Ski Big Bear
Ski Big Bear is a privately held, community-owned ski resort in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, offering 18 trails, 7 lifts, and 650 feet of vertical for families, beginners, and local school district residents in the Northern Poconos region, with revenue from lift tickets, season passes, rentals, dining, retail, and lessons.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersLackawaxen, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ski Big Bear does
Ski Big Bear is a privately held ski resort operating on Masthope Mountain in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, owned by the property owners of Masthope Mountain Community and operated by Ski Big Bear, LLC under the legal entity Recreation Management Corp. The resort features 18 trails, 7 lifts (including 3 Magic Carpet lifts), 650 feet of vertical drop, and snowmaking infrastructure, with a balanced mix of beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert terrain. It uses reloadable RFID tickets and passes, an e-commerce platform at shop.ski-bigbear.com (built on nopCommerce), Constant Contact for email marketing, and Google Analytics for web analytics.
The company generates revenue across five primary streams: lift tickets and season passes (Unlimited and Off-Peak tiers, $220-$435), equipment rentals (daily, multi-day, nightly, and seasonal packages priced $15-$185+), on-mountain dining at three venues (The Summit Restaurant and Sports Bar, The Scramble Cafeteria, and The Marketplace at Masthope), retail merchandise, and ski/snowboard lessons. It targets families, first-time skiers, and frequent season-pass holders in the Northeastern Pennsylvania / Northern Poconos region, with specific programs (Friday Night Family Night for seven local school districts, PA Outdoor Adventure Pass for 4th-5th graders) extending reach into youth and community segments. Strategic partnerships with six reciprocal ski areas (Shawnee, Belleayre, Gore, Whiteface, Snow King, Steeplechase) and seven-plus lodging properties (Woodloch, Ledges Hotel, Settlers Inn, Silver Birches, others) anchor distribution.
The business is operated as a seasonal winter facility with no mobile app, no public API, and a community-ownership structure rather than venture or institutional backing. Its competitive positioning rests on family-friendly terrain diversity, community integration with Masthope Mountain property owners, multi-state reciprocal pass value, and an affordable price point relative to larger destination resorts.
Ski Big Bear firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ski Big Bear
- Legal name
- Recreation Management Corp.
- Website
- https://ski-bigbear.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ski Big Bear is a privately held, community-owned ski resort in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, offering 18 trails, 7 lifts, and 650 feet of vertical for families, beginners, and local school district residents in the Northern Poconos region, with revenue from lift tickets, season passes, rentals, dining, retail, and lessons.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ski Big Bear industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ski Resort and Winter Recreation Services
- NAICS
- Skiing Facilities (71392), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integrated Ski & Mountain Resorts (Lift-Served Skiing/Riding) (THAAAJAA)
Keywords
Where Ski Big Bear is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lackawaxen
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ski Big Bear business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Lift Tickets and Season Passes: Primary revenue from selling daily lift tickets and season passes for skiing and snowboarding access to the mountain. Season passes offered in Unlimited and Off-Peak tiers.
- Equipment Rentals: Daily, multi-day, nightly, and seasonal rental packages for skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and helmets. Equipment can be taken home for seasonal rentals.
- Food and Beverage: Three on-mountain dining venues: The Summit Restaurant and Sports Bar, The Scramble Cafeteria, and The Marketplace at Masthope, generating revenue from food service.
- Retail Sales: Sale of ski accessories, helmets, snow pants, goggles, hats, gloves, socks, and Ski Big Bear branded merchandise at ticket windows and the Summit Lodge.
- Lessons: Private and semi-private ski and snowboard lessons offered, including group lessons for beginners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 2026-2027 Unlimited Season Pass - Full access anytime with no blackout dates |
| Subscription | Annual | 2026-2027 Off-Peak Season Pass - Mid-week and night skiing |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Seasonal Rentals 2026-2027 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 4+ Day 'Only' Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-3 Day A-La-Carte Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-3 Day Package Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Night Ski Package Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helmet Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Friday Night Family Night (Local School Districts) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ski Big Bear product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ski Big Bear operates a ski and snowboard resort in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, providing mountain access via daily lift tickets and season passes (Unlimited and Off-Peak), equipment rentals (daily, multi-day, nightly, and seasonal), private and group ski/snowboard lessons, on-mountain food and beverage service across three venues, and retail sales of ski accessories and branded merchandise. The resort serves families and individuals in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos region through on-site ticket windows, an online store, and partner lodging ski-and-stay packages.
Product overview
Ski Big Bear is a ski resort in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania offering skiing and snowboarding on 18 trails with 7 lifts. The core product is lift access through daily tickets and season passes (Unlimited and Off Peak). Equipment rentals include daily, nightly, and seasonal packages for skis, snowboards, boots, and helmets. The resort offers lessons for beginners, dining at three on-mountain venues, and ski & stay lodging packages through partner hotels. Online transactions are processed through the nopCommerce-powered shop.ski-bigbear.com eCommerce platform. Additional programs include PA Outdoor Adventure Pass for 4th-5th graders and Friday Night Family Night for local school districts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Unlimited Season Pass Full-access annual season pass valid any day the resort is open with no blackout dates, available for ages 5+ as of January 15, 2027. Priced $375-$435 depending on purchase timing and renewal status.
- Off-Peak Season Pass Annual season pass for night skiing and mid-week non-holiday day skiing valid starting December 26, available for ages 6+ as of January 15, 2027. Priced $220-$260 depending on purchase timing.
- Daily Lift Tickets Date-specific daily lift access for skiing and snowboarding, available in Beginner Access and All Access variants, purchased online or at on-site ticket windows.
- Daily Rentals Daily and multi-day ski and snowboard rental equipment including packages, a la carte options, helmet rentals, and night rentals for visitors without their own gear.
- Seasonal Rentals Full-season ski and snowboard rental packages (Season Ski Package $160, Season Ski Boots $85, etc.) for pickup in November and return by March 31, with equipment available to take home. Brands include Rossignol, Elan, HEAD Tyrolia, Fischer, Burton, K2, and Salomon.
- Dining Services On-mountain food and beverage service at The Summit Restaurant and Sports Bar (American cuisine), The Scramble Cafeteria (grab-and-go), and The Marketplace at Masthope (soups, salads, Boars Head sandwiches).
- Gift Cards Digital gift cards sold on shop.ski-bigbear.com that can be applied toward Ski Big Bear ski and snowboarding products.
- Ski and Stay Packages Bundled accommodation and lift ticket packages sold via partner lodging properties including Woodloch Pines Resort, Ledges Hotel, The Settlers Inn, Blue Fox Motel, East Shore Lodging, and Silver Birches Resort, with lift tickets included in the rates.
Quantifiable outcome
- Season Rentals pay for themselves after 5 or more days of skiing compared to daily rentals
Companies that use Ski Big Bear
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ski Big Bear technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
Ski Big Bear partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Masthope Mountain CommunitycoreSki Big Bear is owned by the property owners of Masthope Mountain Community and operated by Ski Big Bear, LLC. Members in good standing receive complimentary skiing by signing a waiver each season, 50% off snowtubing, and guests receive 25% discount on lift tickets and snowtubing.
- Pennsylvania Ski Areas AssociationminorNon-profit association of member ski areas statewide that promotes and serves the Pennsylvania ski industry, encouraging participation in skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and cross country skiing.
- Pocono Mountains Visitors BureauminorPrivate non-profit membership organization established in 1934, serving as the official destination marketing organization for Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.
- Downtown Hawley PartnershipminorNon-profit organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing quality of life in the Hawley area of the Poconos lake region.
- The Chamber of the Northern PoconosminorChamber organization promoting business, economic development, and quality of life in the Northern Pocono Mountains region.
- Pike County Chamber of CommerceminorChamber supporting local economy through advocacy, business development, and professional community connections.
- Woodloch Pines ResortminorAll-inclusive four-season Poconos family resort, 6 miles from Ski Big Bear, offering Ski & Stay packages with lift tickets included.
- Ledges HotelminorUnique Pocono Mountains hotel property in Hawley, PA, 13 miles away, integrated into natural stone ledges with adaptive modern design.
- The Settlers InnminorAuthentic 1920s Arts & Crafts Lodge in Hawley with farm-to-table restaurant, offering stay-ski packages.
- Silver Birches ResortminorResort with vintage structures dating to 1920s on Lake Wallenpaupack, 16 miles away, offering lodging with lake views.
- Shawnee Mountain Ski AreaminorReciprocal discount: Ski Big Bear season pass holders receive 1/3 off mid-week, non-holiday lift tickets at Shawnee Mountain.
- Belleayre MountainminorReciprocal discount: Ski Big Bear season pass holders receive 20% off window tickets at Belleayre anytime during snow season.
- Gore MountainminorReciprocal discount: Ski Big Bear season pass holders receive 20% off window tickets at Gore Mountain anytime during snow season.
- Whiteface MountainminorReciprocal discount: Ski Big Bear season pass holders receive 20% off window tickets at Whiteface anytime during snow season.
- Snow King Mountain Resort (Jackson Hole, Wyoming)minorReciprocal benefit: Ski Big Bear season pass holders receive 3 complimentary full-day lift tickets anytime during snow season with valid pass and government ID.
- Steeplechase Ski Hill (Mazeppa, Minnesota)minorReciprocal benefit: Ski Big Bear season pass holders receive 1 free day ticket anytime during snow season.
- PA Outdoor Adventure PassminorPennsylvania's outdoor adventure program for 4th and 5th graders. Ski Big Bear offers free lift ticket for pass holder with purchase of paying adult ($69 pass valid for outdoor experiences across PA).
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ski Big Bear competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Montage Mountain Ski Resort: PA ski resort in Scranton, within the same northeastern PA drive market as Ski Big Bear. Comparable in scale and beginner-friendly positioning, with its own lesson and rental programs.
- Shawnee Mountain Ski Area: Family-oriented ski area in East Stroudsburg, PA, similar in scale and positioning to Ski Big Bear. Already a reciprocal discount partner, making it the closest comparable peer in the Pocono region.
- Jack Frost Big Boulder: Two-mountain PA ski operation (Jack Frost and Big Boulder) in the Poconos. Closely comparable family-friendly ski product with night skiing and terrain parks serving the same drive market as Ski Big Bear.
- Blue Mountain Resort: Pennsylvania's largest ski resort by vertical drop (1,082 ft), located in Palmerton. Comparable Pocono-region competitor with a broader trail mix, night skiing, and a multi-season event calendar.
- Belleayre Mountain: New York state-operated ski area in Highmount, Catskills. Reciprocal discount partner of Ski Big Bear with comparable lift-served family skiing and similar vertical profile.
- Gore Mountain: New York state-operated ski area in North Creek, Adirondacks. Reciprocal partner; larger than Ski Big Bear but operates the same lift-ticket / season-pass / lesson / rental stack in the same Northeast corridor.
- Elk Mountain Ski Resort: Independent family-owned ski area in Union Dale, PA. Similar independent, family-positioned business model targeting beginners-to-experts in northeastern Pennsylvania, serving overlapping visitor origins.
- Camelback Mountain Resort: Largest ski resort in the Poconos, located in Tannersville, PA. Directly competes with Ski Big Bear for family and beginner skiers in the same northeastern Pennsylvania draw zone, though at meaningfully larger scale with on-site lodging and a waterpark.
- Snow King Mountain Resort: Independent ski area in Jackson, Wyoming with night skiing, lessons, and lift tickets. Reciprocal partner offering free days to Ski Big Bear pass holders; comparable community-served ski-resort product.
Regional players
- Whiteface Mountain: Olympic-era ski mountain in Wilmington, NY operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Reciprocal partner of Ski Big Bear; much larger vertical and trail count, but similar lift-served alpine ski product for the same Northeast visitor base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ski Big Bear social profiles
Digital presenceSki Big Bear financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ski Big Bear leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ski Big Bear funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ski Big Bear 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 Ski Big Bear
What does Ski Big Bear do?
Ski Big Bear operates a ski and snowboard resort in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, providing mountain access via daily lift tickets and season passes (Unlimited and Off-Peak), equipment rentals (daily, multi-day, nightly, and seasonal), private and group ski/snowboard lessons, on-mountain food and beverage service across three venues, and retail sales of ski accessories and branded merchandise. The resort serves families and individuals in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos region through on-site ticket windows, an online store, and partner lodging ski-and-stay packages.
Is Ski Big Bear a public or private company?
Ski Big Bear is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ski Big Bear founded?
Ski Big Bear was founded in 1976. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ski Big Bear based?
Ski Big Bear is headquartered in Lackawaxen, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ski Big Bear make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Lift Tickets and Season Passes are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rentals, food and Beverage, retail Sales and lessons.
Who are Ski Big Bear's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Montage Mountain Ski Resort, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, Jack Frost Big Boulder, Blue Mountain Resort, Belleayre Mountain, Gore Mountain, Elk Mountain Ski Resort, Camelback Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain Resort. Whiteface Mountain is listed as a regional player.
Does Ski Big Bear have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ski Big Bear.
What industry is Ski Big Bear in?
Ski Big Bear's product category is Ski Resort and Winter Recreation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAJAA, Integrated Ski & Mountain Resorts (Lift-Served Skiing/Riding). Its NAICS code is 71392 and its SIC code is 7900.