Although lots of work remains ahead of us, preparations for the 2020/21 Season at Sleeping Giant have begun! Nick Piazza, a Cody native, recently purchased the ski area with a strong business plan in hand and concrete plans to ensure continued operations at the hill. Under Community Mountain LLC, the ski area and zipline will work towards zero-loss operations, but many improvements need to be made to make that goal possible. Snowmaking operations are critical to our ability to offer a solid foundation of snow and to develop new terrain features around the mountain. This snowmaking capability and a few other tasks are the priorities as Sleeping Giant prepares for the upcoming season. Since 2009, Sleeping Giant was operated by the non-profit Yellowstone Recreations Foundation (YRF), which built a skier community by re-opening the mountain to the public. This skier community is the core reason we are confident in our ability to build positive momentum as we strive to continue operations at Sleeping Giant.

“We are both excited and a little terrified to announce that we will be taking over operations of Sleeping Giant this fall. We want to give the 2020/21 season the best shot possible to be fun and successful. As we take on operations, we feel it is important to thank everyone at the Yellowstone Recreation Foundation. Special thanks go to Rob Overfield and Jay Nielson for working with us to find a deal that works for everyone and one that we hope will be a big win for Park County. We would especially like to thank the Nielson Family for the generosity they have shown to our community over the years – you have made all of this possible. To past and present members of the YRF Board and the countless other donors whose love of Sleeping Giant has been instrumental in keeping it open and in nurturing generations of young skiers, we are extremely grateful for all you’ve done and for your trust in us to carry on this great tradition,” said Nick Piazza, the new beneficiary owner of Sleeping Giant.

Mike Gimmeson is stepping in as Sleeping Giant’s new General Manager. Mike is a Park County native and his three kids represent fourth generation Sleeping Giant skiers. He grew up skiing Sleeping Giant every weekend and his parents were part of the volunteer North Absaroka Ski Patrol at Sleeping Giant for over 20 years. He also raced on the ASA Youth Race Club. Mike has extensive experience in the construction sector and 21 years in the ski industry which will be invaluable as Sleeping Giant launches new projects, including the construction of a new yurt and other ski area improvements. Mike is also a friendly and familiar face around the mountain, having worked as the Director of Sleeping Giant’s Ski School for the past six seasons. Mike is excited to take on the challenges we face with a strong team behind him.

We are also pleased to announce a number of new initiatives that are ready to go and a few more currently in the works:

Night Skiing: We are very excited to now offer night skiing on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 4-7pm, using solar-powered LED street lamps to light up the mountain.
Youth and Adult Racing Teams and Clubs: We plan to get the Cody High School’s Alpine Ski Team practicing on the mountain on Tuesday nights and to host races this season. We are also testing the community’s interest in a Friday night racing league for adults.
Freestyle Terrain Park: A lighted terrain park will also be a big feature for skiers and snowboarders to have some freestyle fun. Plans for a tubing lane are in the works as well.
New Yurt: A construction crew has already started building a 30-foot diameter yurt that will provide additional heated and comfortable space.
Snowmaking Capabilities: Our crews have already begun preparing snowmaking efforts to ensure the system is ready to make snow as soon as temperatures drop enough.
Online Ticket Sales, Rentals, and More: With the goal of reducing line wait times and improving the guest service experience; Sleeping Giant is working on website improvements and is developing a mobile application to enable online purchases of lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and even food orders.

We want everyone in the community to know we are doing everything we can to provide a safe recreation space in the current Covid-19 environment. In addition to our on-site protocols, we are also encouraging visitors to store belongings in their vehicles and to spend time outside as much as possible where they can social distance from one another. This will help ease lodge traffic and keep the space for those who need it.

Season passes are now available online at www.skisg.com Ticket prices for children have not changed, while prices for adults have increased. Early season discounts will be available until November 1st and will include a half price unlimited night skiing pass upgrade. We appreciate your support and we’re looking forward to a snow-packed 2020/21 skiing season!

Contact:
Nick Piazza(Owner): npiazza@skisg.com
Mike Gimmeson(General Manager): (307)587-3125 mgimmeson@skisg.com
Dean Madley(Marketing): dmadley@skisg.com

About Sleeping Giant:
Sleeping Giant serves the Big Horn Basin and Greater Yellowstone area with recreational downhill skiing, snowboarding, nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and zip lining. The recreation area is located just outside of Yellowstone’s East Gate, and only 50 miles west of Cody, Wyoming. Over the last decade, Sleeping Giant has become the destination for local adventure. Our recreation area provides patrons with beautifully-groomed slopes, diverse terrain, top-of-the-line ski and snowboard instruction, and Wyoming’s largest dual zip line. Sleeping Giant is also known for its incredible views and wildlife. Parents and kids are the livelihood of Sleeping Giant. Families come here because they feel safe and look forward to having a good time. They know that every skier and snowboarder is willing to offer guidance and assistance to others – young or old. It’s our community culture. We pride ourselves in partnering with organizations in the community, hosting various youth programs, and putting on events for the Big Horn Basin to enjoy.