Looks like MCP, is going to try to purchase all of the Santiago areas along with Pillán (Villarrica) and Volcán Osorno further south. If all 4 Santiago areas are a single resort under a single pass, that would make for a very sizeable resort with 3 separate base villages.
https://www.mcp.ski/mcp-announces-intent
Note: The merger/sale is contingent on government approval, which I do not believe MCP has received for La Parva's acquisition.
Yes, it is long overdue. I am surprised one of the larger ski companies did not try this, but good for MCP making it happen. I am afraid some did look at it and might have seen a difficult business case:
- The Lift infrastructure is some of the worst in the world for a major ski area. I am sure that over 50% of the lifts are still surface lifts - similar to those found in European ski resorts of the 1980s - and all slow chairlifts, except for Valle Nevaos' HSQ and Gondola.
- 3 Base Villages? La Parva is exclusively comprised of private apartments and condos for wealthy Chilean families; it's challenging to rent anything.
- Valle's hotels are from the 1980s vintage - and like Las Lenas, Argentina, they need a bit of renovating.
- El Colorado/Farellones - needs a better lift link.
- Needs a better access road - cannot reliably support two-way traffic.
However, Chile is now the wealthiest South American country due to its mineral resources, and China (similar to Argentina in the early 1900s, which provided beef to Western nations and became one of the top 5 economies in terms of GDP per person).
Santiago Airport is well served globally with reasonable fares during the off-season and winter. The Tres Valles would become the easiest, largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere.
Durango, Colo. (July 2, 2025) - Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), the largest ski resort collective in the Southwest United States and operator of Valle Nevado and La Parva in Chile, today announced its intent to become the controlling shareholder of Andacor S.A. (Andacor) - the longtime owner and operator of El Colorado and Parque Farellones in Santiago, and majority shareholder of Pillán (Villarrica) and Volcán Osorno ski areas in southern Chile. The proposed transaction is conditioned to the obtention of certain corporate and regulatory approvals customary for this type of transaction.
Founded in the late 1940s by 20 pioneers and led for more than 75 years by the Leatherbee family, Andacor has played a key role in the origins and history of Chilean skiing. This proposed partnership brings together two organizations deeply rooted in mountain culture and family values, united by a shared vision to invest in the future of skiing, both in Chile and on the global stage.
“You cannot tell the story of skiing in Chile without the Leatherbee family,” said MCP managing partner James Coleman. “If approved, this partnership would honor that legacy, building on three generations of tradition to shape the next chapter of skiing in the Andes.”
Andacor’s four ski areas have long stood among Chile’s most iconic mountains:
- El Colorado – Just outside Santiago, El Colorado sits high above the treeline with some of the best access to extreme (backcountry) skiing in South America. It is the only ski resort in Chile that has been family run for over 75 years (three generations).
- Parque Farellones – Farellones is Chile’s oldest ski area. Today, this family-friendly snow park offers snow tubing, sledding, and beginner slopes, serving as an entry point to the mountains, all located at the base of El Colorado.
- Pillán (Villarrica) – Located on one of South America’s most active volcanoes, Pillán offers striking above-treeline skiing, geothermal landscapes, and cultural significance rooted in Mapuche traditions. Unique volcanic backcountry terrain is also available, including treks to the volcano’s crater.
- Volcán Osorno – Volcán Osorno offers skiers and riders the rare chance to carve across snow-covered lava fields with sweeping 360° views of Lake Llanquihue, Patagonian peaks, and rainforests - all within Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. With its rare snow quality, and terrain for all levels, Volcán Osorno delivers a big-mountain experience in a family-friendly setting.
After many decades of growth and contribution to Chilean skiing, Andacor has recently navigated financial challenges, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. MCP’s proven success and the operational efficiencies that can be achieved by integrating the resorts will not only bring greater financial stability to Andacor, but it will also make a decades-long dream come true for the Chilean mountain community - to seamlessly ski across all four resorts, automatically becoming one of the largest ski domains in the world in their backyard. The proposed partnership is both timely and full of potential, said Richard Leatherbee, who was Andacor CEO for nearly 30 years.
“Our heart, hopes and history have been in this business since my parents founded Andacor in 1949,” said Leatherbee. “In MCP, we have found a true partner who shares our values, our passion for the mountains and our belief in the future of skiing in Chile. This partnership would not only preserve the legacy of El Colorado, Parque Farellones, Pillán (Villarrica) and Volcán Osorno, it would create new opportunities to elevate and grow the skiing experience for generations to come.”
www.andestouring.com
