Ikon Pass Grows Its Prescence In The Midwestern Ski Industry
The Heartland — It was kind of odd that the Ikon Pass only played a small part in one major ski region in the United States. Prior to the 2025-26 season, the only partners in the Midwest were at Boyne Mountain and the Highlands at Harbor Springs. That was it, well below what Epic and Indy offer in the region.
That started to change this winter, as Ikon introduced a bonus mountain program, offering two days each at a select number of mountains. These mountains included Buck Hill and Wild Mountain in the Midwest. This allowed mountains to be partners without going to 5/7 days, which could cause crowding at smaller mountains.
This brings us to yesterday’s announcement. Ikon now has an expanded presence in the region, with them adding Midwest Family Ski Resorts. This includes five/seven days each at Granite Peak, Lutsen Mountains, and Snowriver Mountain Resort. Devil’s Head (not owned by Midwest Family) in Wisconsin is also joining Ikon, albeit as a bonus mountain.
The one problem? Granite Peak, Lutsen, and Snowriver have been on the Indy Pass for years. Indy and Ikon tend to prefer that their partners be part of a single major multi-mountain pass, so it seems as though these ski resorts have decided to go with Ikon over Indy for next winter.
Why They’re Joining Ikon
For Indy passholders, the move is frustrating due to their longstanding relationship with them. Those who want the days at these mountains in Indy would be able to get them at a lower price than Ikon. However, there’s also the Ikon Session pass, which is basically lift tickets that can be used at all three options, along with other destinations on the pass.
A factor in this decision is that Midwest Family probably realized that there’s potential that people want to ski more days at their mountains. Indy Pass only offers two days at each partner, plus a discounted third day.
Here’s what Midwest Family Ski Resorts said on their website about the decision to move from Indy to Ikon:
“As early Indy Partners, we greatly admire the Indy Pass and its growth to include over 200 ski areas. However, as the Midwest’s only large, full-service mountain destinations across a 10-state region, our new partnership with the Ikon Pass offers unparalleled flexibility. While our Legendary Pass continues to provide unlimited access to our home resorts, the Ikon Pass grants several days at each of our three locations plus the opportunity to explore more than 70 iconic mountain destinations across North America and around the globe.”
I do think, of all the Midwest ski resorts, these three make the most sense for going onto a bigger pass. Ikon tends to focus on destinations, and this description applies to these three mountains. These are large ski resorts that attract visitors from beyond the local area, which differentiates it from other ski areas in the region.
Indy’s Response
The Managing Director of the Indy Pass, Erik Mogensen, issued a statement saying they weren’t informed until the official announcement came out. Indy has one-year deals with its partners, meaning there’s the chance they could go to another pass. Passholders who signed up under the assumption that these three are being offered refunds. He also left the door open for them to stay on.
While it sucks to lose these ski resorts, Indy will be fine. Indy is planning to have at least 300 partners for the 2026-27 season. There are many (emphasis on many) independent ski resorts in the region, and there are probably a few names Indy is thinking of in case they lose a few partners. For example, Indy already has one partner situated near Snowriver Mountain Resort: Big Powderhorn.
What comes next regarding multi-mountain passes is uncertain, but it shows how tricky it can be for ski resorts to navigate this environment.
Image Credits: Lutsen Mountains, Ikon Pass
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