Vail Resorts is so short-staffed it is cutting hours at Boston Mills, having ski instructors operate lifts and keeping other slopes closed

Snowmaking

Making snow on the slopes at Boston Mills, in this 2015 photo.The Plain Dealer

BOSTON TWP, Ohio — Boston Mills ski resort will finally open for the season on Friday but its sister resorts in the area, Brandywine and Alpine Valley, will stay closed due to ongoing staffing shortages, resort officials say.

After warm weather delayed the ski season until January, the resorts are having trouble filling jobs advertised as $11.25 an hour.

“While we were optimistic that the steps we took ahead of the season would help us contend with the staffing shortages that have affected so many businesses across the country, we do not yet have the staffing levels needed to operate our normal hours in a safe manner,” General Manager Jake Campbell said in the online post.

“And while we have taken great measures to ensure the safety of our employees and guests, we are still feeling the impacts from the omicron variant.

The news comes as temperatures have finally turned favorable for skiing.

December was one of Cleveland’s warmest on record, with an average daily high temperature of 47.8 degrees and very little snowfall. But temperatures were cold enough for long enough this week to make snow.

To make snow, the resorts also need the right wind and humidity levels. They also need people to run the snow guns.

Brandywine and Alpine Valley, however, will remain closed for the time being. Both are owned by the same parent company, Vail Resorts.

Plans are for Boston Mills to operate seven days a week, though with limited hours – from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

In past years, the slopes normally have been open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.

Tim Harris, Vice President of Vail Resorts’ midwest locations, said they’re working to get the other two ski resorts open and to open during weekdays if possible. He said they tried to staff what are normally the busiest times.

“I know this will be disappointing news to some, but fact is we are dealing with the same challenges that have affected many other businesses across the country and around the world,” Harris said. “We’ve also been hit by the nationwide staffing shortages and impacts of COVID-19. We simply don’t have enough employees right now required to operate the resort safely at the hours we have kept in previous years.”

According to a letter posted to Boston Mills’ social media pages, staff from all three resorts are being pulled in to get Boston Mills open, and staff are being cross trained to help run the ski lifts. Harris said it is common for them to share employees across resorts.

After Boston Mills is open, staff will be moved to other resorts to open them as soon as possible, Harris said. He said they also want to expand hours if they can add staff.

It’s harder to make snow at Brandywine because its more open to wind, Harris said, which part of why Boston Mills was opened first.

Vail Resorts appears to have similar issues at their other locations. Mad River Mountain, near Zanesfield northwest of Columbus, is opening with similar hours and with a similar online letter to skiers.

Both Facebook posts are getting mixed reactions. Some people are happy to see the resorts open, others are upset with the limited hours or shortened season. It’s common for frequent resort goers to buy season passes, which can be used less in a shortened season with less hours.

According to an internal email obtained by cleveland.com, ski instructors are helping to fill in on the ski lifts

“One of the hardest hit has been the team needed to operate lifts,” the email to staff said. “And as we all know, no lifts – no ability to get up the hill and enjoy what we all are here for, to either Ski or Ride at the resort.”

Vail Resorts is advertising online for ski lift operator positions as well as retail and food jobs at $11.25 an hour. Harris said the resort raised wages ahead of the season to attract more workers.

Staff shortages aren’t unique to Boston Mills or ski resorts.

Many businesses have been hurting for help, increasing wages, benefits and offering other perks. A record number, about 4.5 million workers, quit jobs in November according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. There were 10.6 million job openings that month.

Cedar Point, which hires seasonal workers similarly to the ski resorts, upped pay to $20 an hour in the face of staff shortages last year.

The move shocked some other businesses in the tourism industry and business professors, but it seemed to work. Cedar Point restored normal operating hours after the pay increase attracted workers.

Related coverage

Where to ski near Cleveland: Everything you need to know about 14 winter-sports resorts in Ohio, nearby states

Hoping for a more normal ski season: What to expect on the slopes at regional resorts, close to Cleveland

Pennsylvania’s Seven Springs ski resort to be sold to Vail Resorts

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.