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A brief history of federal lift ticket regulation
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- DeepHorus
For decades, the U.S. Forest Service held direct authority over lift ticket prices at many western ski resorts, a regulatory role that has since dramatically faded. In 1975, when the Aspen Skiing Company sought to raise its ticket price from $10 to $12, it required explicit permission from the federal agency. This demand was not unusual; ski resorts operating on public land under Forest Service permits had to justify price hikes to federal employees.
The historical context reveals a time when federal oversight was considered a standard part of the ski business. Most resorts in the western U.S. operated under special-use permits, granting the Forest Service a clear mandate to regulate prices on public lands. Erik Martin, a Forest Service ski resort specialist in the 1970s, recalled that company managers would approach his office 'with their hat in their hand' to request even small increases, as the agency 'controlled everything.'
The Aspen case became a prominent flashpoint. Following a surge of public opposition, including letters from residents and attention from U.S. Senator Floyd Haskell, the Forest Service intervened. It ultimately denied Aspen's 20% proposed increase, allowing only a 10% hike to $11. This price point, adjusted for inflation, is roughly equivalent to $66 in 2026 dollars, starkly contrasting with today's $254 one-day ticket at Aspen.
This regulatory intervention highlights a significant shift in the industry's structure and costs. A one-day ticket at Vail, which had matched Aspen's rates in the mid-70s, now costs up to $356. This represents a 436% increase beyond the inflation-adjusted 1975 rate, illustrating the soaring costs for consumers as federal oversight waned.
The decline in regulatory action is attributed to broader industry deregulation that began under President Jimmy Carter and continued with subsequent administrations. This shift has allowed the ski market to consolidate, moving closer to a duopoly, while the Forest Service's regulatory will has 'atrophied.' The agency technically retains price-control authority but rarely exercises it, leaving skiers to protest high costs through other means.
The origins of this federal role trace back to the industry's early days. Many western ski areas were initially built with public funds on public land through New Deal programs like the WPA and CCC. The federal government later stepped back from direct operation but maintained strict regulatory control over development and operations. While the Forest Service still manages the land, its active role in setting prices is largely a relic of the past.
