Ski resort owning giant Vail Resorts continued its aggressive shopping spree in 2017 by buying a majority stake holding in premium Vermont ski resort Stowe Mountain.
The deal includes all of the mountain operation assets and skier services at Stowe Mountain, including lift-ticket offices, ski and snowboard schools, retail and rental premises.
The $41million (£32million) acquisition of one of the Eastern US' best known, and most up-market, ski resorts was completed in June, and will bolster Vail Resorts' ski resort portfolio to 13 ski areas.
What's more, Vail will add unlimited and unrestricted access to Stowe with its ever-growing EPIC pass season pass which retails at $859 (£654) and provides access to some 45 resorts across the globe.
Considering the 2016-2017 season pass for Stowe Mountain alone cost some $2,000, making it the most expensive ski pass in New England, there are going to be some very happy East Coast skiers this season.
This latest addition means the Epic Pass will now include Stowe Mountain, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Perisher in Australia; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan and Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin.
Epic Pass holders will also again enjoy limited access to 30 European ski resorts including Verbier and Les 4 Vallées in Switzerland, Les 3 Vallées in France; Arlberg in Austria; and Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta in Italy.
