U.S. Ski Areas With The Biggest Cult Followings

[jamesdeluxe]

Disclaimer: we all know that these "Top 10" articles are annoying clickbait designed to cause online arguments but I thought that this one from Snowbrains was an interesting premise. Here are its key points:

• Some ski resorts are popular, but others inspire a near-religious devotion — a true ski resort cult following that drives skiers to proudly slap stickers on their trucks, move across the country for one winter that turns into 10, and defend their home hill like it is family.
• A ski-area cult forms when the mountain becomes less of a place you visit and more of a tribe you belong to. That can be defined by shared rituals, inside jokes, and a loyalty that defies lift tickets and snow reports. It’s not about having the best terrain or newest lifts; it’s about defending your favorite mountain like it is sacred ground because the people, the quirks, and the code make it home.
• Whether it’s the terrain, the vibe, the locals, or just a feeling that’s hard to explain, these ski areas develop cult followings that go far beyond great snow conditions. And the people who love them wouldn’t want it any other way.

They pulled this list from a Facebook thread:

#7 (tie) Kirkwood, CA & Jay Peak, VT
#6 Mount Bohemia, MI
#5 Palisades Tahoe, CA
#4 Mt. Baker, WA
#3 Arapahoe Basin, CO
#2 Mad River Glen, VT
#1: Alta, UT

Thoughts:

• The two entries from the northeast, Jay and MRG, are certainly correct with Gore, Whiteface, Plattekill, Stowe, and Cannon as runner-ups.
• I agree with Alta as #1 but how is Snowbird's fanbase smaller or any less rabid?
• Same deal with Kirkwood and Mammoth -- Tony and many other CAers' fawning devotion to the latter easily puts it in the cult category.
• How is it possible that Taos doesn't make this list? Did ending the snowboard ban, adding the Kachina lift, and tearing down the old St. Bernard Hotel make it less of a cult ski area?
• What about Telluride? Has the incredibly divisive owner soured its cult standing?

 

[EMSC]

Thoughts:

• The two entries from the northeast, Jay and MRG, are certainly correct with Gore, Whiteface, Plattekill, Stowe, and Cannon as runner-ups.
• I agree with Alta as #1 but how is Snowbird's fanbase smaller or any less rabid?
• Same deal with Kirkwood and Mammoth -- Tony and many other CAers' fawning devotion to the latter easily puts it in the cult category.
• How is it possible that Taos doesn't make this list? Did ending the snowboard ban, adding the Kachina lift, and tearing down the old St. Bernard Hotel make it less of a cult ski area?
• What about Telluride? Has the incredibly divisive owner soured its cult standing?

• I would have thought Killington would be in the Eastern list - at least as a runner-up. I think your inclusion of Gore for example is biased based on Harvey being so front and center on NYSblog. General population is far less cultish about Gore for example.
• Maybe they mean AltaBird as one resort, lol?
• A bit surprised to see Kirkwood, While it has a following I perceive Squallywood and Mammoth to have much bigger cult status in Cali.
• Taos has been a shell of its former self for at least 10-15 years as to cult/culture status IMO...
• I think Telluride the town still has cult like status, but at least half the people who love it only go there in the summer time, so not too surprising to not see it on the list for skiing.

I could certainly add a few more potentials to the list (eg Powmow, etc...). But you could spend the rest of you life either defending or dissing various choices for such a list.

 

[MarzNC]

• Maybe they mean AltaBird as one resort, lol?

Wouldn't make sense. From my experience, the "regulars" have a clear preference to either Alta or Snowbird.

I have a chat with a retired grandfather years ago who alternated season passes between the two. He was a Midwesterner who had bought a place in Sandy for the winter season. Was very frustrated that his adult children were not going to bring the grandchildren for ski trips that season for the first time. He had plenty of room to provide free lodging.

I would have thought Killington would be in the Eastern list

Makes sense. Especially given that well heeled second home owners cared enough to buy the resort from Powdr.

• The two entries from the northeast, Jay and MRG, are certainly correct with Gore, Whiteface, Plattekill, Stowe, and Cannon as runner-ups.

Plattekill . . . yes. Cannon . . . yes. Stowe after years under Vail Resorts ownership, not so sure.

I met and skied with a group of retirees in December 2017 at Loon. They were New Englanders who chose to Franconia as a retirement location. Cannon didn't have enough coverage yet. I gathered that the men skied Cannon pretty much every day once there was enough snow. Most of the women were a pickier about weather and preferred to have decent visibility. Later that season I met up with one who was a Ski Diva for a good tour of Cannon groomers. It was a day that the tram was running so I got a view of the terrain underneath it.

How about Smuggler's Notch?

 

[berkshireskier]

Jackson Hole not on the list? Huh?

 

[Tony Crocker]

Jackson Hole not on the list? Huh?

That was my reaction too (see Chris Steiner of ZRankings). Whistler is another glaring omission (see Larry Schick and @takeahike46er, and I'm sure they are far from the only PNW skiers with that loyalty). Palisades and Whistler are probably home to the largest number of elite level freeskiers, which contributes heavily to the cachet of both areas.

A bit surprised to see Kirkwood, While it has a following I perceive Squallywood and Mammoth to have much bigger cult status in Cali.

Absolutely. I agree Squallywood has the greater cult following, but as the seasons like this one (also 2013, 2018, 2022, etc.) stack up where Palisades' quality ski season is so much shorter, I have to believe Mammoth is gaining ground. And with both now on Ikon, it's way easier for NorCal skiers to act upon these circumstances.

I know that James thinks I'm biased, but Mammoth probably has the largest contingent of skiers who ski nowhere else (yes, that's largely due to geography). Strong evidence of this is that there are 6,000 lockers at the Main Lodge, and the ski area has put on indefinite hold any plan to build a new one, because those plans would slash the locker count by more than half, producing outrage from Mammoth's most devoted skiers.

Remember, SnowBrains is based in Tahoe. I'll let Tseeb make the case for Kirkwood, as it's probably his most skied area since retirement. I would have listed Kirkwood among my top 10 thirty years ago, but that was before I started skiing in Canada and discovered Fernie and Castle.

• Maybe they mean AltaBird as one resort, lol

MarzNC:

Wouldn't make sense. From my experience, the "regulars" have a clear preference to either Alta or Snowbird.

MarzNC has this right, and she wasn't even around to read all the former admin and I had on this subject. Both Alta and Snowbird are clear cut cult areas.
James:

I agree with Alta as #1 but how is Snowbird's fanbase smaller or any less rabid?

Snowbird's fanbase is definitely not smaller, but overall it's less rabid. Many of us Snowbird devotees actually like Alta. I say it's like comparing Chateau Lafite to Chateau Latour.

I'll let ChrisC defend Telluride. We have similar tastes in ski terrain but I do not share his enthusiasm for Telluride as a lift served ski area.

How is it possible that Taos doesn't make this list? Did ending the snowboard ban, adding the Kachina lift, and tearing down the old St. Bernard Hotel make it less of a cult ski area?

As I said when I skied both on the same trip in 2019, I find Taos far superior to Telluride as a lift served ski area, particularly with the addition of the Kachina lift. I agree with James about the St. Bernard and feel fortunate to have had that experience in 1993. It was a preview of places like the Sandhof in Lech (thanks again to James for that one!) when I finally got around to skiing the Alps.

MarzNC seems to be an enthusiastic member of the Taos cult, since she continues to go and enjoy it during several dreadful seasons during the last decade that I would never have considered for a destination trip. Taos' ski school weeks are a key cult component (part of the reason for MarzNC's loyalty) which has been retained after the Blake family sold the area.

I definitely agree with A-Basin, Mad River and Mt. Bohemia. As for Mt. Baker, I'd be interested in ChrisC's take as a former Seattle resident. Larry is almost as devoted to Crystal as Whistler. Liz has not skied any of the Seattle areas, but got the impression for old ski magazines that Stevens also has a cult following. You can put me in the Crystal camp for that region because its terrain invites comparison with Palisades.

FYI I asked Liz this question before showing her the SnowBrains article and she immediately listed a clear cut top four:
1. Mad River
2. Alta
3. Jackson
4. Palisades

Vail and Aspen also have devoted followings, and I'll bet if this question had been posed 30 years ago, both would have been on the short list, possibly Sun Valley also. Liz mentioned that in a weird way Deer Valley has a cult following even though we both think it's the most overrated ski area in America.

 

[Harvey]

...ending the snowboard ban...

LOL

I think your inclusion of Gore for example is biased based on Harvey being so front and center on NYSkiBlog

LOL and FIFY.

Gore and Cannon are equally culty IMO.

Plattekill

LOL and I will take some credit for this one.

Let's face it every ski area is a cult. Maybe we are ranking the size of the cult in this thread.

"There is no place like _____________."

If you can put your area in that blank it is culty.

 

[jimk]

I agree with most of the areas mentioned in comments from posters and the areas identified in the Snowbrains article. I would also suggest Aspen Highlands has a bit of a cult following due to the presence of Highland Bowl, Deep Temerity, and other top end expert terrain, not to mention the beautiful scenery, and its earlier identity as a "locals" mountain.

Some other possible candidates, but this is based on minimal personal knowledge: Saddleback, ME (tree skiing), Bridger Bowl, MT (extreme terrain), Jay Peak, VT (exceptional seasonal snowfall for the East).

Regionally, I can think of a few Mid-Atlantic ski areas that might qualify for cult status; Timberline Mtn & White Grass, both in WV, and Blue Knob & Laurel Mtn, both in western PA. Timberline & White Grass may have the most cultists of this group. Timberline, Blue Knob and Laurel (all lift-served downhill ski areas) are well known for tree skiing, a rare feature in the Mid-Atlantic and of high interest to advanced skiers for the precious few weeks each winter when it is feasible, most notably at Timberline.

White Grass is located very close to Timberline and is further south than probably any other consequential Nordic ski center in the Eastern US. It survives with little-to-no snowmaking due to crafty management and a relatively high base elevation of 3200' that affords a decent amount of natural snow most winters. The combo of Timberline and White Grass in close proximity has cultivated a genuine winter community in the area (Canaan Valley, WV) that resembles other avid skier/boarder locations in parts of the US, but also has a unique mountaineer/hippie/hill-billy flavor

 

[Tony Crocker]

Jay Peak, VT

was listed along with Kirkwood as #7in the SnowBrains article.

Aspen Highlands has a bit of a cult following due to the presence of Highland Bowl, Deep Temerity, and other top end expert terrain, not to mention the beautiful scenery, and its earlier identity as a "locals" mountain.

Excellent points, and I should have thought of this due to Paul Kulas being a firm member of that cult. He regularly commuted from Eagle to ski Highlands Bowl and rarely patronized the other Aspen areas. Paul also had an A-Basin pass.

I am quite sure Cannon and Plattekill have cult followings. I am less sure about Gore, perhaps influenced by Liz' lukewarm view and strong preference for Whiteface. Both James and Patrick say Whiteface is first tier and Gore is second tier.

 

[Skieric]

I think there are many other remote small areas that have devoted skiers. Places such as Red Mtn (not so small) and Whitewater in BC come to mind, however there are many others especially in Montana.

 

[MarzNC]

MarzNC seems to be an enthusiastic member of the Taos cult, since she continues to go and enjoy it during several dreadful seasons during the last decade that I would never have considered for a destination trip. Taos' ski school weeks are a key cult component (part of the reason for MarzNC's loyalty) which has been retained after the Blake family sold the area.

Yep, Taos is in my personal Top Five list for assorted reasons. Although more because of Ski Weeks and vibe than terrain and typical snow conditions. Without Ski Weeks as created by Jean Mayer, I doubt Taos would've survived as a ski resort back in the 1960s. The early cult status that was based solely on advanced/expert terrain wouldn't have brought in enough revenue. The ski train from Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s that brought people for a turn-key ski vacation staying at the St. Bernard (3 meals a day included) brought people willing to spend far more money on an regular basis.

I've talked to older out-of-state travelers who have returned annually during the same week for a Ski Week for 10+ years. Meaning they started before Ikon/MC existed. The fact that locals see no reason so go elsewhere to ski is more a function of location, terrain, and vibe. When talking to locals, it's less likely that they have skied other destination resorts compared to locals at other big mountain resorts in the Rockies. Or if they have a fair amount of experience skiing elsewhere, it was before they moved to New Mexico.

The main reason I return to Taos regularly is the Ski Week. For those who don't know . . . a Taos Ski Week is six consecutive morning lessons Sun-Fri--for under $500 total, including tip--with the same instructor and small group of similar ability and interests. Another factor is that I plan trips to Taos based on when friends will be there. The social aspects of a ski trip to New Mexico is as important as what terrain ends up being open. Last February, 10+ people I knew were there the same week, along with 10+ people I met for the first time. A few of the new folks have potential as future ski buddies at Taos or elsewhere. (Was not the week of the SkiTalk mini-Gathering.)

It's also the case that the vibe around TSV is a factor. It's quite different from destination resorts in Colorado or Utah. Some people say that that's because of the way things are in New Mexico in general. In the last decade I've had far more fun conversations in the locker room with strangers at TSV than any other destination resort, both locals and travelers.

 

[Tony Crocker]

When talking to locals, it's less likely that they have skied other destination resorts compared to locals at other big mountain resorts in the Rockies.

In terrain scale and quality (also snowfall, though Taos suffers in bad years more due to its rugged terrain) there's a big gap in New Mexico between Taos and whoever you want to call #2. It's not as extreme as the difference between Mammoth and the SoCal locals, but the same principle applies. With that kind of gap, many skiers will ski exclusively at #1.

I think there are many other remote small areas that have devoted skiers. Places such as Red Mtn (not so small) and Whitewater in BC come to mind,

Fernie and Castle also, though in all 4 of those cases (some exception at Fernie) the clientele is heavily local.

many others especially in Montana

q and Discovery is Exhibit A! I think it's the most deserving Montana area for that kind of reputation. Bridger and Montana Snowbowl are very demanding ski areas but both are the local areas for college towns.

I think to qualify as top tier "cult area," a significant proportion of the devotees have to be non-locals. See Liz' top 4 as obvious examples. Places like Castle and Discovery are still way too far under the radar.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I know that James thinks I'm biased, but Mammoth probably has the largest contingent of skiers who ski nowhere else (yes, that's largely due to geography)

As someone who lives 2,300 miles away and has never skied in California, it's clear that Tony's preference for Mammoth is based purely on his appreciation of its terrain and conditions, not on unquantifiable factors such as vibe or personality, which no one mentions about it. That reminds me of something I mentioned to Jason years ago -- considering how much snow Mammoth gets every year, why do I have no memory of a TR documenting a classic knee- or thigh-high powder day with cold smoke billowing up? Does the snow always get wind hammered?

Speaking of California: following Mammoth, Baldy would certainly be the state's runner-up cult ski area if it were able to be in operation on a regular basis.

 

[EMSC]

Maybe they mean AltaBird as one resort, lol?

I thought the lol would give it away as me joking about it; not being serious.

How do you define 'cult-ish' places. In my mind it's not about places with terrain and quality that the immediate locals like and is potentially 'worthy'. I would think Cult following means significant numbers of people travel from farther distances to go to that place and skip places that are closer to them. That could be longer drives or, for certain destination resorts, flying.

 

[Skieric]

I thought the lol would give it away as me joking about it; not being serious.

How do you define 'cult-ish' places. In my mind it's not about places with terrain and quality that the immediate locals like and is potentially 'worthy'. I would think Cult following means significant numbers of people travel from farther distances to go to that place and skip places that are closer to them. That could be longer drives or, for certain destination resorts, flying.

I think it has to be more than this. Otherwise the list would be the same as the resorts with the highest skier numbers (Breck, WB, Vail).

 

[Tony Crocker]

I would think Cult following means significant numbers of people travel from farther distances to go to that place and skip places that are closer to them. That could be longer drives or, for certain destination resorts, flying.

That sounds like agreement with

I think to qualify as top tier "cult area," a significant proportion of the devotees have to be non-locals.

Mammoth could be considered a fail by that standard, though James disputes that we SoCal regulars are local. Time will tell where Ikon adds significant more people, especially from NorCal, to that fanbase.

Recall also that Mammoth’s access from points east is poor, which James frequently cites as a key reason he has never been there. With the exception of Mt. Baker, all of the areas on the SnowBrains list have much easier access (either air or drive) from major population centers.

considering how much snow Mammoth gets every year, why do I have no memory of a TR documenting a classic knee- or thigh-high powder day with cold smoke billowing up? Does the snow always get wind hammered?

Usually, yes. My best-ever lift served day was an exception.

Skieric's point is well taken too.

I think it has to be more than this. Otherwise the list would be the same as the resorts with the highest skier numbers (Breck, WB, Vail).

And James:

unquantifiable factors such as vibe or personality

As one who had traveled extensively, I find that Mammoth's demographic and vibe are somewhat extreme in the West, with domination by weekend/holiday commuters. I think places like Killington in the East are the closest analogy. But still, NYC skiers have alternatives slightly farther south in Vermont that are lesser quality but more convenient or farther north with the opposite tradeoff. Avid SoCal skiers are much more concentrated at Mammoth due both to its quality and the massive dropoff in quality or convenience of any alternatives. So this leads to the huge numbers that ski nowhere else, which is one of the identifiers of a cult area IMHO. I would cite former admin and Harvey as excellent examples of devotees to a single ski area.

There has to be something compelling about an area that has so many lifelong unique patrons. This doesn't apply to me because I crave variety. And it's not like some of those Mammoth devotees can't afford to ski elsewhere. There's a waitlist for the $10K+ season Black Pass which features preferred parking and lift line cutting.

Mammoth has a case for being a second tier cult area, though far from the level of Liz' top 4 that nearly all skiers would cite. But it fails the overriding argument below due to its extensive elite level intermediate terrain.

 

[Tony Crocker]

It has dawned upon me that all the areas on the SnowBrains list, plus others cited here like Taos, Jackson, Snowbird, Red Mt., Whitewater, Fernie, Castle and Aspen Highlands, are noted for abundant expert terrain and more modest quantity or quality of intermediate terrain. Also Mt. Baldy, Bridger Bowl and in eastern context Plattekill. This is the criterion that would keep Mammoth off the list.

Skier cults are biased against gaper friendly ski areas, which don’t have the

vibe or personality

they want.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

To me, there's a difference between a regulation cult ski area with a specific culture where people put bumper stickers on their cars, usually with a well-known tagline (Alta, MRG, A-Basin, JH, Taos) vs. one that "only" has a passionate, sizable following (most of the others mentioned). Maybe that's what Tony means by second-tier cult areas?

As much as I loved the terrain and conditions at the two unquestionable cult areas, Alta and MRG (I only have a dozen or so days between them), the clubby insider atmosphere at both places made me bristle: e.g. goofing on non-locals as "map readers."

 

[MarzNC]

As one who had traveled extensively, I find that Mammoth's demographic and vibe are somewhat extreme in the West, with domination by weekend/holiday commuters. I think places like Killington in the East are the closest analogy.

I'd say Sunday River also has similarities to Mammoth for the northeast. Very few people live within even 2 hours of SR. There are lots of weekend warriors who own or lease lodging in Bethel or near SR who drive 4+ hours from the Boston area almost every weekend during the ski season. The amount of traffic headed south on a Sunday afternoon going through NH towards Boston is nuts. Boyne Resorts has worked hard to turn SR into a 4-season resort that's a sustainable business after buying it and Sugarloaf in 2007 as ASC devolved.

In the east, Mammoth is mainly known for late season skiing, meaning after April. Like skiing ABasin in late April and into May, it's a social scene with friends and not about off-piste terrain or snow.

 

[MarzNC]

To me, there's a difference between a regulation cult ski area with a specific culture where people put bumper stickers on their cars, usually with a well-known tagline (Alta, MRG, A-Basin, JH, Taos) vs. one that "only" has a passionate, sizable following (most of the others mentioned). Maybe that's what Tony means by second-tier cult areas?

As much as I loved the terrain and conditions at the two unquestionable cult areas, Alta and MRG (I only have a dozen or so days between the two), the culty atmosphere at both places made me bristle: e.g. goofing on non-locals as "map readers."

Perhaps that's what keeps Taos off the "cult" list in comparison to Alta or JHMR. Most locals are welcoming to travelers. I get a different feeling from some locals at Alta in comparison. Meaning when I'm riding lifts as a single. While I've had some good conversations with regulars at Alta, it happens more often at Taos. Don't get the same attitude when it comes to putting the bar down either.

There hasn't been the same intensity to the anti-Ikon feeling at TSV compared to Alta or JHMR.

Now that ABasin is owned by Alterra, will that change attitudes for locals and regular travelers? I only started skiing in Colorado in recent years, mostly because of the higher altitude. Have skied a couple days at ABasin. Once when it was too steep to enjoy from both an altitude and terrain standpoint, and once when there was good snow in the trees but the backside was already past its prime. The second time my crew and I were being guided by a transplanted New Yorker who moved to CO and now calls ABasin her home mountain.

 

[EMSC]

There hasn't been the same intensity to the anti-Ikon feeling at TSV compared to Alta or JHMR.

I look at that and say "yes, but..." . My understanding is Taos may have had to stop operating as normal without having gotten the lifeline of Ikon. It was in pretty deep financial trouble at the end of it's long unique/cult run under the Blake family. What worked for them for decades had changed and they desperately needed changes and cash infusion. Thus the succession of: snowboards allowed, sale to a billionaire and then added to Ikon.

Most regular skiers (eg intermediates) like the ski terrain at places like Angel Fire better IMO.

Now that ABasin is owned by Alterra, will that change attitudes for locals and regular travelers?

Certainly not going to find out this season. Snow was so bad there for nearly the entire season that they had no issues at all with crowds. Al is still in charge (and Alterra gives pretty good leeway to local GM's to run as they see fit), so I would think especially as long as he is around it shouldn't change much. But he is no spring chicken so when the that leadership changes would be when it might shift and could upset things.

Too bad you have not had a great ski day there as yet. I've been fortunate to have many great days there over the years, though of course I'm local. A couple of good ones in March/April last year when snow was actually present in Colo (ABasin 2025).