Arizona Snowbowl Investing $1.5 Million This Summer After Longest Season in Resort History

All Images: Courtesy of Arizona Snowbowl

Hot off the longest ski season in resort history, Arizona Snowbowl is looking to keep riders happy with significant upgrades to a few crucial pieces of infrastructure around the mountain. “These improvements are focused on maintaining forest health, enhancing the state’s best tree skiing, and implementing strategic upgrades for the upcoming winter season,” said the official press release.

Amongst other things, the $1.5 million investment package is going to target snowmaking improvements, terrain hazard mitigation and forest health enhancements, as well as lodging and guest resources advancements.

AZ Snowbowl was able to deliver 185 days of riding last season, over half of the entire year! The ski area closed on June 1, marking its second June closing over the last two years. Though a cold fall and spring temps have helped Snowbowl operate this efficiently, the resort is looking to upgrade key snowmaking operations around the Humphreys Chairlift to make beginner terrain more accessible at either end of the winter.

New snowmaking operations will allow AZ Snowbowl to open earlier in the season

While snowmaking is certainly an expensive project, another large portion of the investment capital will be directed towards forest health and trail improvements. This includes thinning trees and removing dead growth from the forest floor through the ski area’s many glades.

The press release did not specify where on the mountain this work would be taking place, but did say that it would focus on both expanding beginner terrain as well as opening up more advanced options within the resort boundary.

Through the process up upgrading runs and snowmaking operations, Snowbowl is going to be continuing to build upon previous projects, such as the new Aspen Chairlift, which opened last December, and the recently renovated Agassiz Lodge Bar. Part of this guest resource plan includes adding Elan, Dalbello and Lange ski boots to the rental fleet, as well as 1,000 new Smith helmets.

“These investments reflect Snowbowl’s long-term commitment to providing an authentic mountain experience at Arizona’s premier ski destination,” said Angie Grubb, Marketing Manager at Arizona Snowbowl. “By prioritizing forest health, trail maintenance, and resort enhancements, Snowbowl strengthens outdoor recreation in Arizona, ensuring each visit is better than the last.”

The upper-mountain terrain at AZ Snowbowl does harbor some of the most underrated freeride skiing in America, but perhaps the best part of the mountain is the affordability. Kids 12 and under ride for free all winter, and Weekday Passes start at just $149.

Pro Tip: The southwest has great skiing at lower costs than almost anywhere else. A few of our favorites in the area would easily be AZ Snowbowl, Taos, New Mexico, Brian Head, Utah, and Silverton, Colorado. There’s never been a better time to slap a road trip on your bucket list this winter.