Vermont’s Ski Boom: A Golden Age, Or Just Gold for a Few?
The champagne corks are popping across Vermont’s ski country, and you can almost hear the cash registers singing. Over 4 million skier visits graced our slopes this past 2025-2026 season, a record that has Ski Vermont’s Michael Chait doing a victory lap. He called the season “phenomenal,” gushing about “incredible enthusiasm” and a “world-class experience.” On the surface, it’s a stunning comeback, shattering previous records and pumping an estimated $1.5 billion into the state’s economy. But for those of us who live here, who truly understand Vermont’s subtle, irreplaceable value, this banner year tells a more complex story.The Price of Popularity: Beyond the Powder
The official narrative is a symphony of success: abundant natural snowfall, savvy marketing, and significant resort investments. Cutting-edge snowmaking and infrastructure have paid off. Resorts like Stowe, Killington, and Sugarbush saw bookings overflow from December straight through April, extending seasons and breaking daily records. Local businesses, from Montpelier bakeries to Manchester boutiques, are celebrating their busiest winter in years. The state government touts the jobs created and the tax revenues flowing into coffers. It all sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? A revitalized winter playground, brimming with prosperity. But step away from the glossy brochures and ski resort press releases, and the picture shifts dramatically. The very charm drawing these millions is slowly being eroded by their sheer volume. Our picturesque, winding roads, designed for a quieter pace, become choked with traffic. Quaint village centers, once havens of local life, transform into bustling thoroughfares. The housing market, already under immense pressure, is now stretched to breaking point. Seasonal workers, the backbone of these booming resorts, struggle to find affordable lodging. Year-round Vermonters, watching property values skyrocket, wonder if they can even afford to stay in the places they’ve called home for generations.The Red Marker Verdict: Who Profits, Who Pays?
Let’s be blunt. This “record-breaking season” is a triumph for the multi-million dollar corporations owning our major resorts. It also benefits a state government eager to tout economic growth. The actual leverage here is pure profit. Michael Chait’s “world-class experience” is meticulously engineered to attract maximum dollars. This often comes at the expense of the very environment and community fabric that makes Vermont truly world-class. While the rhetoric speaks of “sustainable futures,” the underlying motive is relentless expansion. Increased carbon footprints from travel and massive water demands for snowmaking are conveniently glossed over. The sheer volume of waste generated by millions of temporary residents adds to these externalities. The mainstream narrative celebrates economic uplift, but downplays the true cost. This cost includes strain on infrastructure, erosion of our unique character, and increasing inaccessibility for actual residents. This isn’t just economic growth; it’s the commodification of Vermont’s soul. The “hidden value” of peace, nature, and community is slowly being paved over for another parking lot. Vermont offers an unparalleled experience, a true premium escape. We must demand that this success be met with an equally robust commitment to preservation. Otherwise, we risk becoming just another crowded destination, stripped of the very essence that once made it shine. The question isn’t just how many visitors we can accommodate. It’s what kind of Vermont will be left when they’re gone.Photo: Wikimedia Commons (query: Vermont million)
Source: Google News
