Shortly after Vail Resorts acquired Park City Mountain Resort, it presented plans for a $50 million upgrade for the 2015-2016 season. Recently, formal application for completion of these plans was submitted to the city of Park City and Summit County for approval. Vail Resorts acquired PCMR only a few months ago after a three-year legal dispute surrounding PCMR’s failure to file the paperwork to renew its land lease.
The upgrades include many far-reaching goals, such as combining two resorts — Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort. The connection of these resorts would be facilitated by a high-speed, two-way gondola. By combining these two resorts, it will, in effect, create the largest ski area in the country — with a total of more than 7,300 skiable acres.
In addition to combining the two ski areas, the plans also include other major improvements at Park City Mountain Resort.
Here is a brief look at the proposed upgrades and additions to the resorts:
The Interconnect Gondola
The Interconnect Gondola is the main part of the plan and is the installation of the eight-passenger, high-speed gondola used to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons. This new gondola will take both skiers and snowboarders from Park City Mountain Resort’s Silverlode Lift to Canyons’ Flatiron Lift.
PCMR Lifts Upgrade
The overall plan includes an upgrade to the King Con lift from a four-person to a six-person high-speed lift. The Motherlode lift is also slated to go from a three-person lift to a four-person high-speed lift. Both upgrades will give skiers easier and faster access to the slopes.
Restaurant Renovations
As part of the plan, restaurants at the resorts will be improved and expanded. A new restaurant will be built near the base of the Interconnect Gondola and will have seating for up to 500 patrons. The Snow Hut restaurant will be demolished and replaced with a new restaurant. The Summit House and Red Pine Restaurant will both be upgraded to seat more people and better serve their guests.
Snowmaking and Other Improvements
Plans are set to include increased snowmaking capacity, along with the widening of some trails to compensate for the projected increase in skier traffic. In addition, $5 million is slated for additional maintenance projects at Park City Mountain Resort.
The improvements are scheduled to take during the upcoming spring and summer. If all goes well, and there are no delays or other problems, the improvements and upgrades should be completed in time for the start of the next ski season.
