The Primo Pass add on is a feature that can be added to an Ikon Pass or an Ikon Base Pass. The good news is that there are several benefits that go along with this premium feature. The not so good news, we must tell you, it is NOT FREE. Let’s dive into the benefits of the Primo Pass add on and see if it’s worth the $200 plus 6% West Virginia sales tax AND the 2% Resort Area District taxes it is subject to. More on the RAD tax at a later date.
In our opinion, the number one benefit of the add on is the ability to go to the express lane of several ski lifts during peak times. As many of you know, the Ballhooter ski lift is an absolute nightmare on Saturdays. We are here to tell you that in 2018 – 2019 we managed 3 runs to our friends 1 run who did not have the add on. That made it worth its weight in gold. As a fellow Primo owner said to us, I’m here to ski, not stand in line.
The add on comes with a VIP Parking Pass at Shavers Center. Being homeowners at Snowshoe Mountain Lodge we did not find that benefit to be of any real value. Obviously, that would be valuable to non-homeowners.
Another perk of the Primo Pass is that you can purchase a one day ticket for a friend and they can access the express lane with you. Honestly, we could not justify the $169 rate and never used that feature last season. Mainly, because most of our friends were too cheap to shell out the 169.
We’d be remiss if we did not mention the 10% to 15% off on Snowshoe operated stores, spa services, non-holiday lodging, and restaurants. Needless to say, we took full advantage of the dining and store discounts last year.
In summary, we feel the $200+ add on fee is well worth it for someone who is going to ski at Snowshoe at least 10 days per year. Just remember, you just have an Ikon Base Pass or Ikon Pass to purchase the Primo Pass add on.