With the pandemic in mind, resorts gear up for the 2020-2021 season
Edited by: JV Staff
In a time when outdoor and socially distant activities are preferred, our six ski resorts across the Pocono Mountains are ready to provide a safe, fun season. The overall guest experience will be different this year, as all resorts have made changes and additions for the 2020-2021 season. In addition to requiring masks, enforcing social distancing in lines, keeping parties together on lifts and adding plexiglass, here is what guests can expect at each mountain:
Big Boulder & Jack Frost Mountain
New in 2020-2021
- Pass holder reservations required to manage the number of guests on-mountain
- Epic Pass holders get priority access to reservation days, access to Vail Resorts around the country (on sale until 12/6)
- Quad chairlift is back in action – all 9 lifts will be in operation
- Ski & Ride School classes max size of 6
- Cashless transactions
- Tables inside lodge removed and not encouraging sit-down eating, bag drops in lodge
Blue Mountain Resort
New in 2020-2021
- Rental/ticket sales exclusively online
- Ticket windows closed, replaced with outdoor redemption kiosks
- Adding food trucks, encouraging tailgating, implementing software for guests to order food online and take it to-go
- Adding 50 new fan guns and making snowmaking 100% automated on Burma Road Trail
- No ski pant or jacket rentals this year (equipment rentals available)
Shawnee Mountain
New in 2020-2021
- New rental equipment – 500 new sets of skis and 700 new pairs of boots
- Adding private, family group lessons
- Adding outdoor, heated tent for guests who bring their own food
- Upgrades to overall snowmaking system
- Introducing unique snowshoe race and weekly Uphill Ski Club (Wednesday mornings beginning 1/6)
- Online preferred for rental/ticket sales, mandatory for tubing
- Encouraging guests to get dressed at their vehicles
Camelback Mountain
New in 2020-2021
- New chair lift, Sunbowl Quad, connecting Camelback Mountain Adventures with main base at Sullivan Lift
- New Camelback Ski & Ride Academy – with dedicated locations for each of its 3 instructional programs (SnowClub for kids, SnowPro Group for group lessons and SnowPro Private for private lessons), rentals, ticketing area and drop off to minimize contact
- Redesigned and expanded ski school for kids (SnowClub) at Mountain Adventures basecamp with dedicated lodge and lift allowing for families to connect after lessons
- Sunbowl Trail redesigned and widened with upgraded snowmaking system
- Adding food trucks, beer garden and heated, tented areas for outdoor dining
- Developing QR Code and adding outdoor kiosks for contactless ticket sales (online still preferred)
Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain
New in 2020-2021
- Touchless payment – lift tickets will be purchased online and RFID picked up at on-site kiosk for direct to lift access
- Streamlined rentals – rental equipment will be purchased online with required rental information provided to shorten equipment fitting times
- Online tubing reservations – purchase online and pickup at kiosk. Limited quantities available for each session
- Forgot your goggles? The mountain accessory shop is now available at the ticket window
- Lesson reservations required
For the most up-to-date information regarding opening dates and snow conditions, visit the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau’s Snow Conditions page. Before hitting the mountain for skiing, snowboarding or snowtubing, check out our live cameras showing real-time action on your favorite slopes!
Before heading out, review these best practices from the Ski Well, Be Well initiative.
