After a record-breaking season last year, Utah ski resorts couldn’t possibly do anything to make themselves better… right? Yet for the 2017/18 season, on-mountain improvements will be visible at all 14 resorts. From new lifts, increased snow making, and more, there’s always something shiny making its debut once the chairs start rolling. Below is a rundown of Utah ski resort improvements for the upcoming winter.
Alta: The old Supreme and Cecret lifts are gone and have been replaced with a new high-speed quad chairlift, also named Supreme. The lift will have state-of-the-art technology and a different base location near Alf’s Restaurant which Alta brass says will improve overall mountain flow for all skier-ability levels.
Brian Head: Not really an on-mountain improvement, but Brian Head is launching their first fully interactive app that will include powder alerts and condition reports, and will allow users to track their ski day (runs, vertical skied, etc.). Other key features of the app allow users to follow their children at ski school as well as access to restaurant specials and more fun resort offerings.
Park City: After undergoing massive changes last season due to Vail’s acquisition, Park City Resort shows no signs of slowing down. This season they will unveil a new, enclosed-surface lift and a new designated beginner trail to serve skiers and snowboarders at the Park City Base Area. Resort officials say the new area will provide a comfortable and spacious learning area for those just starting to ski or ride.
Powder Mountain: PowMow was one of the most active resorts last year, putting in two new lifts and expanding acreage. This year they are staying low-key, quite literally, for all of their skiers and snowboarders. Starting this season, the resort will cap day passes at 1,500 and season passes at 3,000, which averages three skiers per acre.
Snowbird: Creekside Lodge has been remodeled and expanded by over 13,500 square feet. The new facility will be home to the Mountain School as well as ticketing, plus expanded dining options including a boosted breakfast menu and barista-powered drinks.
Snowbasin: Say goodbye to the Wildcat triple chairlift. There will be a new, high-speed detachable six-pack lift in its place. The chairlift ride will be a quick five minutes and will rise over 1,290 vertical feet. Additionally, Snowbasin is increasing snow making in the Wildcat area, which will allow the resort to utilize beginner and intermediate terrain more frequently and earlier in the season.
Solitude Mountain Resort: SkiUtah reports that Solitude invested $1.5 million in improvements for the 2017-18 season. This included a website re-launch, and continued improvements to the Roundhouse Restaurant (after suffering a structure fire), Last Chance Lodge and Moonbeam Lodge. In addition, construction crews realigned the Solitude portion of the SolBright connection trail and added a new Rossignol rental fleet at the Nordic Center.
Sundance Mountain Resort: A new outfitter shop, Sundance Mountain Outfitter 2 will open just feet away from the base of Jake’s Lift. It is a one-stop shopping destination for all recreation needs with top-of-the-line skis and snowboards available for rental, as well as a full-service ski and snowboard repair center.
For more information about all resort changes this winter, including lodging, dining, and more, visit skiutah.com
What about Deer Valley, what improvements should I keep an eye out for?
I didn’t include any improvements to Deer Valley because there are no significant upgrades coming for this season.But with the new ownership, I’d expect to see some changes starting with the 2018/19 season.