California and Nevada Ski Resorts Unveil Upgrades for 2025-26 Season

California Resorts Tout Upgrades, But Will They Actually Enhance Skiing?

Ski California's 36 member resorts in California and Nevada are once again trumpeting a laundry list of improvements ahead of the 2025-26 season. While some upgrades appear substantial, others seem more like attempts to generate buzz than meaningfully enhance the on-snow experience.

Last season saw 7.2 million skier visits across California and Nevada, making it the third-best year of the past decade. However, this still lags well behind the record-setting seasons of the early 2010s. Resorts are clearly hoping these latest investments will help regain that lost ground.

Some of the more noteworthy developments include:

• Homewood Mountain Resort plans to reopen after a hiatus, with a new Doppelmayr gondola slated for 2026 installation.
• Mammoth Mountain is pouring $9 million into snowmaking and infrastructure upgrades.
• Sugar Bowl is embarking on an ambitious $100 million development plan, including lodge renovations and terrain expansions.
• Tahoe Donner Downhill will debut a brand new ski lodge with improved access and amenities.
  

Many resorts are also expanding their learning programs, with several introducing 'First Turn' initiatives for beginners. This focus on nurturing new skiers and riders is a savvy long-term play, though the effectiveness of these programs remains to be seen.

Notably absent are major lift upgrades at most resorts, with the planned Homewood gondola being a rare exception. This suggests many areas are prioritising cosmetic improvements and incremental enhancements over transformative infrastructure projects.

Some announcements strain credulity, like Mountain High's claim that $500,000 in improvements constitutes a major overhaul. Similarly, touting a single new grooming machine or minor deck expansions as headline upgrades feels like grasping at straws.

While any investment in the guest experience is generally positive, skiers and riders should maintain a healthy scepticism towards overblown marketing claims. Many of these 'improvements' are simply standard maintenance or minor tweaks being repackaged as significant upgrades.

The focus on expanding beginner programs and enhancing base area amenities suggests resorts are prioritising attracting and retaining newcomers over catering to experienced skiers. This strategy may boost short-term visitor numbers but risks alienating long-time pass holders if on-mountain investments continue to lag.

Ultimately, the true measure of these upgrades will be their impact on the actual skiing and riding experience. Skiers would be wise to reserve judgment until they can assess the real-world effects once the season is underway. As always in the ski industry, actions speak louder than press releases.