1970s Lift Ticket Illustrates Inflation Within Ski Industry

A skier, who goes by the name u/AmbientAltitude on Reddit, shared with the r/skiing group that he found his parents' ski brochure to Killington, Vermont from back the 1978/79 season. He reported that the lift ticket prices are "so affordable he wants to cry."

Prices these days, by themselves, are enough to make most of us cry. However, this skier had other reasons for feeling nostalgic. See below.

Two days of skiing, at one time, was $25. Hard to believe considering nowadays, one weekend of skiing at most American resorts runs (easily) hundreds of dollars. This skier wrote, "my parents said this was the coldest ski trip (or location) they’ve ever been on."

They went on to explain that "the ski patrol at Killington was advising anyone there to not do more than one run at a time without going inside to warm up because the risk of frostbite was basically guaranteed."

All in all, his reflection at the end said, "Loved finding this - and especially seeing how insanely affordable lift prices are. For a jump scare compare to lift tickets for upcoming 2025 season at Killington."

For reference, this season, lift tickets were $189 for one day, for adults. Someday, we will likely look back and think we had it so good. $25 in 1979 is estimated to be equivalent to $108.31, according to the US Inflation Calculator.

Check out the other pages of the brochure below. There's a vintage trail map, a few nostalgia-inducing photos, and a whole lot of late-70s ski lingo.

In all seriousness, inflation is likely preventing many people from skiing, and it is a shame prices are so high. The costs are not just related to the lift ticket, itself. Parking , gear , gas to get to the hill, and lodging are all expensive as well.

Some say these prices are inflated on purpose, to prevent masses from showing up and parking and skiing, but it seems hard to believe considering most businesses (including ski resorts) aim to turn a profit.

Still some blame mega-passes for forcing skiers to choose between only two options. If skiers are not ready to shell out $1,000 for a season pass, they will be forced to shell out well over one hundred for a day pass. Will the industry continue to grow as prices rise exponentially? It seems that way right now, but only time can tell.

Related: Ski Tickets at Purgatory Resort, Colorado, on Sale for $9

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