Perisher, Falls Creek, & Hotham, Australia All Set To Open In Mid-June


Vail Resorts announced today, May 29th, that the Aussie properties of Perisher, Falls Creek, and Hotham will be open for skiing and snowboarding on June 24th, following approval by the New South Wales and Victorian governments.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to open our resorts for the 2020 snow season, especially given the difficult year endured by our mountain communities, and we take seriously the responsibility we have to keep our employees, guests, and communities safe in this new environment,” said Pete Brulisauer, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Vail Resorts, Perisher and Australia. “Delaying our traditional opening from the June Long Weekend to 24 June is intentional to ensure our entire team has the time to fully understand and embrace our new COVID-19 Safe Operating Plan so that we can deliver a safe experience for our guests. We thank our guests in advance for their patience, understanding, and cooperation as we all adapt to the new social distancing measures required to allow us to enjoy skiing and snowboarding this season.” - Vail Resorts Press Release

Though full details as to how each mountain is going to operate, including exact COVID-19 safety measures, have not yet been announced, they are expected in the coming weeks. These measures will likely follow suit with other mountain operations from around the world, including social and physical distancing guidelines, limited services onsite, the requirement of a mask and gloves, and limiting the number of visitors each day.

It has been announced, however, that those looking to visit any of these three resorts will need to pre-purchase a pass or lift tickets. There will be no same-day ticket sales available, which is similar to other mountains that have reopened for late-season or summer operations, depending on location.

For those that have purchased a 2020 Epic Australia Pass, "As previously communicated with guests, final payment for the 2020 Epic Australia Pass will not be collected on 1 June. More information, as well as any changes that might be made to the pass addressing COVID-19 impacts on our season, will be shared by 15 June. At that time, guests will have the option to request a refund of all payments made towards their 2020 Epic Australia Pass and Pass Refund Protection or move forward with their chosen pass product." - Vail Resorts Press Release

As with any mountain resort that is reopening after COVID-19 closures, make sure you have all of the details before heading to the mountain. Remember to follow these mountain's social media pages and head to any of their websites for details and contact information. Even in the 21st century, they all have contact phone numbers. If you have questions, give them a call and they will be sure to help.

Photo Credit: Perisher Resort/FB

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