Powder Mountain
Reinventing the Ski Industry — One Trail, One Click, One Ski Pass at a Time
Industry: Outdoor and Recreation
Website: powdermountain.com
Services: Shopify Launch, Middleware, Custom Development
Perched in the windswept grandeur of Eden, Utah, Powder Mountain is no ordinary ski resort. It's a bold experiment in what the ski industry could become — a playground not only for winter enthusiasts but also for art lovers, community builders, and those chasing solitude over spectacle. This transformation is driven by Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and self-proclaimed disruptor, who is bringing the same audacious vision that revolutionized entertainment to 8,464 acres of pristine snow.
But Powder Mountain’s latest revolution isn’t just about private terrain, art installations, or rethinking luxury skiing. It’s also about a checkout experience. That’s where MTN Haus stepped in, blending technology with Powder’s ethos to create a frictionless path to the slopes: Ski Now. Pay Later.
The Vision:
Skiing as a Subscribed Lifestyle
When Hastings took control of Powder Mountain in 2023, he inherited more than breathtaking views and powdery slopes. He also took on over $100 million in debt, aging chairlifts, and a business model struggling to compete with corporate juggernauts like Vail Resorts.
Hastings applied his famed Netflix “keeper test” philosophy—not just to staffing but to the entire mountain. Would customers stay if they could choose anywhere else? How could Powder Mountain evolve without losing its offbeat charm? His answer was as daring as it was controversial: privatization. Half the mountain became exclusive to property owners and members, while the other half remained public, supported by luxury fees.
Yet, at $1,649 per season pass, even the public side risked becoming inaccessible to many skiers. Hastings needed a solution that aligned with his ethos of intentionality while broadening the mountain’s reach. That’s when Powder Mountain partnered with MTN Haus to reimagine its digital experience—starting with how skiers paid to hit the slopes.
The Build:
From Legacy Lifts to Leading-Edge Tech
Powder Mountain’s existing infrastructure—a charming mix of rickety lifts and old-school buses—gave the resort character but lacked modern convenience. This is changing. But the digital side mirrored this charm-but-challenged dichotomy. The resort relies on Axess, a ski-pass administration software, to handle ticketing and logistics. It works well but couldn’t match the seamless, customer-first design skiers expected in an era dominated by brands like Apple and Amazon.
MTN Haus built a bridge between Axess and Shopify, designing an eCommerce experience that felt as effortless as carving fresh powder. Starting with the customer journey, we created a mobile-first Shopify checkout that allowed users to purchase passes with fewer clicks and more payment options (including installments).. Whether adding a season pass to their cart or finalizing a family’s lift tickets, users were redirected to a Shopify storefront that looked and felt like an extension of Powder Mountain’s brand.
We didn’t stop there. To keep the experience fluid, we integrated secure API authentication between Axess and Shopify, synchronized inventory in real-time, and even embedded the waiver-signing process directly into the post-purchase flow. These features ensured that whether a visitor was buying a pass months in advance or the night before a snowstorm, the experience was quick, simple, and modern.
Introducing Ski Now. Pay Later: The Democratization of the Slopes
The centerpiece of this transformation was the Ski Now. Pay Later program. Leveraging Shopify’s Shop Pay installment feature, MTN Haus enabled skiers to spread the cost of their season pass—or even a family trip—over 3, 6, or 12 months. A $1,700 investment now became a $142-per-month luxury.
This wasn’t just a financial mechanism; it was a cultural statement. Powder Mountain has always catered to the renegade skier—the one who values open spaces and untouched trails over crowded lodges and Instagrammable après-ski scenes. By making skiing more affordable without sacrificing exclusivity, Hastings and Powder Mountain signaled that their commitment to community wasn’t just lip service.
The Results:
Turning Barriers Into Bridges
The redesigned checkout flow wasn’t just a tech upgrade — it is designed to be a conversion machine. Pass sales are increasing, particularly among younger skiers and families who might otherwise have balked at the up-front costs. By aligning the resort’s values with consumer behavior, MTN Haus created an experience that resonated with Hastings’ vision: less friction, more skiing.
The Ski Now. Pay Later feature also addressed a core business challenge. Ski resorts operate on thin margins and depend on early-season pass sales to fund operations. By offering installment plans, Powder Mountain could secure revenue earlier, reduce cart abandonment, and encourage long-term customer loyalty.
Powder Mountain:
A Multi-Sensory Experience
Powder Mountain’s transformation extends beyond skiing. Under Hastings, the resort has become a canvas for contemporary art, with installations by luminaries like James Turrell and Jenny Holzer dotting the slopes. Skiers can glide past Turrell’s light installations or ponder McCarthy’s interpretations of Western mythology while enjoying champagne powder.
This integration of art and sport underscores the intentionality behind Powder Mountain’s evolution. It’s not just a ski resort; it’s a multi-season destination where recreation meets creativity.
As Hastings put it, “We want every experience—from skiing to the sculpture park—to feel considered, curated, and connected.”
Bridging the Past and the Future
Reed Hastings isn’t trying to turn Powder Mountain into the Netflix of skiing. Instead, he’s creating something altogether unique: a place that respects tradition while embracing innovation. From private lifts to affordable public passes, from rustic lodges to modern art, Powder Mountain is a study in contrasts that work.
MTN Haus’ contribution—a seamless eCommerce platform anchored by the Ski Now. Pay Later initiative—reflects that same balance. By lowering financial barriers without sacrificing quality, we helped Powder Mountain stay true to its renegade roots while carving a path toward sustainable growth.
As Hastings himself might say, this is no ordinary ski resort. And that’s precisely the point.
