Purgatory Owners Purchase First International Resort, and It’s a Big One

Whether you’ve been skiing in South America or not, all skiers worth their salt know about Valle Nevado. The sprawling megaresort is one of the largest in the world, with 2,200 lift-served acres and another 20,000-plus-thousand acres of heli and backcountry terrain in the shadow of some of the most intimidating and awe-inspiring peaks on the planet.

Now this South American destination has North American owners. Mountain Capital Partners, which owns nine U.S. ski resorts, the most notable of which are Colo’s Purgatory and Ore.’s Willamette Pass, announced a majority stake in its first international destination today.

The company offers the Power Pass, a Southwestern-focused collective where pass holders get unlimited skiing at each resort plus three more free days at partner resorts including Colo.’s Copper Mountain, Loveland Ski Area, and Monarch Mountain, and Sundance, Utah. There are also 12- and four-day Power Pass options with restricted access to many of the resorts. 

Also Read: How to Choose the Right Season Pass for You

Valle Nevado, on the other hand, offers access on the Mountain Collective and Ikon Pass for the current 2022-’23 season. (The resort is scheduled to open on June 17; the season typically runs through mid-October.) It’s not yet been shared whether Valle Nevado will join the Power Pass, but if so, it will be a big boon for the under-the-radar pass option going forward.