Vail Resorts’ Northstar ski resort was taken to court late last year after regulars were told they’d have to pay to park. One plaintiff recently prevailed against the company in small claims court.
“I had purchased a season ski pass back in April of 2019, with the understanding that parking would be free, as it has always been throughout Northstar’s entire history,” said Robert Scott. “Northstar took my money, and then later released a notice that parking in the lot closest to the lifts would be paid only.
“Free parking was offered, but that lot is more than a mile away, and would require me to walk to a bus loading area, wait for the bus, ride the bus to the village, walk through the village in my ski boots, climb sets of stairs, wait in line to get on a gondola, and then ride the gondola to the chairlifts.”
Scott said that when he received his ski pass for the season, it was labeled with the notice, “no refunds if used.”
“I told Northstar I would not be using my pass, but they refused to honor the terms of their own agreement. Northstar has other terms, but those are all buried in fine print available only by scouring their various websites,” he said.
He took the resort to small claims court. The Superior Court of California, Placer County, ordered Vail Resorts to repay Scott’s ski pass costs and court fees.
Other Northstar skiers filed suit, and Scott said his case could have a major impact on hundreds of other ski pass holders.
Northstar did not return calls requesting comment. Vail Resorts’ attorneys, in a separate legal filing, said suits against the company, filed in Nevada, should be dismissed because the complaint was not filed in the proper court.
“This is a dispute over the terms of a $429 ski pass, which Plaintiffs mistakenly believe includes guaranteed free parking in a particular parking lot at a particular resort,” they wrote. “Plaintiffs should have filed this case in a local small claims court, not a federal district court.”
That case, filed by Ronald Code and Steven Kroll, is pending.
Scott said he has not yet been repaid but Vail Resorts’ attorney contacted him for a federal tax form for repayment.
“Unless they decide to appeal,” Scott added.
