Newbury, N.H. – Ski areas including Mount Sunapee Resort, Okemo Mountain Resort and Killington Resort closed for at least a week, effective immediately on Sunday to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Industry giant Vail Resorts decided late Saturday it would shutter all of its North American resorts through March 22, and some others followed suit, including the ownership of Killington and Pico Mountain in central Vermont off Route 4.
“This decision provides a pause for the entire ecosystem of our mountain resort communities,” Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said in an online post. “It gives everyone the time to assess the situation, respond to ever-changing developments and evaluate the approach for the rest of season, if we believe it is advisable or feasible to reopen.”
“Suspending our operations is a necessary step for us to take in support of our nation’s efforts to limit the spread and risks associated with COVID-19,” Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort, said in a news release. “This is an unusual and dynamic situation, however, we continue to believe outdoor mountain recreation provides a meaningful escape to nature, which is what made this a difficult decision, but the correct decision for now.”
Katz apologized for the short notice and especially to guests already at the resorts or planning to come this week. He acknowledged it may seem confusing considering the company’s earlier announcements but called it a fast-moving situation with new information coming by the hour.
Vail Resorts, whose properties also include Stowe Mountain Resort, at the start of the weekend had issued a COVID-19 advisory and was encouraging skiers to practice social distancing in ski lodges. Many of the tables were unusually clear and empty of gear at Okemo, the Ludlow, Vt., ski area, on Saturday.
Skiers there on Saturday were also instructed to keep the orange plastic bubbles that normally enclose two of Okemo’s main chairlifts, including a six-seater, open as they rode to the summit. Skiers and snowboarders can normally drop the bubble down on the chairlifts to protect themselves from cold winds or precipitation.
The closing of the major ski areas is likely to affect hundreds of jobs and tourism-related businesses in Vermont towns like Ludlow and Stowe. Whether the resorts will reopen this season after March 22 remains to be seen.
Okemo, for instance, typically stays open until mid-April.
Katz, the Vail CEO, said in his email that, “All our scheduled employees, both seasonal and year-round, will be paid during this upcoming eight-day period, without needing to use any vacation or sick time.”
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.