NY's Swain Resort Introduces Groundbreaking “Family Pass” To Make Skiing More Accessible

Swain Resort is taking a bold step toward making skiing and snowboarding more accessible for families in our community. Recognizing that the cost of winter sports can be a barrier for many, Swain is committed to rewriting the script and ensuring that more families can enjoy time on the slopes together.

Families have been trusting Swain to teach their kids to ski & board for generations. From  1000+ ski club members who learned to ski at Swain, to  second and third-generation patrons who come back year after year to teach their kids and grandkids to ski, plus family discounts, Swain is truly one of the most family-friendly ski areas.

Earlier this season, Swain launched its Adopt a Family Program, which provided three families the opportunity to ski and snowboard at no cost. Now, we are thrilled to announce our next major initiative – a complete restructuring of our family pass program. For the first time in our annual season pass sale, we are introducing the brand-new Swain Family Pass. No matter the size of your family – whether you're a family of three or twelve – you’ll pay the same flat rate. This innovative approach will save families hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each season, making Swain one of the most affordable ski destinations for families. To make it even easier, we are also offering a five-month payment plan to help families budget for their winter adventures.

This new family pass structure sets Swain apart from any other ski area, reinforcing our reputation as one of the most family-friendly resorts around. Swain has recently been featured on Forbes.com for bucking industry trends by keeping rates reasonable and on Powder.com as one of the six best ski resorts for seniors in the United States. Our commitment to affordability extends to all generations, with our $15 pass for children six and under and our $15 pass for seniors 75 and older.

Passes went om sale Monday, February 24th, and will be valid for the remainder of this season as well as all of next season—an incredible value considering that 100% of the terrain remains open with plenty of skiing left to enjoy this year. At Swain Resort, they believe skiing and snowboarding should be an experience for everyone, and they’re proud to lead the charge in making that a reality for families. Swain truly is where families come to play!

Swain Resort is the oldest independently owned ski resort in Western NY, operating continuously since 1947. Originally started by the Robinson family, the hill began with just one T-bar taking skiers to the top of the “Main Slope,” later renamed “Clark.”

Swain was one of the first ski areas to implement snowmaking in the late 1970’s and has expanded to 97% snowmaking capacity. The founding of Swain Resort was documented by Bina Robinson in a full-length book titled “With Our Own Four Hands: and a lot of help from  friends and new neighbors, Swain Ski Area came to be”.

Swain’s founding was enabled by the local community working together, and that trend continued in 2009 when Richard Ash and other local businessmen raised startup funds to help Celeste and Shawn Schoonover take over operations.

Celeste was born into a ski family. Her parents, Mike and Joyce Knefley, operated Ski Denton in Pennsylvania since 1983 when Celeste was nine—she is no stranger to what it takes to run a ski resort! Meanwhile Shawn has worked in the ski business since his early twenties.

It’s truly been a family operation as all 4 of Celeste and Shawn’s children have worked at Swain at various times, along with other extended family members. Swain has been graced by 3 generations (sometimes 4 if you count the grandchildren!) of Schoonover’s & Knefley’s working at any one time.

Under Shawn and Celeste’s ownership Swain has added slopeside properties on the west side of the hill, expanded snowmaking capacity, and introduced a new slope over a mile long. Swain has also purchased the Mountainside Inn and 5 condos to make staying at Swain more convenient and comfortable for everyone.

Swain Resort was the first ski resort in New York State to allow snowboarding and the ski area has multiple terrain parks.

Today, Swain Resort features challenging skiing terrain while still catering to families and schools with beginner skiers. The school club members total over 1000 and are often multi-generational! Voted best ski resort to learn to ski in NYS, they are proud of their ski and snowboard community!

For more information, visit www.swain.com