PARK CITY, Utah – Nov. 2, 2017 – Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the U.S., is scheduled to open for the season on Friday, Nov. 17 with a celebration at the Park City Mountain Village. This season, the resort will debut several new signature events, a new beginner ski area, a complimentary historic mining ski tour and a $15 million renovation of the Grand Summit Hotel at Canyons Village. The resort is also announcing changes to public night skiing as well as a new directed parking system at the Park City Mountain Village.
“There’s a lot to look forward to at Park City Mountain this season,” said Bill Rock, chief operating officer at Park City Mountain. “We’re scheduled to be one of the first ski resorts to open in Utah this winter and our mountain operations team is hard at work to ensure that we have the best grooming and conditions possible for the start of the season. This is a great time for Utah locals to hit the slopes early, warm up their ski legs and get the most out of their Epic Pass.”
New this year, Park City Mountain will host a Winter Kick Off event at the Park City Mountain Village on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 3-5 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to sample new winter menu items for the 2017-18 season, meet the avalanche dogs, learn about what’s new at the resort and pick up their Epic Pass before Opening Day. The Alpine Coaster will also be open with complimentary rides for Epic Pass holders.
The resort will open the following week on Friday, Nov. 17. Opening Day events are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Park City Mountain Village with live music, giveaways and complimentary hot chocolate and coffee. The first chair will leave at 9 a.m. on the Payday lift followed by a ceremonial banner-breaking. The entertainment will continue at 2:30 p.m. with a performance by the Changing Lanes Experience on the Payday deck. The Canyons Village is scheduled to open the following week on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017.
Locals won’t want to miss out on the early season at Park City Mountain this year. Following Opening Day, Park City Mountain will celebrate the first 30 days of the season with special offers and events for locals and Epic Pass holders including live music, free concerts and discounts on dining and ski tuning. It’s the perfect time for locals to get a start on the season and take full advantage of their Epic Pass. More information here.
Sunday, Nov. 19 is the deadline to purchase an Epic Local Pass. The Epic Local Pass is the best way for Utah skiers and snowboarders to access Park City Mountain all season long. With limited blackout dates, the pass pays for itself in just over three visits and provides more than 30 percent savings compared to purchasing lift tickets at a lift ticket window. Utah residents who only plan to ski a few days this season will find the best value with the Park City 4-Pack which offers four days of skiing and riding with limited holiday restrictions at Park City Mountain for just $339. Visit EpicPass.com for more information.
2017-18 Season Updates and Offerings at Park City Mountain:
$15 Million Grand Summit Hotel Renovation: Now a RockResorts Property
The Grand Summit Hotel, located in Canyons Village, opened for the season after an extensive $15 million renovation and has been branded as a RockResorts property. The renovation included a complete overhaul of all 212 suites, including new interior finishes, furnishings, soft goods, appliances, artwork and technology. The property’s communal spaces were also incorporated into the renovation, including the lobby and front desk, full remodel of the on-site spa, café and general store, and refresh of the meeting spaces. More information here.
New Signature Experience: Silver to Slopes Historic Mining Tour
New this season, Park City Mountain will debut the Silver to Slopes Historic Mining Tour. On this complimentary, guided ski tour, guests will explore the mountain with an expert guide and uncover the historic mining buildings and hidden relics scattered across the resort. They’ll learn how Park City Mountain evolved from a silver mining camp to an internationally recognized winter sports destination and hear the stories behind the authentic mining structures seen on the mountain. Tours are recommended for intermediate level skiers/riders and above and depart daily from the Park City Resort Mountain Village at 10 a.m. and at the Trail Map near the top of Bonanza lift at 1 p.m. After the tour, participants will receive a signature pin to commemorate their visit to Park City Mountain.
Special Events
Park City Mountain is making the holidays even more special for guests by hosting unforgettable holiday events this Christmas, New Years and Spring Break. The Holiday Season kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 16 with Park City Mountain’s annual Snowfest Celebration, a 16-day festival including morning and après musical acts, village entertainers, annual torchlight parade, fireworks and a special visit from Santa on Town Lift. Park City Mountain’s annual Spring Grüv Celebration will return just in time for Spring Break this March with 16 days of free concerts and the famous Pond Skimming Contest. Beyond the holidays, Park City Mountain hosts free concerts, family activities and events all season long at both base areas including free s’mores on Saturdays and Sundays and an hour to meet the avalanche dogs on Fridays and Saturdays.
New Event: Seven Summits Challenge
Can you hit seven summits and cover 7,300 acres of terrain in one day? Brand new this season, Park City Mountain will host the inaugural Seven Summits Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 24. Participants will conquer a pre-set course that takes them on a journey across Park City Mountain’s seven peaks and 7,300 acres in one day. It’s the ultimate adventure at the largest ski resort in the United States. More details, including a course description, will be announced in January.
New Beginner Ski and Snowboard Area at the Park City Mountain Village
This summer, Park City Mountain installed a new, enclosed surface lift and a new designated beginner trail to serve entry-level skiers and snowboarders at the Park City Mountain Village. The new area will provide a comfortable and spacious learning area for those just starting to ski or ride.
New Ski and Snowboard School Program for Local Utah Women
Park City Mountain is excited to offer a ski program designed just for women this season. Intermediate and advanced skiers can join some of Park City Mountain’s most experienced women coaches for six consecutive Sundays of skiing beginning January 7. Whether you are looking to improve your fundamentals, gain the confidence to tackle new and more challenging terrain, or simply make new friends in a relaxed and social environment, this program is for you. Participants will be able to build upon their skills each week with other women and become the skier they always wanted to be. For more information or to register, visit ParkCityMountain.com or call 435-658-5530. ($650 for six consecutive Sundays, not including lift passes)
Night Skiing
Park City Mountain is announcing changes to public night skiing this season. As the demand for guest night skiing has consistently declined year-over-year, the resort will no longer offer public night skiing hours to guests. Payday and First Time lifts will now close to the public at 4 p.m. In recent years, the main utilization of night skiing has been race training for local, youth-based developmental teams. Park City Mountain remains committed to providing a first-rate venue for local youth developmental team ski racers to train and develop their skills and will continue to offer night skiing services to Park City Ski & Snowboard and other local youth developmental ski teams. These teams will now have the opportunity to train on the Payday trail all winter which will offer a larger training space for athletes and coaches. The Town Series Races will also continue.
Creative Chef-Driven Dining
With more than 16 restaurants across 7,300 acres, each with their own imaginative, signature menus and executive chefs, Park City Mountain is elevating the mountain dining experience across the resort. Enjoy fine dining at the award-winning Farm Restaurant at Canyons Village which debuts seasonal menus that celebrate locally-sourced, sustainable cuisine. Savor homemade BBQ wings, ribs and brisket smoked on-suite at the outdoor Tombstone Grill. Meet up at Legends Bar and Grill for après ski and enjoy the new gastropub menu and signature cocktails. Or, reserve a table at Lookout Cabin and savor the views along with the Chef’s homemade cheese or chocolate fondue.
Full Visibility to Last Season’s Lift Line Wait Times with EpicMix Time Insights
New for 2017-18, Vail Resorts has launched EpicMix Time Insights, a website designed to help guests make the most of planning their ski day at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Park City by providing full visibility into lift line wait times. Vail Resorts is the first in the mountain resort industry to provide guests full transparency on historic lift line wait times, setting a new guest service standard for the industry. Guests can select a specific resort and date from last season to access resort trail maps that display individual lift line wait times for every lift collected by the EpicMix Time app during the 2016-17 season, sliding across the day in 15-minute increments from the time the lifts open until they close. Insights also highlights new lift upgrades for the 2017-18 winter season and provides mountain tips on how to best navigate each resort. Vail Resorts is continually enhancing the guest experience across our mountain resorts and Insights offers guests full visibility on actual lift line data from last ski season so they can maximize their day on the mountain during their next trip. To explore Insights, visit Time.EpicMix.com.
New: Directed Parking at the Park City Mountain Village
In an effort to provide a more organized and efficient parking experience for guests, Park City Mountain will debut a new directed parking system at the Park City Mountain Village this winter. Guests looking for parking at the resort base will now be directed by attendants to an available space. As part of this new plan, Park City Mountain Village parking lots will be closed to the public from 6-7:30 a.m. before the resort opens. This will ensure that parking spaces are being utilized for whom they are intended for: guests visiting the resort that day. Both complimentary and preferred parking spots are available at both base areas. Vehicles with three or more adults will receive a discounted rate in the preferred parking lots.
Continued Upgrades and Investment in Snowmaking
This summer, Park City Mountain expanded snowmaking capabilities on Treasure Hollow, a major trail near the Park City Mountain Village. The additional snowmaking will enhance the mountain experience and snow coverage at this location for early-season skiing as well as ensure coverage throughout the winter.
###
About Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort, the largest resort in the United States, is located in the heart of Park City, Utah, only a 35-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. Park City bustles with activities year-round with two distinct base areas, nine hotels, thrilling family adventures and more than two dozen restaurants. In the summer of 2015, Park City completed the largest resort improvement project in the history of American skiing– boasting more than 7,300 acres of terrain, a brand new eight-passenger gondola, new restaurants, upgraded lifts and more. http://parkcitymountain.com.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 11 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe in Vermont; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
