Shopping Savings: Afton Alps Season Pass

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial start of ski season and Afton Alps is celebrating this milestone by offering the lowest guaranteed prices on 2014-15 season passes. Afton Alps’ pass line-up features the Epic 4-Day, combining four days out West plus four free days locally, the Afton Alps Family Pass, the Afton Alps College Night Pass, and the Epic Local Pass, offering access to ski the revitalized Afton Alps as much and as often as desired, as well as nine world-class western resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe.

The Epic 4-Day Pass ($369 adult) offers skiers and riders four days out West at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe, and four free days locally at Afton Alps. It allows skiers and riders who traditionally take a ski trip out West to get four free bonus days locally.

Because family is such an important part of Minnesota ski culture, Afton Alps is again offering its standard Afton Alps-only pass in family form this season. The Afton Alps Family Pass will be available to families of three or more ($889 for three family members and $1,099 for four), allowing families to save up to $575 for a family of four (based on two adults and two teens). The savings increase with the more family members you add (immediate family members only).

With its new terrain park designed by Winter X Games builder Snow Park Technologies, Afton Alps has become the place to be for area collegians. The new Afton Alps College Night Pass ($149) allows unrestricted, unlimited use at Afton Alps after 3 p.m. Parents of area college students love this option because it removes any excuses for missed classes. To qualify for this pass, students must show proof of 12 undergraduate credit hours, or six graduate credit hours for the 2014-15 school year.

For $549, skiers and riders who can navigate a few restrictions out West can purchase the Epic Local Pass. The Epic Local Pass offers unlimited and unrestricted skiing at Afton Alps, as well as at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with some limited restrictions at Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. The pass also includes a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. A teen rate is offered at $429 and for children ages 5-12, the pass is$279. A discounted rate is also offered for college students at $499 (same proof required).

For $729 (adult), Epic Pass holders have the opportunity to experience unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at Afton Alps, as well as the best of the rest of the U.S., including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. No blackout days or restrictions apply.  Pass holders can also enjoy up to five consecutive free days each at Les 3 Vallées, France (Courchevel, La Tania, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle) and Verbier, Switzerland when booking in-resort lodging. New for winter 2014-15, Epic Pass purchasers will have access to five complimentary consecutive days at Niseko, Japan–known as one of the snowiest and most celebrated powder skiing resorts in the world.  The Epic Pass pays for itself in just over five days. 

For those who plan to ski or ride solely at Afton Alps, there is the Afton Alps Pass. At $419, pass holders receive unlimited access to Afton Alps with no restrictions. A discounted rate is also offered for seniors at $279 and college students for $269 (same proof required). The child pass is the Epic Local Child Pass at $279.

Season Pass Benefits

Epic Pass and all Vail Resorts season pass holders will receive exclusive offers on lodging, dining, ski rentals, equipment, ski school and special events for the 2014-15 ski and snowboard season at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, as well as Mt. Brighton, Afton Alps and Arapahoe Basin. Season pass holders also receive six Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets, automatically loaded onto the pass. All season pass products are non-transferable and non-refundable. 

Season Pass Insurance Option

Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase pass insurance. All of the Company’s season pass products are non-refundable and non-transferrable; however, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Pass insurance is $20 for adults and $10 for children (ages 5-12). Coverage applies for all season passes, the Epic 4-Day and Epic 7-Day valid for the 2014-15 ski season.

All current prices on Vail Resorts season passes are only guaranteed through Sept. 1, 2014. For more information about the 2014-15 season pass line-up or to purchase a pass online, visit www.epicpass.com.

About Afton Alps

For over 50 years, Afton Alps has delighted the Twin Cities’ families as one of the Midwest’s premier winter destinations. Nestled in the scenic St. Croix River Valley just outside Minneapolis and St. Paul, this sprawling resort poured $10 million last season into re-imagining the guest experience with renovated base area facilities, a powerful state-of-the-art snowmaking system and a new cutting edge terrain park.

With nearly 300 skiable acres, 50 trails, 18 lifts and four terrain parks, there is enough terrain to challenge experts to beginners, day or night.

Accessible, affordable and fun, this big-time resort with a small-town feel has converted thousands of first-timers into lifelong skiers and riders, and with the opportunity to take that passion to Vail Resorts’ iconic western mountains, Afton Alps is truly the place where Epic begins. For more information, please visit www.aftonalps.com.