The answer: perhaps.

John Emery, CEO of Alpine-X, seems to think so. His company is behind Fairfax Peak, a 400,000-square-foot snow dome in the DC suburbs of Virginia, that will anchor the country’s second indoor ski dome. (Big Snow American Dream, in New Jersey is the first; it opened in late 2019.) John believes that the lower cost and the convenient location will allow a lot more people — particularly those who are currently underrepresented in the sport — to take up skiing.

When you think about it, he may have a point. Single day lift tickets at traditional ski areas are squarely in nosebleed territory. Yes, ticket prices can vary based on days of the week and whether or not they’re bought during peak periods. But here are some examples that can make you sweat: According to New England Ski History, the top anticipated day pass for Sugarbush is over $184, for Stowe, $173. During Christmas Week, lift tickets at Big Sky will run between $220 and $224 per day; Beaver Creek, $239. You get the picture. All this makes trying out skiing for the first time especially difficult.