Beloved Ticket Scanner Bill Creamer celebrates 50 years at Stratton!
STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER
PHOTO COURTESY STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT
Every winter, as pristine and powdery snow blankets the Southern Vermont mountains, skiers and snowboarders of all ages flock to Stratton’s storied slopes. At the heart of this vibrant winter sports community is someone who has seen it all, year after year: Bill Creamer. Bill is Stratton’s faithful, longstanding Ticket Scanner, affectionately known to other Stratton team members as “Scanner Bill.” For the past five decades, Bill has been the friendly face greeting guests before their first run on the mountain, embodying Stratton’s core values of connection, hospitality, and togetherness.
“I’ve been here through generations,” says Bill. “People I checked tickets for as teenagers now bring their grandchildren here.”
His steadfast presence and kind demeanor have made him a beloved figure among staff and visitors alike, cementing his status as a walking testament to Stratton’s welcoming spirit. In the weeks leading up to the start of the winter season, Bill sat down with Stratton Magazine to share his story, his reflections, and what he has learned from his 50 years at Stratton.
Early Years
The journey that led Bill to Stratton began far from Vermont’s snowcapped peaks. Born in Puerto Rico, he spent his early childhood traveling the world, largely thanks to his father’s work as a station traffic manager for an international airline. “I’ve lived in Long Island, Peru, and Venezuela,” Bill recalls. “My dad’s job was all about logistics—getting people where they needed to go, coordinating schedules. I guess you could say I inherited that knack for organizing.”
Bill’s first encounter with skiing came during his teenage years, when family friends invited him on a trip to the Green Mountain State. The trip planted the seeds for a lifelong love for Vermont’s ski culture, which would blossom in the years that followed. Soon after, Bill’s father became further enamored with winter sports. He took their family to ski destinations in Canada’s Laurentian mountains, before eventually purchasing land in Bondville, Vermont, in 1974. That same year, Bill began working at Stratton.
In 1974, Stratton Mountain was a relatively young resort, steeped in Tyrolean charm with a distinctly Austrian influence. “Everything had that old-world flair—the chalets, the music, the Stratton Mountain Boys band,” says Bill. “It was a happy time.” His father’s chalet was built that same year. It closely mirrored Stratton’s overarching aesthetic, reflecting a perfect blend of Vermont’s natural beauty and European inspiration.
Bill first found work at Stratton as a lift operator, or “Lifty,” managing fixed-grip double chairlifts. He acknowledges that although they were cutting-edge at the time, these lifts were a far cry from the high-speed lifts and gondolas of today. “It was hands-on work,” he says. “You loaded the skiers, ensured the chairs were running smoothly, and handled any hiccups.” However, a hip operation following his first season led Bill to transition into a ticket validation role, where he found his true calling.
In those days, ticket validation wasn’t just a job; it was an art. Guests received paper tickets on metal wickets, and Bill’s sharp eye quickly earned him the nickname “Eagle Eye.” “People got creative trying to cheat the system,” he recalls with a soft chuckle. “Scotch tape, altered hole punches—you name it. But I always caught them.” Bill says that in his early days at Stratton, après-ski events were vibrant and communal, with Thursday night concerts drawing crowds of guests and staff alike. “The Stratton Mountain Boys were a big deal back then. Everyone would gather for music and good times after a day on the slopes.”
Tech Advances and Turning Points
As Bill continued working at Stratton and decades passed, Stratton transformed, both in terms of lift infrastructure and culture. The 1980s marked a turning point with the introduction of snowboarding. It was a sport that would go on to revolutionize the winter sports industry – and it found its footing in the hills and mountains of Southern Vermont. “Snowboarders brought a whole new energy to the mountain,” notes Bill. Stratton became a hub for snowboarding culture, thanks in part to icons like Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards, who helped establish the sport’s presence at the resort.
Stratton also saw multiple technological advancements in its lift systems in the decades that followed, making operations smoother and more efficient. Bill notes the introduction of larger lifts at Stratton, like the 12-person gondola, which required strategic crowd management. “On busy days, we’d have someone counting people and another person making sure everyone got on. It was a team effort,” he says.
More recently, the implementation of RFID scanner gates at Stratton has streamlined ticket validation, allowing guests to pass through with ease. “It’s been a game-changer,” adds Bill. “It’s quicker, more accurate, and allows me to focus on interacting with guests rather than scanning tickets manually.”
Benchmarks, Bagpipes, and Beyond
Although Bill has developed a well-earned reputation for his keen observational skills at Stratton, his perceptive abilities were also honed far away from the slopes. A Vietnam veteran, Bill served as an artillery surveyor, using seismic technology to locate enemy artillery. “It was a demanding role, but it taught me to pay attention to the smallest details,” he says. “That skill has carried over into everything I do, from surveying land to managing lift lines.”
After returning from Vietnam, Bill pursued land surveying, a career he continues to this day during the warmer months while away from the Stratton slopes. “Surveying is like being a detective,” he explains. “You match what’s on the ground with the deeds and records, uncovering hidden clues about the land’s history.” His work has taken him across Vermont, where he’s mapped out relic walls, old property lines, and forgotten markers in the woods.
In the early 1990s, Bill took up playing the bagpipes after seeing an ad for lessons in the nearby town of Hoosick Falls, NY. “It’s a challenging instrument—hard to tune, hard to play—but I love it,” he says. Bill has performed renditions of some of his favorite folk songs at Stratton several times, and he can sometimes be found on the mountain, filling the air with the soulful sounds of Scottish tunes. “The bagpipes can be heard from miles away,” notes Creamer. “There’s something magical about playing them up here.”
Generational Memories
For Bill, the most rewarding part of his job at Stratton is the relationships that he has built over the years. “I love seeing families come back, generation after generation,” he says. “It’s amazing to watch kids grow up, bring their own children, and keep the tradition alive.” Today, he continues to foster connections with guests. “I enjoy helping people find their way and making sure they have the best experience possible,” adds Bill.
As Stratton continues to grow and evolve, one thing remains constant: the strong sense of community among its staff. “It’s like a big family,” shares Bill. “Everyone helps each other out, no matter what. That’s what makes this place special.” When asked what keeps him coming back year after year, Bill’s answer is simple: “It’s the people. Whether it’s the regular passholders or the team I work with, they make this job so fulfilling.” Bill’s dedication to Stratton has made him an icon, a living link between the resort’s past and present. His legacy is not just one of service, but of genuine connection. His story is a reminder that, at its core, Stratton is about more than skiing; it’s about the people who make it feel like home.
As the resort looks to the future, with new technology and initiatives enhancing the guest experience, Bill remains a cornerstone of its history and heart. “This is my winter home,” says Bill. “And every season, I feel lucky to be here, welcoming people to a place that means so much to me.”