Earlier this week, Alta Ski Area, Utah, agreed to honor two 54-year-old gift vouchers in an exchange with a skier on Threads.
"Hey @altaskiarea are these 54 year old gift certificates still good???" wrote Ryan Kendrick in a Threads post, sharing an image of two vouchers that looked like something you'd find in a candy bar before receiving an invitation to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
It was a long shot, to be sure, but it paid off.
"Seeing as there's no expiration date, we'd be more than happy to honor these with two lift tickets this season," replied Alta Ski Area. All Kendrick needed to do was swing by the ticket office.
Alta also provided a little history lesson, noting that in the year these certificates were issued—1970—day passes at the resort were $7(!), and it was the only ski area in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Snowbird, Alta's neighbor, opened a year later in 1971.
All told Alta's decision to honor Kendrick's vouchers is pretty shocking. Sure, they don't have an expiration date, but they are 54 years old.
But hey, a little goodwill goes a long way—plus, it makes a killer story.
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