WHAT’S NEW AT UTAH SKI RESORTS:
The Corkscrew trail on the Collins side has been widened to enhance the skiing experience on this popular trail, and there will be enhanced snowmaking in the Wildcat base area to improve guest experience. In addition, four Wyssen towers are being installed in the East Castle area, and there will be a new snow fence installation on the Devil’s Castle Road. These remote explosive devices (RACs) and snow fences will allow for safer and more efficient openings of the Supreme lift and the groomed terrain of Rock and Roll and Big Dipper.
Beaver Mountain is installing a new yurt this winter in the base area. It will serve as a "first stop" for new and beginner skiers and riders. Guests will be able to start the rental process, as well as discuss options for lessons with Snowsports instructors. Geared to expedite our "Learn to Turn" program, it will be a huge addition to the guest experience at Beaver Mountain Ski Area.
Brian Head Resort is excited to announce the addition of a new snowcat and enhanced snowmaking. Brian Head has also added new evacuation equipment to ensure guest safety throughout the mountain.
Brian Head Resort will manage the Best Western Premier Brian Head Resort & Spa this winter. Located less than half a mile from the ski area's Navajo Lodge and a recipient of Tripadvisor's 2020 Traveler's Choice award, the Best Western Premier offers resort guests a unique stay that is defined by the highest degree of hospitality, quality and attention to detail. We believe this will greatly enhance our guests' experience.
Brighton Resort
New for the 2021-2022 season, Brighton Resort will add snowmaking in the Snake Creek area. Brighton continues to improve and expand night skiing offerings by adding night lights on the Snake Creek lift and runs. In addition, Brighton will add a Piston Bully 600E+ Hybrid diesel electric snow cat to their fleet.
Cherry Peak has invested in updated snowmaking equipment to accommodate an earlier opening date for the 2021-2022 season.
Deer Valley Resort continues to offer a world-class mountain dining experience, and this season the Snow Park Restaurant will be reimagined, offering a new lunch and après experience in the base lodge for skiers. The new menu will feature build-your-own salads and bowls, soups and chilis, burgers and an après ski menu with small bites and creative cocktails.
The resort continues to invest in annual improvements, and this year’s highlights include new Helly Hansen uniforms for all on-mountain staff; purchasing new state-of-the-art snow cats and upgrades to snowmaking systems and transportation fleets.
Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge and base area will soon start on a multi-year, complete revision to create a premier base area experience and complete the Resorts 40-year master plan. The new Snow Park base will provide additional accommodations and skier services, new contemporary food and beverage and après options, plus an expansive ski beach. An integrated transportation and mobility hub and new underground parking facilities will dramatically improve the mountain access experience. Pending local government review and approval, Snow Park is projected to break ground in 2022.
Eagle Point has laid down infrastructure to expand snowmaking capacity to extend to the Skyline Lift area, providing snow coverage to some of the more popular runs for beginners and ski lessons. The Canyonside Collection is now available to rent and represents a new lodging standard at Eagle Point, right in the heart of the village. These brand new condominiums contain all the modern amenities a family needs, with luxuriously appointed and spacious designs, panoramic views, and private hot tubs completing the modern mountain lifestyle. These are the first new condominium builds at the resort in 20 years.
Nordic Valley has added four brand new trails for the upcoming season, as well as new bathrooms to enhance guest experience. They’ve also upgraded their snowmaking on the new trails. As expected, Nordic Valley’s new high speed 6-person chair lift officially opened on January 24, 2021.
This October, the Elektron Solar Project will break ground- an 80 MW solar project that will provide renewable energy for 100 percent of Park City Mountain's electric usage by 2023. This investment in renewable energy is part of Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts’ Commitment to Zero sustainability initiative to achieve zero waste to landfill, zero net emissions and zero net impact to forests by 2030. Park City Mountain is proud to support this audacious goal, and their teams are working hard toward achieving it. Vail Resorts also recently signed the Climate Collaborative Charter, the ski industry’s first unified effort to combat climate change, with other industry leaders including Alterra, Boyne, and POWDER.
Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the U.S., has the most expansive snowmaking system in Utah which ensures world-class skiing conditions all season long, regardless of natural snowfall. With the help of its tenured snowmakers, the resort is scheduled to be one of the first resorts in Utah to open for the 2021-22 winter season on Friday, Nov. 19. Epic Pass prices were reduced this year, so unlimited skiing and riding at Park City Mountain all season long just got even more accessible. Purchase a pass here.
Powder Mountain will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is also excited to have joined the Indy Pass lineup for the 2021-2022 season. “Joining the Indy Pass has been on our radar and now that we share the same technology partner - Entabeni Systems – it became a very simple integration with our unique philosophy of limiting skier visits to 1,500 per day on our slopes,” explains Mark Schroetel, Powder Mountain’s General Manager.
Snowbasin announced significant enhancements and upgrades coming to the resort and guest experience and ultimately, the introduction of overnight accommodations including a hotel and village master plan.
Phase one features a new Ridgeline chairlift, expanded beginner terrain, parking and hotel with completion planned by December 2024. Construction of the resort village is planned to commence by 2025, with additional retail, residential and resort amenities to be added over the span of many years. East West Partners, North America’s most experienced mountain resort developer, and international planning firm Ecosign are engaged with Snowbasin in planning and coordination of development activities.
Snowbasin will replace a fixed grip triple mid-mountain lift, Middle Bowl, with a high speed detachable 6-pack. Opening is slated for Christmas 2021. The new chairlift will reduce ride time from 12 minutes to 6 minutes.
Parking is being expanded for the upcoming season with approximately 435 stalls added to the Maples and Canyon Rim parking areas. This will add to Snowbasin’s already high parking capacity and expedite guest access to the mountain. Construction on the new parking sections will begin in July and will be complete prior to Opening Day of the 2021-22 winter season.
The 2021-22 season marks Snowbird's 50th anniversary. Guests are invited to celebrate all season long with activations and limited-edition merchandise.
Snowbird Power Systems came online in July 2021. Snowbird Power Systems is a complex network of facilities that produce electricity and heat to operate the resort efficiently and reliably. The main component consists of a cogeneration plant which uses natural gas to produce electricity while recycling naturally occurring heat waste to warm the resort. Through Snowbird Power Systems, Snowbird is able to produce between 90-100% of the mountain's energy needs right up in Little Cottonwood Canyon while saving the equivalent carbon emissions of removing 789 personal vehicles from the road a year.
Additionally, Snowbird is installing Wyssen Towers in Mineral Basin. This will allow for remote-triggered avalanche mitigation work to occur, ideally making openings more efficient.
Finally, Snowbird plans on launching an all-new product in early October. More details are to be released soon.
Solitude is proud to have recently announced a $15 minimum wage for all non-tipped hourly employees.
Sundance Mountain Resort is thrilled to announce the addition of a new high-speed lift to mid-mountain summit. This lift will open up additional lift-accessed terrain, which was previously unavailable. An additional fixed-grip lift is being installed, and 3 magic carpets for the new beginner terrain will be operating for the 2021-2022 season.
Enhanced snowmaking will also be added for this season, including a snowmaking reservoir and new snow making equipment. In addition, Sundance Mountain Resort is expanding parking and adding about 160 newly paved parking spots for guests.
In addition, The Lookout, opening December 10 and reinvented from the original Creekside Cafe, will provide an additional option for those wishing to enjoy a casual meal at the base. Sweeping mountain views will accompany this modern BBQ menu where guests will enjoy drinks, burgers, grilled meats, salads, and bowls during both the summer and winter seasons.
Woodward Park City, the ultimate year-round action sports community club, continues its mission of empowering and inspiring the next generation of action sports athletes with upcoming capital improvements. Improvements for the 2021-22 winter season include new features in the 10,000 sq. ft. indoor concrete park; the development of a stage within the parkour zone providing a space to host events including film premieres, athlete speakers, live music performances and more; and a micro clubhouse to serve Woodard's smallest action sports athletes, ages 1–6. The micro clubhouse will include a small trampoline, foam pit, bouldering wall and more activities for our youngest enthusiasts.
Woodward Park City offers a fully integrated campus made up of a 66,000 square foot state-of-the-art action sports hub and more than 60 acres of Woodward Mountain Parks, a network of featured terrain park zones that, together, offer a balanced variety of exciting on-mountain experiences for all ages and abilities. In addition, visitors can experience snow tubing on the longest lanes in Utah and Utah’s only 22’ halfpipe. This winter, Woodward Park City introduces Ride With Woodward lesson programming offering group and private lessons for first-timers through advanced park riders. Ride With Woodward lessons take advantage of Woodward’s terrain that is designed for progression from the Start Park through the network of Progression Parks.
AROUND TOWN:
The Salt Lake Ski Super Pass is your all-in-one lift ticket to Salt Lake’s four world-class resorts. With the Midweek Super Pass, you can access the legendary slopes of Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude, Monday - Thursday with direct-to lift access*, as well as included transportation on UTA Ski Busses and ski resort rental shop discounts. Just book 3 nights lodging or more at any Salt Lake lodging property on VisitSaltLake.com and opt-in to receive (2) FREE One-Day Ski City Super passes.
The additional offer of the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass will be added to West of Conventional booking page on October 25, 2021. (2) FREE One-Day Salt Lake Ski Super Passes - Midweek Mon–Thurs ($280+ Value)
*Direct-to-lift access available only at Alta, Brighton, and Snowbird. To gain lift access at Solitude, users must validate Super Pass at Solitude resort lift ticket window.
For more information about the West of Conventional Campaign, visit visitsaltlake.com/westofconventional/
Park City is pleased to welcome Pendry Park City to its lodging offerings, which will open November, 2021. Pendry Park City is a modernist take on a traditional alpine lodge, the resort will feature 152 guestrooms and suites, ranging in size from studios to four-bedroom homes. The only rooftop pool in Park City. Located in Canyons Village, just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, the property is operated by Montage International.
The newest resort in Wasatch County is Black Rock Mountain Resort. Minutes from Park City & Deer Valley Black Rock Luxury Condos include luxury suites and guest rooms ranging from 1,269 sq ft to over 4,500 sq ft. All suites feature either spectacular views of the Jordanelle Reservoir and Deer Valley or the mountains of the Wasatch Range and include access to onsite amenities rivaling any community in the Park City area.Homestead Resort will implement major renovations happening in 2021 and 2022.
There are new murals along Grant Street in Downtown Ogden. A new direct flight from Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles to Ogden-Hinckley Airport was recently launched, allowing unparalleled access to skiing and snowboarding in the Ogden area.
LODGING IMPROVEMENTS & UPDATES:
Park City is thrilled to welcome Pendry Park City to its lodging offerings, which will open November, 2021. Pendry Park City is a modernist take on a traditional alpine lodge, the resort will feature 152 guestrooms and suites, ranging in size from studios to four-bedroom homes. It will offer only rooftop pool in Park City. Located in Canyons Village, just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, the property is operated by Montage International.
The Goldener Hirsch, Deer Valley’s iconic Austrian-inspired luxury hotel tucked mid-mountain at Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Village, expanded and introduced 40 brand new, luxury residential condominiums on November 1, 2020.
The newly expanded Goldener Hirsch offers an exclusive, luxurious mountain experience in an intimate alpine village setting. Featuring sleek, modern hotel rooms and multi-bedroom floor plans, the Goldener Hirsch includes new amenities such as a rooftop pool and gym, a plaza bridge connecting the original building with new, as well as sunlit courtyards, a café, and ski valet. Find out more at goldenerhirschinn.com.
The Chateaux Deer Valley, a Forbes Four-Star luxury property, is in the middle of a $2.6 million transformational renovation that broke ground in early June. The renovation includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor pool, modern landscaping and outdoor plaza remodel to be completed in time for Thanksgiving.
Stein Eriksen Lodge, Utah's only Forbes Five-Star resort and spa, and designated one of Forbes' Most Luxurious Hotels in the World, recently completed a refresh to some of its key Mountain Lodge common areas and public spaces for enhanced comfort and ambiance. We look forward to welcoming guests back to see updates, which include fresh paint, new wood and wainscoting, new light fixtures, furniture, carpet, and window treatments, a new Concierge desk, upgrades to all Grand Suites, and a new versatile patio covering for enhanced outdoor deck dining.
EMPLOYMENT UPDATES:
A number of Utah resorts are proud to have announced updates to employment policies. Resorts including Solitude Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain have updated their minimum wage to $15 per hour for non-salaried, non-tipped employees. For more information on employment opportunities throughout Utah ski resorts, please see each resort’s employment opportunities page here: https://www.skiutah.com/about/Resort-Careers
PASSES:
With a variety of pass options available, skiers and riders have exceptional access to multiple Utah resorts. Many of Utah’s resorts are also offering unprecedented season pass flexibility and assurance this season. Check out the helpful links below to find out more information on the dozens of passes that will get you on the snow in Utah in no time.
https://www.skiutah.com/passes/resort-season-passes
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Ski Utah is the marketing firm owned and operated by the 15 statewide ski resorts that make up the Utah Ski and Snowboard Association. The organization has been creating brand awareness of and demand for the Utah winter sports product since its inception in 1978. Ski Utah’s primary functions are concentrated in marketing, public policy and public relations. Information about Ski Utah and its members can be found at skiutah.com, on Twitter and Instagram @SkiUtah and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/skiutahyeti.
