Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
One scenario being discussed is the possibility of ski resorts purchasing the public BLM or Forest Service land they currently operate on. At first glance, this might seem like a reasonable compromise—after all, these resorts already use the land daily. But in practice, the implications would be dramatic.
This shift would free resorts from the restrictions tied to their current special-use permits, meaning they could expand terrain, build lifts, or develop new infrastructure without undergoing the existing rigorous environmental review process or allowing for public comment. While state and local agencies might retain some regulatory authority, and laws like the Clean Water Act would still apply, the overall oversight would be significantly reduced.
In an ideal scenario, this wouldn’t be entirely negative. We might see shorter timelines for infrastructure improvements, more on-mountain dining and lodging options, and an increase in ski-in/ski-out accommodations. In theory, it could even open the door for entirely new ski resorts, although building a competitive destination from scratch would require decades and extraordinary capital investment—making this outcome unlikely.
However, it's not hard to imagine how things could go wrong. Public resorts could begin to resemble their fully private counterparts, like Deer Valley or the lower part of Big Sky, with extensive condo developments sprawling into what was once pristine terrain.
Access policies could also shift dramatically. Resorts would no longer be required to permit uphill travel or backcountry access through their terrain. They could impose bans or introduce new fees at their discretion. In a worst-case scenario, we could see resorts begin to go semi-private—or fully private—like Powder Mountain in Utah, which recently closed off a large portion of its terrain to everyone except property owners. Or even more extremely, resorts could follow the model of the Yellowstone Club or Wasatch Peaks Ranch, which are entirely private and off-limits to anyone who doesn’t own land there.
#peakrankings #werankpeaks #skimore #skivacation #mountains #winter #skitrip #travel #landscape #snowboarding #wintertrip #skiusa #skiingisfun #powder #publiclands
One scenario being discussed is the possibility of ski resorts purchasing the public BLM or Forest Service land they currently operate on. At first glance, this might seem like a reasonable compromise—after all, these resorts already use the land daily. But in practice, the implications would be dramatic.
This shift would free resorts from the restrictions tied to their current special-use permits, meaning they could expand terrain, build lifts, or develop new infrastructure without undergoing the existing rigorous environmental review process or allowing for public comment. While state and local agencies might retain some regulatory authority, and laws like the Clean Water Act would still apply, the overall oversight would be significantly reduced.
In an ideal scenario, this wouldn’t be entirely negative. We might see shorter timelines for infrastructure improvements, more on-mountain dining and lodging options, and an increase in ski-in/ski-out accommodations. In theory, it could even open the door for entirely new ski resorts, although building a competitive destination from scratch would require decades and extraordinary capital investment—making this outcome unlikely.
However, it's not hard to imagine how things could go wrong. Public resorts could begin to resemble their fully private counterparts, like Deer Valley or the lower part of Big Sky, with extensive condo developments sprawling into what was once pristine terrain.
Access policies could also shift dramatically. Resorts would no longer be required to permit uphill travel or backcountry access through their terrain. They could impose bans or introduce new fees at their discretion. In a worst-case scenario, we could see resorts begin to go semi-private—or fully private—like Powder Mountain in Utah, which recently closed off a large portion of its terrain to everyone except property owners. Or even more extremely, resorts could follow the model of the Yellowstone Club or Wasatch Peaks Ranch, which are entirely private and off-limits to anyone who doesn’t own land there.
#peakrankings #werankpeaks #skimore #skivacation #mountains #winter #skitrip #travel #landscape #snowboarding #wintertrip #skiusa #skiingisfun #powder #publiclands
