Peak Resorts
Peak Resorts was a United States ski-resort operator that expanded from Missouri into the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast before being acquired by Vail Resorts in 2019.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Peak Resorts was a publicly traded United States company that owned, operated, or leased a portfolio of ski areas across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Based in Wildwood, Missouri, the company developed from a small Missouri recreation business founded by Tim Boyd in 1977 into a regional mountain-resort platform. Its operations included skiing, snowboarding, terrain parks, lessons, rentals, food and beverage, lodging-related services at selected destinations, and season-pass products. The business began when Boyd acquired Wildwood Golf Course in 1977. In 1982, the company added a ski operation that became Hidden Valley Ski Area in Missouri, followed by Snow Creek near Weston, Missouri. It subsequently expanded through acquisitions and operating arrangements in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and other regional markets. The portfolio included a mixture of larger destination mountains and smaller day-use ski areas, allowing Peak Resorts to serve both local metropolitan markets and destination-oriented winter travelers. A significant growth phase came in 2007, when Peak Resorts acquired Mount Snow in Vermont and Attitash in New Hampshire from American Skiing Company. The transaction substantially increased the number of skiers visiting the company’s properties and broadened its presence in New England. Peak later acquired or operated additional properties, including Wildcat Mountain, Hunter Mountain, and several Pennsylvania resorts. In the 2016–17 season, it introduced the Peak Pass, a multi-resort product linking seven of its Northeast mountains. Peak Resorts became a public company in 2014, listing its common stock on Nasdaq under the symbol SKIS. Public ownership provided a financing and reporting structure for a company whose strategy depended heavily on acquiring and improving ski areas. Its resort portfolio remained exposed to weather conditions, regional competition, capital requirements, and the seasonal nature of winter recreation. In July 2019, Vail Resorts announced an agreement to acquire Peak Resorts. The transaction closed on September 24, 2019, after the required approvals. Peak Resorts’ common stock was delisted from Nasdaq at the close of trading that day. The acquisition ended Peak Resorts as an independent publicly traded company, while many of its resort properties became part of Vail Resorts’ operating portfolio.
History
Peak Resorts originated in 1977 when Tim Boyd acquired Wildwood Golf Course in Wildwood, Missouri. The purchase was financed by the seller, and the business initially operated as a local recreation enterprise. Five years later, Boyd expanded into winter sports by adding a ski resort that became Hidden Valley Ski Area. Peak subsequently opened Snow Creek near Weston, Missouri, establishing a two-resort Missouri base serving the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. The company then pursued a regional expansion strategy. It added Paoli Peaks in Indiana and developed a presence in Ohio through Boston Mills and Brandywine. Some properties were owned directly, while others were operated under lease or management arrangements. In 2002, Peak acquired Crotched Mountain Ski & Ride in New Hampshire, a ski area that had been closed for more than a decade. Peak rebuilt the site, including a new lodge and redesigned trails, and reopened it in 2003. Peak’s scale changed materially in 2007 when it acquired Mount Snow in Vermont and Attitash in New Hampshire from American Skiing Company. The transaction nearly tripled the company’s revenue according to the contemporary account summarized in the company’s Wikipedia article, and increased reported skier visits from approximately one million to approximately 1.7 million. It also gave Peak a stronger position in New England, where Mount Snow and Attitash served as larger destination-oriented resorts. In 2010, Peak announced a purchase and sale agreement for Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire, further broadening its New England portfolio. The company continued to assemble a network of resorts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Its portfolio at its peak included Crotched Mountain, Big Boulder, Jack Frost, Attitash, Mount Snow, Wildcat Mountain, Hunter Mountain, Liberty Mountain, Roundtop, Whitetail, Hidden Valley, Snow Creek, Paoli Peaks, Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, and Mad River Mountain. The properties varied substantially in size and operating model. Some were major ski destinations, while others were local hills or facilities operated under contract or lease. Peak Resorts became publicly traded in 2014. Its shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker SKIS on November 21, 2014. The initial public offering comprised 10 million common shares priced at $9 per share, with the offering closing on December 1, 2014. As a public company, Peak had to balance expansion and resort investment with the financial volatility associated with weather-dependent, highly seasonal operations. In late 2015, Peak announced plans to acquire Hunter Mountain, adding its first New York mountain. The transaction closed in January 2016. For the 2016–17 season, the company launched the Peak Pass, which linked seven Northeast resorts and represented an effort to increase customer retention and cross-resort usage through a unified pass structure. Peak Resorts’ independent existence ended in 2019. On July 22, Vail Resorts announced that it would acquire the company, pending approvals. The transaction closed on September 24, 2019. Peak Resorts’ common stock was delisted from Nasdaq at the close of trading on the same day. Following the acquisition, the Peak Resorts corporate platform ceased operating as an independent public company, while its former resorts were incorporated into Vail Resorts’ broader network.
- 2019
Acquired by Vail Resorts
[1]Vail Resorts completed its acquisition of Peak Resorts on September 24, ending Peak’s status as an independent public company.
- 2016
Hunter Mountain joins the portfolio
[1]Peak completed its acquisition of Hunter Mountain in New York.
- 2016
Peak Pass debuts
[1]The company introduced a pass connecting seven Northeast resorts for the 2016–17 season.
- 2014
Initial public offering
[1]Peak Resorts became publicly traded, with its shares listed on Nasdaq under SKIS.
- 2010
Wildcat Mountain transaction announced
[1]Peak announced a purchase and sale agreement involving Wildcat Mountain Ski Area in New Hampshire.
- 2007
Mount Snow and Attitash acquired
[1]Peak acquired Mount Snow in Vermont and Attitash in New Hampshire from American Skiing Company.
- 2003
Crotched Mountain reopens
[1]After construction of a new lodge and trail work, Crotched Mountain reopened under Peak Resorts.
- 2002
Crotched Mountain acquisition
[1]Peak acquired the long-closed Crotched Mountain ski area in New Hampshire and began redevelopment.
- 1985
Snow Creek is added
[1]Peak opened Snow Creek Ski Resort near Weston, Missouri.
- 1982
Entry into skiing with Hidden Valley
[1]The company added a Missouri ski resort that became Hidden Valley Ski Area.
Products and positioning
A regional, multi-resort ski operator combining destination-oriented mountains in the Northeast with smaller day-use ski areas serving population centers in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
Multi-resort season pass · 2016
Peak Pass
The Peak Pass was introduced for the 2016–17 ski season as a multi-resort access product covering seven Peak Resorts properties in the Northeast. It was intended to connect the company’s mountain network under a unified pass proposition and encourage customers to ski at more than one resort.
Ski and snowboard resorts
Peak Resorts ski areas
Peak Resorts operated a geographically diverse collection of ski areas, ranging from destination mountains such as Mount Snow and Attitash to smaller day-use hills such as Hidden Valley, Snow Creek, and Paoli Peaks. Offerings generally included lift access, snowmaking, lessons, rentals, terrain parks, and related food and beverage services, although the precise mix differed by property.
Brand decisions
2019
Sell the company to Vail ResortsM&ABackground
Peak Resorts had built a substantial regional ski portfolio but remained a seasonal, weather-sensitive public company.
Action taken
Vail Resorts announced an acquisition agreement in July 2019 and completed the transaction on September 24, 2019.
Aftermath
Peak Resorts ceased to exist as an independent public company, and its shares were delisted from Nasdaq.
2016
Launch the Peak PassProduct launchBackground
Peak operated multiple Northeast resorts and sought to make the portfolio more useful as a connected network.
Action taken
The company introduced the Peak Pass for the 2016–17 season, linking seven Northeast resorts.
Aftermath
The pass became Peak’s principal multi-resort customer offering before the company was acquired by Vail Resorts.
2014
Complete an initial public offeringStrategyBackground
After operating as a privately owned resort company, Peak sought access to public equity markets.
Action taken
Peak listed its common stock on Nasdaq under the ticker SKIS. The offering comprised 10 million shares priced at $9 per share.
Aftermath
Peak operated as a publicly traded company until its acquisition by Vail Resorts in 2019.
Initial public offering price. $9 per share (2014 IPO)
2007
Acquire Mount Snow and AttitashM&ABackground
American Skiing Company was financially troubled and its Mount Snow and Attitash properties became available for acquisition.
Action taken
Peak Resorts acquired the two New England mountains.
Aftermath
The transaction substantially increased Peak’s reported skier visits and revenue and made New England a central part of its portfolio.
2002
Acquire and redevelop Crotched MountainM&ABackground
Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire had been closed for more than a decade when Peak Resorts acquired it.
Action taken
Peak acquired the ski area, built a new lodge, renovated trails, and reopened the resort in 2003.
Aftermath
The project restored the property as an operating ski resort and expanded Peak’s presence in New England.
Sources1 sources
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