Vail Resorts Class Action Lawsuit: Ski Patrol Strike Disrupts Park City Resort

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Vail Resorts failed to disclose a ski patrol strike at Park City Mountain Resort, leading to long lift lines and disrupted vacations for skiers.  

Consumers Affected: Consumers who purchased lift tickets to ski at Park City Mountain Resort during the ski patrol strike.

Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division

Vail Resorts, a multi-billion-dollar ski empire, is under fire for allegedly failing to disclose a ski patrol and mountain safety personnel strike at its Park City Mountain Resort in Utah during the 2024 holiday season. 

A new class action lawsuit claims that the strike, which left only 16% of the mountain operational, forced guests who had paid up to $289 per day for lift tickets to endure lift lines lasting up to three hours, only to ski for minutes at a time. Families who had planned and saved for months described their vacations as a “colossal disaster.”

Despite knowing as early as mid-December that the strike was imminent, the lawsuit alleges that Vail Resorts continued selling tickets without informing customers of the looming disruption. 

Vail Resorts Accused of Concealing Ski Patrol Strike from Customers

For Illinois resident Christopher Bisaillon, the Park City trip was supposed to be the ski adventure of a lifetime, he says in the lawsuit. His family of five spent over $15,000 on their holiday getaway, only to find chaos at the resort. Arriving on December 28, 2024, they quickly learned from other frustrated skiers about the strike.

Over their week-long stay, the Bisaillons faced hours-long lift lines and limited terrain access. Some days, they gave up skiing altogether. The family left angry, frustrated, and feeling cheated out of the vacation they’d been promised, according to the lawsuit.

Labor Dispute Disrupts Park City Mountain Resort Operations

The strike began on December 27, 2024, as the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association walked out over stalled negotiations with Vail Resorts. The union had filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging bad-faith bargaining and coercive tactics by the company.

The labor action paralyzed Park City Mountain Resort, leaving much of its terrain inaccessible during one of the busiest ski seasons of the year. Vail Resorts waited until January 4, 2025, to acknowledge the strike publicly, posting a brief operations update on its website.

Other Resort and Theme Park Operators Face Legal Challenges

This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal troubles for Vail Resorts. In October, the company resolved a contentious land dispute in East Vail but faces several ongoing lawsuits, including claims of $100 million in labor law violations.

Other resort and theme park operators are also grappling with lawsuits. In Pennsylvania, Kennywood Park is being sued for misleading season passholders, while Six Flags Great Escape Lodge in New York is accused of adding illegal hidden fees.

Bisaillon wants to represent anyone who purchased a lift ticket from Vail Resorts to ski at Park City Mountain Resort to be used from December 27, 2024 until when the Ski Patrol Union’s strike is over. He is suing for fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment, and violations of Utah’s Consumer Sales Practices Act .

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Bisaillon v. Vail Resorts, Inc.
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-00020
• Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Mel C. Orchard, III (The Spence Law Firm, LLC)

Were your ski plans at Park City Mountain Resort affected by the ski patrol strike? Share your experience in the comments below.