Reimagining Mountain Access — One Trail, One Click, One Seamless Experience
Powder Mountain
Enabling Ski Now, Pay Later with Shopify.
Industry: Outdoors
Services: Shopify Launch, Middleware, Custom Development
High above the Ogden Valley in Eden, Utah, Powder Mountain represents more than elevation—it represents aspiration. With over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, Powder Mountain is one of the largest ski areas in North America and perhaps one of the most purpose-driven. Known for its deep snow, crowd-conscious design, and quiet commitment to preserving the soul of skiing, it is now in a new chapter of growth.
That evolution is being guided by Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, who brought his long-term vision to the mountain after becoming a majority owner in 2023. The goal isn’t just to grow—it’s to preserve what makes Powder Mountain special while enhancing what’s possible. That extends not only to the terrain but also to the technology that underpins the guest experience.
This is where MTN Haus partnered with Powder Mountain: to help simplify how guests access the mountain, starting with a more intuitive digital checkout experience built on Shopify and integrated into the broader Powder ecosystem.
The Vision:
Simplifying Access While Honoring the Experience
Powder Mountain is navigating a dynamic moment. On one hand, the mountain remains fiercely loyal to its ethos—limiting day passes, encouraging responsible development, and prioritizing skier experience over volume. On the other, it is making substantial improvements to infrastructure, investing in lift upgrades, new day lodges, and expanding its year-round offering.
As pass pricing adjusted to support these long-term investments, Powder’s team recognized an opportunity to improve the process of purchasing passes online. While the Axess platform remains the robust system behind ticketing and access logistics, the eCommerce layer had room to evolve. MTN Haus was brought in to enhance that user experience—creating a Shopify-based pass purchasing flow that aligns with modern customer expectations without disrupting the trusted backbone of operations.
The Build:
Extending the Platform, Not Replacing It
Powder Mountain relies on Axess for its access control and ticketing. MTN Haus worked alongside this existing system to introduce a Shopify checkout layer that helps improve purchase experience for guests.
The result is a digital storefront that feels intuitive and seamless, while maintaining the integrity of the resort’s core systems. With thoughtful design and precise engineering, MTN Haus enabled:
- Shopify checkout with pass configuration options
- Flexible payment features, including installments via Shop Pay
- Secure redirect flows from Axess product selection to Shopify checkout
- Waiver handling embedded into the post-purchase sequence
- Authentication and secure data handoffs between platforms
By acting as a connective layer rather than a replacement, MTN Haus helped Powder Mountain improve guest interaction without compromising technical partnerships or operational reliability.
What Changed:
Lowering Friction, Increasing Confidence
With the new Shopify experience live, Powder Mountain now offers a checkout process that mirrors the simplicity and reliability of the on-mountain experience. What once required multiple steps or unclear redirects is now cohesive and fast.
Guests can:
- Complete pass purchases on mobile or desktop in fewer clicks
- Choose from multiple payment methods, including installments
- Sign digital waivers during the same session
- Receive passholder confirmation with clear next steps
For the resort, this leads to faster conversions, earlier revenue recognition, and reduced support inquiries related to purchase flows. Importantly, it complements the broader efforts to scale infrastructure on the mountain itself.
MTN Haus:
Building Quiet Confidence Behind the Brand
Powder Mountain’s brand strength lies in restraint—no glossy overstatements, no unnecessary infrastructure. And MTN Haus matched that tone with a build that’s fast, stable, and nearly invisible in the best way.
By working in harmony with existing platforms like Axess and respecting the resort’s broader strategy, MTN Haus enabled a subtle but significant improvement: a path to the mountain that mirrors its values.
For guests, it means easier access. For Powder Mountain, it means modern capability without compromise.
And for other destination brands looking to elevate without overreaching, it’s proof that backend innovation can be just as valuable as front-facing change.
