Smugglers' Notch, Vermont, Is The Latest Ski Resort To Join The Indy Pass

The Indy Pass has been teasing a new major resort partner for the last few weeks, and finally, today, September 8, 2026, we know who it is—Smugglers’ Notch (Smuggs), Vermont.

Smuggs is known as a family-friendly resort, but don’t let that reputation fool you. The ski area is home to hundreds of acres of glades, some of the steepest terrain in New England, and averages nearly 300 inches of snowfall annually.

“Indy Pass gives us an opportunity to invite a new group of skiers and riders to come experience Smuggs for themselves,” said Smugglers’ Notch Resort General Manager Brandon Swartz. “Smuggs, Bear Den, and Indy share a commitment to independent mountains, families, affordability, and protecting the character of the skiing and riding experience. We believe this partnership can introduce more people to what makes Smuggs special while preserving the experience our resort guests, passholders, and homeowners have valued for generations.”

Bear Den Partners, an independent ownership group, purchased a majority stake in Smugglers’ Notch earlier this year. The company also owns and operates Burke Mountain, Vermont; Berkshire East, MA; and Catamount, MA. All four of the company’s ski areas are on the Indy Pass for the Winter 26/27 season following the Smuggs announcement.

Indy Pass holders get two days of skiing and riding at each of the pass’s partner resorts.

Smuggs has long maintained its reputation as an independently owned and beloved ski resort in Vermont’s snowiest region, but that almost changed back in 2023.

Bill Strizler, the longtime owner of Smuggs, considered building a gondola that would connect his resort to Stowe, a massive resort owned and operated by Vail Resorts. The two ski resorts are separated by only a couple of miles as the crow flies, but Smugglers’ Notch pass on VT-108 is closed each winter, more than doubling the drive time compared to summer.

Strizler never said he intended to sell to Vail Resorts, but an interconnected gondola between the two resorts and the possibility of Epic Passes being accepted at Smuggs caused the local community to react. Fearful that Smuggs would be turned into a corporate mega-resort like Stowe, petitions were made, people spoke out, and social media commenters got to work.

By the Fall of 2023, Strizler, Smuggs, and Vail Resorts said that they were no longer pursuing the gondola.

Then came the announcement earlier this year that Strizler was selling his majority stake to Bear Den Partners. Again, some skiers were worried, but others who had enjoyed pleasant times at Burke, argued that the acquisition was a good thing.

To understand the vibe at Smuggs, one needs only to look at the resort’s lift infrastructure. While its neighbors have upgraded to gondolas, high-speed lifts, and other modern technology, Smuggs still employs the same, old, and slow fixed-grip doubles that were installed back in the 1960s and 1970s.

Similar to Mad River Glen, the Smuggs’ faithful like their mountain how it is, and don’t want it to change. It’s the same reason Smuggs skiers complained when the resort installed RFID gates a few years ago.

Despite being one of the largest ski resorts in New England, Smuggs had never been on a mega-pass until today’s Indy Pass announcement. How will the public react? Well, that remains to be seen.

Related: Indy Pass Unveils New Ski Areas for the 2026-27 Season