What’s NEXT at Antelope Butte?

How can you help our mission?

Philanthropy. Patronage. Advocacy.

2026 and Beyond! Here’s our 1-3-5 year look-ahead!

These initiatives are listed in an “approximate” prospective timeframe.

Maintain Operational Sustainability

It’s essential that we continue to drive forward in creating new visits and added return visits, realizing increased revenue opportunities on a year-round basis. By doing so we’ll be able to run our operation based upon our revenues and expense, and be able to shift our charitable gifts toward capital projects and opportunities. We want to emphasize that within a short timeframe, we’d like to be able to revitalize our spring-summer-fall opportunities, getting back to our roots as a Mountain Recreation Area, more so than just a ski & snowboard area. It’s important to note that the annual operating expenses here at your favorite nonprofit ski area exceed $1.5 Million.

Launch our Trail Naming Campaign

You’ve likely noticed that our trail map has changed in order to incorporate the tree lines on the East and West sides. These lines have had “names” for quite some time, and we can’t ever thank the group of diehards who’ve cut and maintained them enough. This is a bona fide naming opportunity to put your stamp on AB history by naming these tree lines (trails) in perpetuity, and this fundraising campaign is geared toward providing a launching pad toward near-future capital initiatives. We’ve identified W-Zero through W-5 on the West Side and E-1 through E-6 on the East Side (aka Final Exam terrain area). We’ll launch this campaign this spring (2026) with prospective donor fees.

Re-Contour “Happy Trails” and Move the Pole’R Express Conveyor Lift

We recognize that the “flat-as-Kansas” nature of this trail makes both learning and coaching a challenge, and we aim to change its pitch to allow for an improvement in both aspects. Additionally, we’d like to move the Pole’R Express Conveyor Lift to the opposite side of the trail, allowing for better use of the entire trail area. This project is estimated at $50-75K and will require USFS approval as we’ll need to both disturb AND introduce new material (earth).

Purchase a WinchCat Groomer

This would be a TRANSFORMATIONAL move for Antelope Butte, just as procuring the Pole’R Express Conveyor Lift was. A WinchCat Groomer is exactly that, typically a 350-450hp grooming vehicle with a large, 360-degree rotational winch and boom assembly. This winch assembly (when hooked into the associated anchor points on the mountain) allows the cat operator to achieve full (snow) pushing power on our steeps and semi-steeps, and to do a much better job of maintaining a consistent depth and pitch on said trails. This initiative allows for a much broader use of a wider variety of trails here at AB for our Intermediate skiers and riders, who account for 50-60% of our users. An increased level of comfort and confidence amongst this group will add more return visits and more new visits. This will improve the lives and skill level of our primary users, and the added visitation will certainly help our local and regional economies. This project is estimated at $500-550K and we are currently seeking funding via the new Wyoming Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Trust Fund in April 2026, with funding announcements expected in July 2026.

Expand (and Improve the drainage in) our Parking Area

Our new “high skier count” was established in early January, 2026 at 825, and had previously been 650. We then hit 700+ on a couple of other occasions during that vacation period. The ski area handled the traffic very well, but both parking lots were fully maxed out on the largest day. Additionally, with more fat tire bikers, snowshoers, Nordic skiers, and of course snowmobilers opting to access nearby trail networks from our property, we recognize the moral imperative to get this done. While not considered a heavy lift financially, this project would require active assessment and participation by USFS and it certainly would include material costs estimated at $50K.

Install Restraining Bars on our Aerial Lifts

While not deemed an urgent need within our industry or in conversation with ski area insurers, we see this as an operational safety initiative worth exploring. In terms of 2026 dollars (certain to increase), we view the installation on our 140 chairs to come in at $70-75K including engineering.

Move our Ticketing and Rental Operations to a New Building / Reconfigure Basement Level as Added Seating

While our lodge has proven its ability to handle our current maximum capacity days, congestion in the ticketing and rental shop areas has been an issue at peak times. This initiative is estimated at $150-200K (in 2026 dollars) and would take a year or two in terms of an adjustment to our current USFS permit.

Purchase and Install a West Side Lift and Resurrect the “Fun Valley” (West Side) Intermediate Terrain Area

Antelope Butte means (and IS) so much to so many, but we’ve realized a critical need for additional Intermediate terrain to allow for more and better access to a wider swath of our terrain. We have a gem over there on the lower west side of our terrain area that lies outside of our current operational (permitted) footprint. This initiative is estimated at $3 Million and would require an amendment to our operating permit and at least 1-2 years in permitting.

Again… How Can You Help?

Philanthropy. Patronage. Advocacy.