Belleayre Mountain & ORDA's CEO Mike Pratt Issues Letter To Passholders

Belleayre Mountain & ORDA's CEO Mike Pratt has issued a letter to passholders. He says:

Dear Passholders,

Thank you for being part of the core group of our most loyal skiers and snowboarders. We enjoy riding the lift with you, hearing your feedback, and getting to know you and your family. Taking care of your mountains is what we do, it’s the business we’re in. Our job is to continue making your experience better. We’re headed into new territory because of COVID-19, but together we can make this a fun season and add many more on-snow memories to our lives.

We are fortunate in the sense that we operate large outdoor spaces. This season will feature several things that will look different, some things that will look better, and a few things that will remain the same. Things that will likely look different are parking and shuttles, lessons, food service, and restrooms. These are areas that are busy on certain days or can become congested at particular times, and they will require modifications to keep everyone more spread out. We are expanding our drop off areas, adding more outdoor seating, and modifying indoor traffic patterns. In buying a pass, you have demonstrated a commitment to us, and we’re committed to making your time at our mountains as safe and enjoyable as possible. Getting you on our lifts, having you enjoy the trails, and seeing you come back for more is our top priority. Our new RFID gates provide direct-to-lift access for everyone, and our online ticketing adds convenience and safety for your friends and family members who are not yet passholders. Gore, Whiteface, and Belleayre each have pages for operational updates prominently posted on their websites where we look forward to keeping you informed. These pages include current information about requirements for masks, social distancing, lifts, and indoor spaces.

A few things that will look better are lifts, lodges, and snowmaking. At Gore we are replacing two lifts, increasing our snowmaking capacity, and making terrain improvements throughout the mountain. The new Midstation Lodge at Whiteface is under construction, along with the installation of a new quad at Bear Den and several snowmaking updates. The Cloudsplitter Gondola has 60 new cabins, new drives, and a new motor. A third floor on the Discovery Lodge is adding 2,700 square feet of indoor space at Belleayre. In addition to these capital improvements, we’ve also added several layers of service improvements to protect your pass investment and provide you flexibility.

New York has been a leader in this COVID-19 fight, and our New York ski areas implemented important changes and have been open throughout the summer. We are excited to see the leaves starting to turn and are actively preparing to welcome you to winter. How things unfold throughout our world will be up to all of us. Respecting this situation- its risks, complications, and protocols- is key to us having a long and successful season together. Our passholders know Gore, Whiteface, and Belleayre best and will help us make the most of a winter that will throw us some challenges.

The most cherished parts of the upcoming season will be about what is staying the same- your favorite trails, the snowy views, the lift rides with your favorite people, and the way our passholders shape the welcoming outdoor cultures of our mountains.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Don’t forget to use your pass to enjoy a fall foliage trip.

Thank you again,
Mike Pratt
ORDA President & CEO