Bluewood
Bluewood is a privately held independent ski resort in Washington's Blue Mountains, operating 199 acres of terrain on a Umatilla National Forest permit. It sells season passes and day tickets, supplemented by rentals, lessons, dining, and partner resort access, and is expanding into mountain biking and night skiing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersDayton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bluewood does
Bluewood is a privately held ski resort operating under WGSKI, LLC, located in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington State on a special use permit from the Umatilla National Forest. Founded in 1979 and headquartered near Dayton, WA, the resort spans 199 acres of skiable terrain with a 25%/50%/25% beginner/intermediate/advanced split and an average annual snowfall of 149 inches. The mountain is served by an RFID-based access system that consolidates lift tickets, season passes, lessons, and rentals onto a single reloadable card, enabling hands-free lift access and on-mountain payments.
The core product is a 26/27 Season Pass and day lift tickets priced from $49, supplemented by equipment rentals, private and group lessons, multi-week youth and women's camps, on-mountain dining (Bluewood Grill, The Pub, Surf Yurt, and a wood-fired pizza food truck), merchandise, slope-side RV camping, and lodging packages with regional hotel partners. Differentiated offerings include Vintner's Ridge cat skiing across 200+ acres of side-country terrain (free with season passes) and reciprocal access to 10 partner resorts across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The resort runs a community outreach program, Skyline Adventures, partnering with 25+ schools, nonprofits, veteran centers, and disability networks to extend mountain access to underserved populations.
Bluewood is in the middle of a multi-year capital program launched in 2021 with a $4.5 million development plan. This includes installation of a new detachable high-speed quad chairlift (Skyline Express V2), a multi-gun snowmaking upgrade, a new mountain biking operation planned for summer 2026, and the introduction of night skiing. The high-speed quad project has been delayed by a legal dispute with the lift broker over late components. The company operates independently with no disclosed outside funding or parent organization, currently employs 11-50 people, and is led by General Manager Peter Korfiatis (appointed October 2021).
Bluewood firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bluewood
- Legal name
- WGSKI, LLC dba SKI BLUEWOOD
- Website
- https://bluewood.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bluewood is a privately held independent ski resort in Washington's Blue Mountains, operating 199 acres of terrain on a Umatilla National Forest permit. It sells season passes and day tickets, supplemented by rentals, lessons, dining, and partner resort access, and is expanding into mountain biking and night skiing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bluewood industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ski Resort
- NAICS
- Skiing Facilities (71392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Winter Adventure & Mountain Resorts (Ski, Snowboard, Snow Activities) (THAAAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Winter Equipment Rental, Demo & Repair (Skis/Boards/Boots, Tuning) (THAAAJAH), Winter & Mountain Guides (Ski, Snowshoe, Avalanche, Ice Climbing) (THAAALAF)
Keywords
Where Bluewood is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dayton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bluewood business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Season Passes: Season passes provide unlimited skiing and riding for the entire season with various tiers including individual passes and family packages. Super Tier passes include $49 resort credit. Zero-interest payment plans available.
- Day Lift Tickets: Full-day lift tickets purchased online in advance. Adult tickets starting from $49. Half-day tickets available at 12:30 pm for purchase on-mountain. RFID card fee of $5 required.
- Equipment Rentals: Ski packages, snowboard packages, half-day rentals, individual items (boots, poles, helmets), and ski demo packages available. Includes binding/safety checks for ski boots.
- Ski and Snowboard Lessons: Private lessons (1, 2, or 3 hours starting at $109), semi-private lessons ($109 plus $55 per additional student), and group lessons (starting at $94). Multi-week camps available.
- Food and Beverage: On-mountain dining at Bluewood Grill, The Pub, and Surf Yurt. Menu includes breakfast items, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, beer, wine, cider, and specialty drinks. Breakfast served weekdays 8:30-4:00, weekends 8:00-4:00.
- Merchandise: Online merch store selling hats, t-shirts, hoodies, fishing hoodies, aprons, and other branded merchandise. Summer collection available during off-season.
- Mountain Biking (Upcoming): New mountain biking operations planned for summer 2026, utilizing the new high-speed quad to transport bikers and bikes to trailheads.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Day Tickets starting from $49 |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual and Family Season Passes with multiple pricing tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ski and snowboard rental packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private lessons starting at $109 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | EZ 1-2-3 Package for beginners |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids Camps with lunch, rentals, and lift tickets included |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vintners Ridge Cat Add-on |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hot Wax and Repair Services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Freestyle Camp |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3-Week Women's Ski Series |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Bluewood product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bluewood is a Pacific Northwest ski resort operating on 199 acres of rideable terrain in the Blue Mountains near Dayton, Washington. The resort sells season passes, day lift tickets, equipment rentals, ski and snowboard lessons and camps, mountain dining, cat-skiing access via Vintner's Ridge, lodging partnership packages, and branded merchandise. Bluewood operates on a special use permit from the Umatilla National Forest and uses an RFID access card system as the delivery and payment mechanism for lift access and on-mountain purchases.
Product overview
Bluewood is a ski resort offering a unified suite of winter recreation products and services centered around lift-accessed skiing and snowboarding. The core offerings include unlimited season passes (26/27 Season Pass), daily lift tickets, and equipment rentals (ski packages, snowboard packages, half-day rentals). Instructional products range from private and group lessons to multi-week camps (Kids Camps, Freestyle Camp, Men's Ski Camp, Women's Ski Camp, Women's Snowboard Camp, 3-Week Women's Series). Specialty offerings include the Vintner's Ridge Cat for side-country access, the EZ 1-2-3 beginner package, and the Bluewood Ski and Snowboard Team youth program. Supporting services encompass mountain dining (Bluewood Grill, The Pub, Surf Yurt), Skyline Adventures adaptive/outreach program, ski patrol, RV camping, and lodging partnerships via Stay & Play packages. The resort is undergoing major infrastructure upgrades including a high-speed quad chairlift, night skiing, and mountain biking trails.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 26/27 Season Pass
Quantifiable outcome
- Unlimited skiing and riding for entire season with access to 199 acres of terrain
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Bluewood
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bluewood technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bluewood partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 49° NorthcoreSeason pass partner resort offering 2 days free (with blackout dates on select weekends including Dec 19 - Jan 3, Jan 16-18, Feb 13-15). Reciprocal tickets only valid if both Bluewood and 49° North are open.
- Anthony Lakes Mountain ResortcoreSeason pass partner resort in North Powder, OR offering 2 days free (starting Jan 16+17, Feb 13+14, and dates of ALSRA Race Events).
- Plattekill MountaincoreSeason pass partner resort in Roxbury, NY offering 2 days free with blackout dates (Dec 26 - Jan 3, Jan 16-18, Feb 13-21).
- Loup Loup Ski Educational FoundationcoreSeason pass partner resort in Okanogan, WA offering 2 days free with Bluewood season pass.
- Mt. AshlandcoreSeason pass partner resort in Ashland, OR offering 2 days free with Bluewood season pass.
- Mt. Shasta Ski ParkcoreSeason pass partner resort in McCloud, CA offering 2 days free with Bluewood season pass.
- Kelly Canyon ResortcoreSeason pass partner resort in Ririe, ID offering 3 days free with blackout dates (Dec 19 - Jan 3, Jan 16-18, Feb 13-15).
- Bogus BasincoreSeason pass partner resort near Boise, ID offering 3 days free with Bluewood season pass.
- Mt. BohemiacoreSeason pass partner resort in Mohawk, MI offering 3 days free with Bluewood season pass. Known for Midwest powder skiing.
- Lookout PasscoreSeason pass partner resort in Mullan, ID offering 2 days half price with Bluewood season pass.
- Mt. Washington Alpine ResortminorSeason pass partner resort on Vancouver Island, B.C. offering 25% discount on regular full-day tickets with Bluewood season pass.
- Skyline Adventures (Nonprofit Outreach)coreBluewood-based nonprofit outreach program that brings skiing/snowboarding to disadvantaged youth, disabled individuals, special needs citizens, healing veterans, and those facing economic/cultural barriers. Partners with 25+ organizations across Oregon and Washington including schools, nonprofits, veteran centers, and disability networks.
- National Ski PatrolcoreBluewood Ski Patrol maintains affiliation with National Ski Patrol in the Inland Empire Region of the Pacific Northwest Division. Licensed Washington State EMS agency.
- Umatilla National ForestcoreBluewood operates on a special use permit issued by the Umatilla National Forest, enabling ski resort operations on federal land.
- ToyotaminorToyota sponsors Bluewood conditions page. Toyota Free Ski Friday promotions allow drivers to ski free on specific promotional days at Bluewood.
- Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSAA)minorBluewood participates in PNSAA which provides mountain safety resources and educational materials including the Kids on Lifts safety program.
- Best Western Plus Dayton Hotel & SuitesminorStay & Play lodging partner 21 miles from Bluewood. Registered guests receive discounted Bluewood lift tickets. Full buffet breakfast, indoor pool, hot tub included.
- The Marcus Whitman HotelminorStay & Play lodging partner in Walla Walla (52 miles from Bluewood). Named Hotel of the Year by Washington State Wine Commission. Five on-site tasting rooms and Marc Restaurant. Registered guests receive discounted Bluewood lift tickets.
- IndyPasscoreBluewood is an IndyPass partner resort. IndyPass provides holders with two free lift tickets and a third discounted day at each partner resort across North America.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bluewood competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mt. Bohemia: Mt. Bohemia is a small independent ski area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula known for expert terrain. It is a Bluewood partner resort offering 3 reciprocal days to passholders.
- 49° North: 49° North is a Pacific Northwest independent ski resort in Chewelah, WA of comparable size and customer base. It is Bluewood's reciprocal season pass partner, confirming direct operational and customer overlap.
- Lookout Pass Ski Area: Lookout Pass is a small independent ski area on the Idaho-Montana border with comparable annual snowfall and family-friendly positioning. It is a Bluewood season pass reciprocal partner.
- Schweitzer Mountain Resort: Schweitzer is a larger Pacific Northwest independent ski resort in northern Idaho serving a similar regional customer base with comparable pass products and lodging partnerships.
- Crystal Mountain Resort: Crystal Mountain is a Washington-based independent ski resort with significantly more terrain but a similar PNW day-trip customer base and family-friendly operating model.
- Mt. Shasta Ski Park: Mt. Shasta Ski Park is a northern California independent ski area with comparable independent operating model and family-friendly positioning. It is a Bluewood season pass reciprocal partner.
- Bogus Basin: Bogus Basin is a nonprofit community ski area near Boise, Idaho serving a similar regional day-trip customer base with comparable independent operating model.
- Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort: Anthony Lakes is a small family-style ski area in eastern Oregon with similar terrain scale and independent operating model. It is a Bluewood season pass partner, confirming direct comparability.
- Mt. Ashland: Mt. Ashland is a southern Oregon independent ski area with comparable scale, mixed-ability terrain, and family-friendly positioning. It participates in Bluewood's partner resort network.
Broad incumbents
- Vail Resorts: Vail Resorts operates the largest North American ski portfolio (Epic Pass) and competes directly with Bluewood's season pass model. It is a broad incumbent whose destination offerings and pricing set competitive context for independent resorts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bluewood social profiles
Digital presenceBluewood financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bluewood leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bluewood funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bluewood M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bluewood
What does Bluewood do?
Bluewood is a Pacific Northwest ski resort operating on 199 acres of rideable terrain in the Blue Mountains near Dayton, Washington. The resort sells season passes, day lift tickets, equipment rentals, ski and snowboard lessons and camps, mountain dining, cat-skiing access via Vintner's Ridge, lodging partnership packages, and branded merchandise. Bluewood operates on a special use permit from the Umatilla National Forest and uses an RFID access card system as the delivery and payment mechanism for lift access and on-mountain purchases.
Is Bluewood a public or private company?
Bluewood is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bluewood founded?
Bluewood was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bluewood based?
Bluewood is headquartered in Dayton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bluewood make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Season Passes are the primary driver. The others are day Lift Tickets, equipment Rentals, ski and Snowboard Lessons, food and Beverage, merchandise and mountain Biking (Upcoming).
Who are Bluewood's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mt. Bohemia, 49° North, Lookout Pass Ski Area, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Crystal Mountain Resort, Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Bogus Basin, Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort and Mt. Ashland. Vail Resorts is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bluewood have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bluewood.
What industry is Bluewood in?
Bluewood's product category is Ski Resort. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAAAK, Winter Adventure & Mountain Resorts (Ski, Snowboard, Snow Activities), with a secondary code of THAAAJAH, Winter Equipment Rental, Demo & Repair (Skis/Boards/Boots, Tuning). Its NAICS code is 71392 and its SIC code is 7997.