I visited Schweitzer two years ago for the first time. I believe that was the first year they arrived on the Ikon pass? Back then, a few locals told me they estimated the mountain was 30% more crowded than pre-Ikon. They also blamed the post-Covid era and general explosion of the region’s housing market. I still found the mountain pretty quiet overall.
As far as the Big Sky trajectory comparison, I don’t see it. I love Schweitzer, but I don’t think it has the same sexy, headline-grabbing marketing potential as a place like Big Sky. I say that because it seems the average vacationing skier in America gets excited mostly about two things: 1) massive acreage and 2) gnarly steeps (that most can’t ski). Big Sky has always had both, and it felt inevitable that one day people would wake up to this place that was bigger, steeper, and even a shorter drive from the airport than just about anywhere else on the continent. Not to mention that Lone Peak just looks like it belongs in a ski magazine. By comparison, Schweitzer doesn’t have the same draw. Sure, it’s a lot bigger than most realize (and room to expand, especially because I believe the nearby cat terrain shares some ownership?) but it’s nowhere near as “extreme” or “big” as Big Sky.
I think a better comparison is Steamboat, and I imagine Alterra sees similar potential. But how crowded would Steamboat be if it wasn’t within driving distance from Denver?
Infrastructure at Schweitzer is larger than most expect, since I’m told the town of Sandpoint is actually more of a summer destination, and the locals consider winter to be the quiet season. So there’s a Jackson Hole similarity there. That said, the resort is really proud of their newly developed hotel at the base - one of just two or three choices - which has a whopping… 31 rooms total.
Schweitzer is definitely an undervalued asset. But I imagine it will be a long time before we see unrecognizable change. At least I hope so…
