A long time of doubt, anxiety and speculation over what will happen between the legal wrangling between Vail/Talisker and Park City Mountain Resort is finally over. Vail has officially purchased PCMR. This announcement has come only two days after a judge ordered PCMR to pay a $17.5 million bond to keep operating for the 2014/15 ski season.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the purchase price is $182.5 million in cash. The combination of both Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort effectively creates a 7,000-acre resort, which would be the largest in the country.
This sale also puts an end to the litigation between Powdr Corp, PMCR’s former owner, and Talisker/Vail.
The good news for Utah residents, is that PCMR will immediately be added to Vail’s Epic Pass, a local’s-only season pass that includes 22 resorts around the world.
“Park City Mountain Resort is one of the most iconic mountain resorts in the world and as the newest addition to the Vail Resorts collection of world-class mountains, it’s now epic. We’re thrilled to be able to offer unlimited skiing and riding at Park City Mountain Resort on the Epic Pass for the 2014-15 winter season,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “We continue to provide even greater value and variety in skiing and riding with the Epic Pass and significantly invest in the guest experience at our mountain resorts, including new chairlifts, on-mountain dining options and innovative snowmaking expansions for the coming winter.”
The 2014-15 Epic Pass features unlimited, unrestricted skiing and riding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Furthermore, Epic Pass holders have the opportunity to extend their skiing and riding adventures globally with up to five consecutive free days (when booking in-resort lodging) at the renowned mountain resorts of Les 3 Vallées, France (Courchevel, La Tania, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle) and Verbier, Switzerland, and five consecutive free days at Niseko United, Japan.
The Epic Pass costs $749 for adults and $389 for children (ages 5-12).
The sale of PCMR includes the entire base area, parking lots, lower ski terrain and lifts, water rights, and snowmaking equipment. Early word is that all PCMR employees will keep their jobs for the upcoming ski season.