Industry press release. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) is pleased to report a strong 2015/2016 winter season. The resort’s 560,400 skier visits marks the second highest in Resort history, after a record-setting winter 2014 with over 563,000 skier days.
The 2015/2016 season finished with 407 inches of snow, and 99 inch snow depth making this winter an average year for snowfall in the Tetons. The success of the season is attributed to many factors, including increased air service, JHMR’s strong guest service initiatives and compelling 50th anniversary events that punctuated the winter season.
“This was an exciting year for JHMR from beginning to end,” Jerry Blann, JHMR President stated.
“We hosted fantastic events celebrating the 50th anniversary season, and receiving over 400 inches of snow made Jackson Hole’s conditions fantastic throughout the winter. The addition of the Teton Lift allowed skiers and riders to try out new inbounds terrain for the first time since 1996.
In addition to the strong skier visits, we’re proudest of our strong guest service results. Together with the Jackson community we’ve been focused on world class guest service; we are thrilled to see our scores on a positive trend as it bodes well for return visitation.
Strategically, building winter business is vital to Jackson as a destination, as over time it will help to balance the strong summer business, allowing the Jackson economy to become robust year round.”
Looking ahead to next winter, JHMR will be adding a new gondola to open mid-December 2016. The new Sweetwater Gondola is a significant capital investment, part of a broader and sustained capital investment strategy to continue to ensure a world class experience for JHMR guests.
The new Sweetwater Gondola will also support several specific objectives; to significantly increase out of the base area capacity, and over time to provide access to a new and enhanced ski school facility located in the Solitude mid station area.
The Sweetwater Gondola will be located between the Bridger Gondola and Teewinot High Speed Quad will have a mid-station approximately a third of the way up the mountain in the Solitude area, then continues up to terminate just uphill of the Casper Restaurant. In total, the new gondola will rise 1,276 vertical feet.
Additions to the summer operation are also underway, with a new drop tower added to the Grand Adventure Park. Three styles of jumps from varying heights are offered from the feature with the highest being 60 feet off the ground. The tower will open along with all summer activities on the Grand Adventure Park on June 18th.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will open the Aerial Tram for the summer season on Saturday, May 28th. The Jackson Hole Mountain Bike Park accessed by the Teewinot Chairlift is scheduled to open on June 18th.
New this summer, the Bridger Gondola starting, Saturday, June 18th will be operating throughout the day and into the evenings for site seeing, hiking and dining options at the Piste Mountain Bistro and The Deck.
