#purgatory-resort

#purgatory-resort

Skiing and snowboarding have grown increasingly expensive over the past few decades. According to Unofficial Networks, a single day at Vail cost just $9 in 1972; last season, peak-day tickets reached $329-a staggering 3,600 percent increase. Much of that jump, the outlet notes, stems from industry consolidation, rising operating costs, dynamic pricing, and skiing's shift toward luxury. Still, new data from Casino.org shows there are a few resorts where hitting the slopes can still feel like a deal.

Purgatory's outrageously cheap lift tickets are what brought me and a gaggle of deal-hungry friends to the resort. And if you're thinking the skiing has got to be subpar, keep reading. Purgatory, or "Purg" as locals call it, has 11 lifts, 107 named trails, and multiple terrain parks, accounting for 1,600 acres of skiable terrain. It's got excellent tree skiing and a rolling-hill-roller-coaster vibe that's playful and, at times, just the right amount of scary.