The Most Scathing Comments from the 2023 Reader Resort Survey

Ah, opinions. We’ve all got one. And some skiers were more than happy to unleash theirs while responding to SKI’s annual Reader Resort Survey. 

We get it: We all have a bad day on the slopes every once in a while. The stress the pandemic put on resorts over the last couple of seasons continued to impact the guest experience, from lift lines and grooming to parking and dining, and visitors’ nerves started to wear. Complaining is part of the human condition, after all. The truth is, we don’t take most of these comments too seriously—keep in mind that aside from a few resorts with bigger issues at play, 99 percent of reader comments are positive. But we all know that one guy…

23 Most Scathing Comments From the 2023 Reader Resort Survey

Deer Valley

“Facilities are a bit ‘long in the tooth’ and are tired and worn down.”

Whitefish

“It’s getting sold out and crowded. Snow is not as good as advertised and lift lines are LONG.”

Telluride

“Telluride has been on my bucket list for years. It should have stayed there. It is overrated and too expensive. Uninteresting terrain, despite what all the fanboys say.”

Steamboat

“Poor lifts, poor grooming, poor snow quality, boring terrain, lack of mountain hosts to question/guide.”

Keystone

“Lots of crowds with entitled Denver locals. The grooming on Mozart is horrendous, like a skating rink.”

Waterville Valley

“Current management is fundamentally clueless about the customer experience and snow quality.”

Snowbasin

“Management is more worried about selling food than getting the mountain ready for skiers.”

Breckenridge

“Vail’s cash cow is getting tired. Time to get away from the Walmart of Skiing.”

Cannon Mountain

“They don’t care for customer concerns and start almost every directive with “You can’t…” i.e. park there, stand there, put your stuff there, ski there, etc.”

Alta

“Stuck in the 1970s. Lifts are small and slow.”

Palisades Tahoe

“I have skied here for 55 years, great mountain but the amenities are really lacking, kind of a dump when compared to high-end destination resorts.”

Sunday River

“Lodges are abysmal, lifts are tired and old, and their once awesome snowmaking and grooming is only good now.”

Sugarbush

“The resort has lost its unique flavor and is now just another crowded Ikon resort.”

Jackson Hole

“Lots of attitude, not a lot of service. Not friendly.”

Vail

“Full of obnoxious new money, pushy Wall Street types trying to impress. Almost impossible to find dinner if you don’t have reservations at a fancy restaurant.”

Whiteface Mountain

“It’s like every day they’re trying to open a ski area or run one for the first time ever, without knowing what they’re doing. Broken lifts, for the WHOLE SEASON!”

Okemo Mountain Resort

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It breaks my heart a bit, but Okemo used to provide a stunningly friendly experience with exceptional guest service and now fails on all fronts to deliver a quality experience.”

Stowe Mountain Resort

“If you want to wait in traffic and long lift lines and drive around looking for parking, this is your spot. Profits over customers is bad business.”

Big Sky

“Used to be my very favorite area. Now with the lodging, ticket pricing, and tram add-ons it simply isn’t an option to take my family there.”

Taos

“I’m certain that some MBA management-type can explain away their staffing shortages, but if I’m buying a pass seven months ahead of my visit, I expect lifts and terrain to be open and restaurants to be stocked and staffed.”

Snowbird

“The Bird is blown! Almost everything is a hassle, from finding parking, waiting in line to get a ticket, waiting in line on powder days, only to find it’s all tracked up once you get to the top of the mountain.”

Gore Mountain

“Customer service is below average. Snowmaking and grooming is mediocre. Still can’t figure out how to lay out a lift line maze.”