Vail Resorts: Skier Visits Decline 14.9% Due to Record Warmth, Low Snowfall
April 23, 2026
According to a news release, this winter:
- Total skier visits decreased 14.9% compared to 2025.
- Total lift revenue, including an allocated portion of season pass revenue for each applicable period, declined 5.6% year-over-year.
- Ski school revenue was down 12% and dining revenue was down 11.7% compared to the prior year period.
- Retail/rental revenue for North American resort and ski area store locations declined 6.6% compared to the prior year period.
“The winter of 2025/2026 has been one of the most challenging winters in history across the Western U.S., with record low snowfall and historically warm temperatures negatively impacting visitation and spending throughout the season,” said Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz in a statement.
Following Vail’s report that skier visits were down 20% in January, poor conditions continued through March, leading to fewer visits and earlier-than-planned closures for many resorts in the Western U.S., Katz said. In February, snow retailers in the Western U.S. told SESO it had been one of the worst winters they’d seen in decades. SESO
