Cloudflare co-founder Matthew Prince took a public shot at Vail Resorts on Saturday, Aug. 1, calling the company's newest board member a "perfect fit" in a post that renewed his months-long campaign to buy Park City Mountain Resort.
Prince, a Park City resident and owner of the Park Record, responded on X to Vail's appointment of MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle to its board of directors. "No one better at finding ways to be tacky and extract your money without any real benefit," Prince wrote from his @eastdakota account, according to TownLift. "Perfect fit for Vail."
The barb landed days after Vail announced July 30 that Hornbuckle, 68, would join as its tenth board member. Vail CEO Rob Katz tied the hire directly to the company's Epic Experience initiative, a multi-year plan announced July 14 to overhaul gear rentals, lessons, food, digital engagement and staffing across its resorts, including Park City Mountain.
Hornbuckle has led MGM Resorts since 2020 and has more than 35 years in hospitality. He has owned a second home in Park City since at least 2013, according to the Park Record.
Prince earlier this year offered $500 million to buy Park City Mountain, arguing local ownership would mean more investment in workers, infrastructure and the guest experience. Vail has repeatedly rejected the proposal, with executives saying the resort remains a core asset that is not for sale.
The exchange comes at a turbulent time for Vail's flagship Utah property. Park City Mountain finished last among nine major Utah ski resorts in the 2025 TownLift Readers' Choice Poll, scoring 66.75% against Deer Valley's top mark of 90.87%. Rocky Mountain resorts saw 24% less visitation during the 2025–2026 winter compared to the prior year, driven by record-low snowfall. The resort is still rebuilding trust after a January 2025 ski patrol strike left terrain closed and lift lines long during the holiday peak.
Meanwhile, activist investor Oasis Capital holds an approximately 8% stake in Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN), a position a former SEC enforcement official told KPCW in July could set up a proxy fight over the company's board.
Vail's stock has fallen to less than half its 2021 peak of roughly $370 per share.
No next step has been announced on Prince's purchase offer. Vail has not signaled any plans to negotiate.
