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Vail Resorts, Alterra Face Antitrust Suit From US Skiers

By  |  March 25, 2026

Four skiers have launched a proposed class-action lawsuit in U.S. federal court against Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co., accusing the companies of leveraging their dominant positions in the ski industry to drive up the cost of skiing and snowboarding nationwide.

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    The complaint, filed Monday in federal court in Denver, alleges that the two companies, together responsible for owning or operating about 60 ski areas across the United States, have violated federal antitrust laws. According to Reuters, the plaintiffs argue that Vail and Alterra have used bundled multi-mountain season passes to limit competition and inflate prices.

    The plaintiffs, who include three Colorado residents and one Massachusetts resident, claim the companies have intentionally set high prices for single-day lift tickets. The lawsuit contends this pricing strategy is designed to push consumers toward purchasing more expensive multi-resort passes.

    The legal filing points to decades of consolidation within the ski industry, alleging that mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships over the past 30 years have resulted in what it describes as two dominant players controlling access to premier ski destinations. The lawsuit characterizes Vail Resorts and Alterra as the only two major operators left at the top of the market.

    Read more: NY Attorney General Looks Into Ski Resorts For Unfair And Illegal Practices

    Greg Asciolla, a lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement: “For years, skiers have been told that soaring lift-ticket prices, reduced choice, and overcrowding are simply the new reality. Our complaint alleges that these outcomes are not the result of healthy competition, but of exclusionary conduct by two companies that dominate access to the most desirable destinations.”

    The lawsuit highlights rising costs associated with the companies’ flagship passes. According to Reuters, Vail’s Epic Pass has increased by 37% since the 2021–22 season, reaching $1,089, while Alterra’s Ikon Pass has climbed 40% over the same period to $1,399.

    Vail Resorts has denied the allegations, stating that the claims lack merit. The company noted that its Epic Pass, introduced in 2008, was intended to make skiing more affordable and has reduced season pass prices by 60% compared to earlier offerings. Per Reuters, Vail also said it has introduced additional lower-priced options in recent years to expand access.

    Alterra Mountain Co declined to comment on the lawsuit, according to Reuters.

    The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages and a court order to end the alleged bundling practices. The case aims to represent a broad class of consumers, potentially including millions of skiers and snowboarders across the United States and its territories who purchased certain lift tickets or passes since 2022.

    The case is filed as Goloja v. Vail Resorts Inc in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado under case number 1:26-cv-01191.

    Source: Reuters