seniors and $150 off for adults, young adults and teens, Vail Resorts told customers in an email.

The company also sells the Epic Pass, providing a range of options for accessing Stevens Pass and its other ski areas. Current Epic and Epic Local customers who decide to buy those passes again can get a $150 credit for food, lodging, retail items, lift tickets, rentals or lessons at Stevens Pass next season, according to the email.

The 2022-23 passes are not on sale yet, but will be soon.

“We are always listening to our guests and understand their frustrations regarding terrain availability so far this season at Stevens Pass,” Roston said in a statement. “We began working on a potential guest loyalty offer for the 22/23 season over the Christmas holiday, as the challenges in the guest experience became apparent. We hope these offers demonstrate that we are committed to honoring the loyalty of our pass holders as we also work to improve the experience at Stevens Pass.”

This month, the company announced that lifelong Stevens Pass skier Tom Fortune has taken over as interim general manager at the ski area. Fortune is detailing the steps he’s taking to improve operations on the resort’s Facebook page.

Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch acknowledged this month that the season “got off to a slow start” at Vail-owned resorts due to various challenges, including the staffing issues, weather and a surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant.

Through mid-January, 2021-22 season pass and lift ticket revenue was up nearly 26% compared to a similar period last winter, but still down about 5% compared to sales at the start of the ski season before the pandemic, according to a news release from the ski conglomerate.

“Given the challenging staffing environment, exacerbated by COVID-19 related work exclusions, we implemented both a holiday and end of season bonus for our employees, the cost of which we estimate at $20 million,” Lynch said, “and which we believe will positively impact staffing through the rest of the season in conjunction with expected declines in COVID-19 work exclusions.”

Rachel Riley: 425-339-3465; rriley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rachel_m_riley.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Students from Explorer Middle School gather Wednesday around a makeshift memorial for Emiliano “Emi” Munoz, who died Monday, May 5, after an electric bicycle accident in south Everett. (Aspen Anderson / The Herald)
Community and classmates mourn death of 13-year-old in bicycle accident

Emiliano “Emi” Munoz died from his injuries three days after colliding with a braided cable.

Danny Burgess, left, and Sandy Weakland, right, carefully pull out benthic organisms from sediment samples on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Got Mud?’ Researchers monitor the health of the Puget Sound

For the next few weeks, the state’s marine monitoring team will collect sediment and organism samples across Puget Sound

Everett postal workers gather for a portrait to advertise the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County letter carriers prepare for food drive this Saturday

The largest single-day food drive in the country comes at an uncertain time for federal food bank funding.

Everett
Everett considers ordinance to require more apprentice labor

It would require apprentices to work 15% of the total labor hours for construction or renovation on most city projects over $1 million.

Snohomish County prosecutor Kara Van Slyck delivers closing statement during the trial of Christian Sayre at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jury deliberations begin in the fourth trial of former Everett bar owner

Jury members deliberated for about 2 hours before Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Millie Judge sent them home until Monday.

Christian Sayre sits in the courtroom before the start of jury selection on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Christian Sayre timeline

FEBRUARY 2020 A woman reports a sexual assault by Sayre. Her sexual… Continue reading

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

Apartment fire on Casino Road displaces three residents

Everett Fire Department says a family’s decision to shut a door during their evacuation helped prevent the fire from spreading.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

A “SAVE WETLANDS” poster is visible under an seat during a public hearing about Critical Area Regulations Update on ordinance 24-097 on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Council passes controversial critical habitat ordinance

People testified for nearly two hours, with most speaking in opposition to the new Critical Areas Regulation.

An apartment building under construction in Olympia, Washington in January 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
Next stop for Washington housing: More construction near transit

Noticed apartment buildings cropping up next to bus and light rail stations?… Continue reading