点评:Like many in the Chicagoland area, I've been going to Wilmot for years and it is mainly where I learned to ski. When Vail purchased Wilmot it was in dire need of an overhaul. Unfortunately, I don't think much changed for the better. Prices went up terribly and they eliminated much of the character of the old Wilmot.
Fast forward to this year and it is even worse than ever. The worst part is the indoor space. It is 80% closed down, dark, uninviting with few places to sit. They built a huge brick wall to section off the cafeteria and won't even let you in without a COVID vaccination card. (Which we had, so it was not problem, but still....) They took out more than half of the tables and you must have a reservation to sit down. All that, and the menu is a fraction of what it once was. On top of that, Walt's Tavern, the only other place to eat, is closed for the year too.
I realize that many businesses are coping with COVID restrictions and staffing shortages. However, I've been to Cascade Mountain, Alpine Valley and to Sun Valley Idaho this year and they all seem to do okay. What is preventing Vail/Wilmot from staffing appropriately> More than that why can't they still provide a fun, comfortable atmosphere for skiing?
The other issues is they can't seem to (or want to) make enough snow to keep more runs open. Many other resorts in the area, despite our crazy weather, seem to do just fine with snow making.
The only explanation I can think of is that Vail is trying to do things cheaply and they are counting on Epic pass holders and the fact that Wilmot is the only option for many folks near Chicago. It is a very sad state of affairs.
翻译:和芝加哥地区的许多人一样,我去威尔莫特已经很多年了,我主要是在那里学习滑雪的。当 Vail 收购 Wilmot 时,它急需进行大修。不幸的是,我认为没有太大变化。价格上涨得厉害,他们消除了旧威尔莫特的大部分特征。
快进到今年,情况比以往任何时候都更糟。最糟糕的部分是室内空间。这是 80% 关闭,黑暗,没有什么地方可以坐。他们建造了一堵巨大的砖墙将自助餐厅隔开,如果没有 COVID 疫苗接种卡,他们甚至不会让你进去。 (我们有,所以这不是问题,但仍然......)他们拿出了一半以上的桌子,你必须预约才能坐下。所有这一切,菜单只是以前的一小部分。最重要的是,沃尔特酒馆 (Walt's Tavern) 是唯一的其他用餐场所,今年也关闭了。
我意识到许多企业都在应对 COVID 限制和人员短缺问题。然而,今年我去过喀斯喀特山、阿尔卑斯山谷和爱达荷州太阳谷,它们似乎都还不错。是什么阻碍了 Vail/Wilmot 的人员配备?不仅如此,为什么他们仍然不能为滑雪提供有趣、舒适的氛围?
其他问题是他们似乎无法(或不想)制造足够的雪来保持更多的运行。该地区的许多其他度假村,尽管天气恶劣,但似乎在造雪方面做得很好。
我能想到的唯一解释是 Vail 试图以低廉的价格做事,他们指望 Epic 通行证持有者以及 Wilmot 是芝加哥附近许多人的唯一选择。这是一种非常可悲的状况。