Swain COVID-19 Plan

Our top priority at Swain is the health and safety of our staff and our guests. We are committed to proper sanitation and cleanliness for the safety of everyone.

Swain has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a strict standard of cleanliness and customer service across the resort for the upcoming season.  These standards are designed to minimize risk and enhance safety for our guests and employees and include additional cleaning and sanitizing across the resort, as well as increased monitoring by Swain staff to ensure proper protocol is followed.

Below we have detailed our plans to help keep guests and staff safe and healthy throughout the season, so that we may continue to provide the home away from home at Swain that you all know and love.

Physical Distancing/Face Coverings

A distance of at least 6 feet can be maintained among individuals, including employees and patrons, except members of the same immediate party/household/family. This should continue to be maintained as much as possible, even among vaccinated individuals.

All employees, as well as guests participating in snowsports lessons or race training, must complete a health screening as mandated by the state of NY.

Six feet of distance must be maintained among individuals at all times unless safety or the core activity requires a shorter distance (e.g., assisting a downed skier, helping with ski boot/ski fitting, or certain lesson activities.) This does not apply to members of the same immediate party/household/family. The six-foot distance mandate includes, but is not limited to:

  •  Inside the main lodge, cafeteria, restaurant, guest services, retail and rentals, and the race building/picnic room, as well as all employee and guest areas.
  • Outside in the parking lot, base area, lesson area, on ski lifts, and at all outdoor workstations and warming huts.

Chairlift occupancy will be two persons to a chair, one at each end unless the skiers are of the same party/household/family.

Guests are encouraged to limit time in lodges to brief intervals (e.g., 15-30 minutes) to allow for appropriate social distancing.

Skiing and Riding

While we don’t expect to run into issues with capacity on the mountain, we have decreased total occupancy for the slopes to 75% of total capacity.

In lift lines, we ask that skiers and riders maintain social distancing and stay with their parties. If you arrive together, you may ride together.

Lodge

While we are currently at full capacity, we are utilizing more kiosks and have employed additional staff to assist in high-traffic areas to prevent unnecessary crowding and help with traffic flow. If capacity restrictions change, we will update the public here.

To limit additional exposure and keep traffic flow to a minimum, as well as to ensure that guests who purchase food as able to eat comfortably, we ask that you consider your vehicle your base lodge.

Hand sanitizer is available throughout the property – including at entrances, exits, and in high-traffic areas. Disinfectant will also be provided near the trash receptacles for self-service and to use at the tables.

Tables are to be used for food and drink ONLY. There will be no hats, boots, coats, or other personal belongings allowed on top of or near tables in the lodge.

Schools will be encouraged to provide bins for student belongings to be stored on buses or in personal vehicles if lockers are not being utilized. Day lockers are available for $9/day in guest services and boot lockers are available in the rental shop for $.50. If you would like to rent a seasonal locker, call 607.545.6511 and ask about seasonal locker rentals. Quantities are limited.

Restrooms

In public spaces and restrooms, Swain has deployed a rigorous cleaning regimen, using CDC-approved cleaning products and increasing the frequency of cleanings around the resort.

Individual sanitizers are also available at each stall to provide additional disinfectant. Signage has been installed to remind our guests and staff to take additional precautions. Masks will be required when using the restroom facilities.

Lockers

Swain staff will be disinfecting day lockers and boot lockers after each use. If you do not have a locker, we encourage our guests to leave personal belongings in vehicles to limit the risk of exposure to you and others.

Guest Services

For now, all interaction with guest services and ticket sales will take place through our ticket windows to provide a safety barrier.  Sanitizer stations will be available at all ticket windows. Signage has been installed to encourage six feet of spacing between guests.

To further promote distancing we will offer online ticket sales.

We will not be taking pictures for season passes this year. Please send an updated picture to [email protected] by Dec. 1, 2021 for your season pass. Adults who had a pass last season do not need to update their photo. Only new passholders and children under 18 will need to provide an updated or new picture.

Rental Shop

The rental shop has had additional sanitized stations added, as well as extra rental kiosks, to minimize crowding in the front of the shop. There will also be additional staffing for returns and rentals to manage flow and reduce unnecessary crowding.

Equipment is wiped down with CDC approved disinfectants after each use. Personal belongings will need to be stowed in lockers to reduce any risk of contamination. Hats will be worn underneath helmets to prevent any contamination.

Season-long leases are available for anyone who would prefer to keep the same equipment. There is a limited quantity available. Call 607.545.6511 for more information and to reserve your equipment.

Snowsports School

All employees will be required to complete a health screening prior to instruction, as done last season to keep our guests safe.

In order to ensure lesson and outdoor capacity restrictions are followed, all lessons (even pre-paid or school club lessons) must be reserved ahead of time.

Capacity will be limited to 10 people for adult lessons and 6 people for child lessons, exclusive of the instructor. Six feet of distance (except brief contact to address a health or safety risk) will be required for the length of the lesson.

Ski Racing

Social distancing and other precautionary measures (outlined below) will be practiced at all times.

Racers, coaches, and volunteers must be six feet apart at all times unless safety or the core activity requires a shorter distance (e.g., assisting a downed skier,) except for members of the same immediate party/household/family. Team meetings and coaching de-briefs will be held outside in an open area. Spectators will not be allowed in the race room or on the race deck. Swain will abide by Section V’s determination as to whether spectators will be allowed on site to view the race.

Teams will be encouraged to provide bins for student belongings to be stored on buses or in personal vehicles if lockers are not being utilized. Lockers are available for rent in the race room and in the main lodge.

Coaches/Advisors may provide their racers with individually bottled beverages and single-use food items in a dedicated area. Hand hygiene before and after accessing the food table for any reason is required.

Staff

All employees must wear masks or face coverings as directed by law, regardless of vaccination status, if they cannot maintain social distancing.

Employees of the resort are screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms. If an employee does not pass the screening, they are sent home and monitored. If employees are feeling ill, they are instructed to stay home.

We will continue mandatory training on COVID-19 awareness and train our staff on proper health etiquette, social distancing and personal hygiene.  Staff are trained in workplace behavior, sanitation, social distancing and hygiene protocols.  Every department has a protocol they must follow.

The Shop

The Shop at Swain will continue to provide retail products at great prices to our guests.

Sanitizing stations have been placed at the entrance and signage has also been installed to remind guests to maintain spacing from others. We also encourage guests to look at products but only touch what they intend to purchase.

Hats and gloves will be worn when trying on helmets and gloves. All boots will be sanitized after trying on. Coats and snowpants may be tried on as they will be sanitized/quarantined after. We ask that our guests do not try on t-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants.

The Shop will continue to receive thorough cleaning procedures throughout the day, especially in high touch areas – light switches, counters, cash registers, etc.

Lodging

All Swain lodging areas are being disinfected and sanitized before and after your stay with CDC approved disinfectants.

Cleanings between guest stays will involve an enhanced cleaning protocol, with extra caution taken for high-touch items like television remote controls, door handles, light switches, chairs, faucets and lamps.

Season Pass Assurance

If Swain Resort is forced to close early for the season due to COVID-19 prior to January 15, the full value of any season pass or select-a-night pass will be transferred to the 2022-23 season as an account credit to the passholder. A season closure due to COVID-19 between January 16 and February 28 will result in a 50% credit.

**If any of our guests fail to follow these set guidelines, they will be reminded of the duty to comply, as stated in our updated terms and conditions for 2021-22. If the issue persists, guests can be asked to leave the premises or have their non-refundable passes revoked by Swain staff. In extreme cases, law enforcement can be summoned.**

For more information and to view the full COVID-19 Master Plan, please click here.