Jay Peak becomes ninth New England ski area to join affordable Indy Pass

Jay Peak is one of nine New England locations on the Indy Pass. (Photo courtesy Indy Pass)

Well, if you’re still holding out on your decision to purchase a season pass (whether that be for COVID-related restrictions or other factors), the Indy Pass is making it more difficult to ignore as an option. 

With the late addition of Vermont’s Jay Peak to its portfolio this week, the Indy Pass now boasts nine New England mountains on its $199 product, which allows two visits to each resort. Cannon Mountain joined the pass earlier this year, becoming the third New Hampshire ski area to do so (Black Mountain and Pats Peak). In addition to Jay Peak, Indy Pass holders can enjoys days at Magic Mountain, Bolton Valley, and Suicide Six in Vermont. In Massachusetts, Berkshire East and Catamount are on the pass; Connecticut has Mohawk Mountain. 

None of the New England ski areas have any blackout dates on the Indy Pass, and passes for children 12 years old and under are only $99. That makes the Indy Pass an intriguing option for families looking to ski this winter. 

Earlier this month, Indy Pass reported that sales for the month of September were up 630 percent over the same period last year. That might partly be because of Cannon’s presence for the first time, seeing how the Franconia Notch mountain is an easy drive from the Boston metro area. The addition of Jay Peak should mean even more purchases as we throttle toward winter.

“It’s encouraging to see the strong interest from skiers and riders who are seeking an affordable way to explore ski resorts in their drive-to regions, Indy Pass founder, Doug Fish, said in a statement. “Our independent ski areas are just the ticket for individuals and families looking for less-crowded slopes and short lift lines this season.”

The pass is good at 57 different ski areas across the country, including spots like White Pass, Beaver Mountain, and Tamarack Resort. 

One of the big reasons for Jay Peak getting involved with the Indy Pass was probably the loss of the Canadian visitor this winter. Last week, with the uncertainty as to when the border will reopen for travel, the resort announced it was refunding all season passes to its neighbors to the north. Canadians account for 50 percent of Jay Peak’s winter business. 

“We’re happy to be joining this collection of independent resorts who have created an important product in this day where season pass options seem to have an unremarkable sameness about them,” Jay Peak general manager Steve Wright told Stuart Winchester of the Storm Skiing Journal, which was the first outlet to break the news. “None of the independent Pass resorts treat the sports of skiing and snowboarding like commodities; that’s important to us. We’re looking forward to a long, safe season and to welcoming Indy Pass Holders to what we think is the most special corner in New England.”

eric.wilbur@skijournal.com