Vice President JD Vance is preparing for a family skiing trip to Sugarbush Resort this weekend.
The Secret Service dropped by the Pitcher Inn in Warren on Sunday to book reservations for Vance, according to the inn’s owner, George Dorsey.
Dorsey said he was told the vice president was an “avid skier” and would be arriving with his family. The Vances were spotted on a similar excursion in Aspen around Christmastime with a Secret Service detail in tow.
The inn, located a few miles from Sugarbush, caters to “discerning guests” in search of a “relaxed and intimate setting,” according to its website. Booking rates range from $600 to $1,100 a night.
The inn has stopped accepting reservations for next Saturday ahead of Vance’s anticipated visit but will honor existing reservations, Dorsey said.
He declined to share how many rooms the Vances booked and said he was told the Secret Service would provide more details to the Warren Selectboard this week. Calls to town officials and a Sugarbush spokesperson were not immediately returned on Monday.
News of Vance’s planned visit leaked on Reddit over the weekend and was later picked up by the Valley Reporter, prompting backlash online from those who see the inn’s acceptance of MAGA business as a political statement.
Several commenters threatened to protest during Vance’s visit. Others defended the inn, saying any type negative campaign would only hurt a local business.
And more than a few used the opportunity to poke fun at the VP. Several described Vance as the type of guy who would “ski in jeans.”
Social media was filled with similar expressions of discontent back in 2018, when then-vice president Mike Pence visited Vermont. Among the more colorful posts was one of a man flipping off the vice president’s motorcade.
Dorsey said his business decisions do not reflect his personal views. “He’s the vice president of the United States,” Dorsey said. “You can not like the person and still respect the office.”