Loveland Ski Area Joins Indy Pass — A Major Win for the Small-Resort Powerhouse

Photo: Loveland Ski Resort

Starting in 2019 with just 34 members, Indy Pass has grown to include 230 no-frills ski areas across the U.S. and beyond this year.

In the last five years, the Indy Pass has emerged as an affordable alternative to the giants of the ski world—Epic and Ikon—offering access to smaller, independent ski areas that embrace the spirit of skiing without the flashy frills of megaresorts.

While Epic and Ikon battled for the spotlight, Indy Pass quietly expanded. This year, the addition of Loveland ski area marks a milestone Indy Pass managing director Erik Mogensen calls one of its biggest wins since launch.

“It’s a complete game-changer,” Mogensen says. 

What started humbly in 2019 with 34 resorts has now grown to 230 no-nonsense ski areas across the U.S. and beyond, including Colorado gems like Sunlight, Powderhorn, Howelsen Hill, Granby Ranch, and Echo Mountain. Loveland joins 52 new destinations added to the pass this season.

“The amount of Indy visits to Colorado is probably going to go up 300% because Loveland is on the pass, which means all these other small resorts like Echo and Sunlight are going to go up with it,” Mogensen said. “It’s a very good thing for everyone, and that’s why a win like Loveland is so important for Indy. People are a little tired and exhausted when it comes to the Ikon and Epic world.”

Indy Pass aims to give smaller, independent ski areas a fighting chance in an industry dominated by resort giants. Vail Resorts, headquartered in Broomfield, CO, owns 42 mountain resorts globally, while Denver-based Alterra Mountain Company has 18. Together, their Epic and Ikon passes cover more than 130 ski areas worldwide.

“Loveland has incredible elevation, early and late season, and it has the right vibe — it’s the Indy Pass experience,” Mogensen said. “For us, Loveland is a massive win, and it’s a shot across the bow to the big guys. It’s taken us five years to crack into a major Colorado resort.”

Loveland has earned its stripes as Colorado’s locals’ mountain, where you won’t find glitzy restaurants or sprawling condo villages like the megaresorts. Just 45 miles from Denver along I-70, it’s the closest escape from the city to the slopes.

The Indy Pass, which gives you access to all 230 partner ski areas, limits usage to two days per resort and caps the total passes sold. This strategy keeps the experience personal, preserving the charm of smaller and mid-sized mountains.

Sales are currently on hold with a waiting list, but the cap will be lifted, and passes will become available for those on the list from Oct. 24-27. After that, a limited number of passes will be released to the general public starting Oct. 28 for $419. Mogensen explains that raising the cap aligns with Indy’s philosophy on capacity management, particularly with the new areas added to the pass this year.

According to Loryn Roberson, Loveland’s communications and marketing director, Indy Pass’s approach to managing crowds makes it a “natural fit” for Loveland.

Photo: MayRiverMedia/Shutterstock

Granby local Mogensen has always had a deep love for the independent ski scene, a passion that’s been with him since his teenage years in Buffalo. Back then, he spent his days carving turns at Ski Tamarack, a small gem just 45 minutes outside the city—until it shut down in 2004. Heartbroken at 16, he poured his feelings into a letter to the editor, which ended up being published in the Buffalo News.

“Tamarack gone! What can one say when a good thing disappears?” his three-paragraph letter began. “Words cannot do justice to the feelings of so many in Western New York … I grew up at Tamarack, taking my first turns at the age of 3. Now I teach others how to ski. I was an instructor at Tamarack for the past three years … Come December, when driving down Route 240 to Kissing Bridge (ski area), I will pass Tamarack. Each time I will remember my last run downhill on a Sunday afternoon in late March. It was great.”

A year ago, New Hampshire’s small, family-owned Black Mountain ski area was on the brink of closure. Mogensen convinced the family to keep it open for one more season while he searched for a buyer. Though he couldn’t secure one, last month he announced that Indy Pass would step in to purchase and operate Black Mountain for this season, with plans to improve it before transitioning ownership to a community co-op. This 90-year-old historic ski area features three chairlifts, a platter pull, a rope tow, and a J-bar.

Black Mountain Ski Area, along with several other non-profit ski resorts, takes center stage in Teton Gravity Research’s upcoming film Mountains Not For Profit. This short documentary dives into the stories of four North American ski areas that thrive thanks to community support, driven by a shared love for skiing and snowboarding. Unlike the big resorts, these mountains are powered by volunteers, donations, and pure passion, keeping the true spirit of skiing alive. Keep an eye out—Mountains Not For Profit drops on TGR’s channels on November 26th!