It’s mountain time, and I’m sharpening my skis and polishing my boots to play in the snow.
Here’s what’s new at more than a dozen resorts in Utah, including new lifts, new on-mountain dining with expanded outdoor seating and heaters, and new learning areas, and some areas are requiring advance reservations to ensure social distancing on lifts.
After the Covid-19 pandemic upended the 2019–20 ski season with early closures in March, we’re all itching to get back on the slopes for skiing, riding, cross-country gliding, and don’t forget the tubing hills for giggles.
The other big news is the brand new Salt Lake City Airport.
The New SLC
Once fully completed, the $4 billion project will completely replace the original airport built in 1960, and takes the title of the world’s first new hub airport of the 21st century.
Despite challenges presented by Covid-19, this first phase of SLC Airport’s massive reconstruction project opened to the public on time this September. The project’s second phase—the terminal’s Concourse B west—opened just six weeks later, nearly two years ahead of schedule, thanks to reduced traffic at the airport.
The new airport includes a baggage system specially designed to handle oversized bags such as skis and snowboards in winter and golf bags in summer.
The project is expected to be completely finished in 2024.
For specific information about what Utah ski resorts have done to create streamlined operations, employ consistent safety guidelines and offer unparalleled pass options and assurances to help guests plan ahead and navigate skiing in Utah during the coronavirus pandemic, visit the Ski Utah 2020–21 Winter Operations Page.
What’s New at Utah Ski Resorts
Alphabetically, because that’s the only fair way.
Alta Ski Area
Alta celebrates its 83rd year of lift-served skiing this season with some changes to amenities, but not to its legendary steeps and powder.
Alf’s Restaurant on-mountain restaurant has been expanded, with a new ski shop and coffee shop, and a waffle station to fuel up during the day.
All the resort’s day lodges will be open with limited menus, and guests will be asked to limit their time in the restaurant to 30 minutes. Grab and go breakfast and lunch options will be available in the Wildcat and Albion parking lot.
The Alf Engen Ski school is offering private lessons. Reservations are recommended.
The Alta Children’s Center is open this winter, but reservations are required.
Skier capacity will be limited through parking availability, and the resort is encouraging skiers to check alta.com for parking and road conditions before heading up the canyon.
For more information about operational updates and safety protocols for Winter 2020–21, visit alta.com/winter-2020-21.
Remember, no snowboarders are allowed at Alta.
Beaver Mountain
Beaver Mountain Ski Area has installed a second SunKids conveyor lift. Located in our beginner area above the Little Beaver lift, this conveyor will add a level of progression as it is slightly steeper than the current conveyor. The new lift is called Big Eezy, because it’s bigger than Little Eezy surface lifts in our beginner area.
The additional lift should reduce lift lines and ease guest flow. There is also a new online ordering system.
Eagle Point
Eagle Point has added newly built homes and expanded the number of existing condominiums available for guest rental, increasing the total lodging capacity for the resort area by 20 units from last season. The majority of this lodging is available to book directly through the resort.
Eagle Point also expanded high speed internet into more condominiums so that nearly all rentals throughout the resort now include high speed internet connectivity.
The Skyline Lodge has also been reconfigured and added an additional 150 square feet of new space, allowing an expansion of the rental/fitting area and improvements to the customer flow.
Nordic Valley
Open since 1968, Nordic Valley Ski Resort has added its first high-speed chairlift – a high-speed detachable six-person lift – and the largest expansion project in resort history
According to resort officials, the new lift construction project — together with Power Pass resort Arizona Snowbowl’s high-speed chairlift gondola combination lift — makes up one of the largest lift installation projects in North America in advance of the 2020–21 winter season.
The new chairlift is the resort’s first new lift in over 20 years. Manufactured by Leitner Poma, it is 4,213 feet in length with a vertical of 1,400 feet. The high-speed lift will be located on a brand new area — 300 skiable acres that has been owned by Nordic Valley but never developed until now.
In addition to the capital improvements, Nordic Valley will be moving the majority of its ticket sales online.
Lift tickets will be available online with deep discounts the further in advance they are purchased. The resort is also introducing new on-mountain dining improvements, including grab-and-go options as well as an online ordering system to ease guest flow and reduce wait times.
Park City Mountain
Park City Mountain is scheduled to open on Friday, November 20, 2020, one of the first opening dates in the United States.
New this year is prioritizing pass holders.
In addition to strictly-enforced face covering and physical distancing requirements, Vail Resorts is implementing a new, easy-to-use reservation system for winter at Park City Mountain and all 34 North American resorts that are part of the Vail Resorts group.
Most days, Park City Mountain will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to visit, but the new reservation system will help manage capacity and give guests peace of mind knowing they’ll have the space needed to stay safe this season.
Also new for the 2020–21 season, Vail Resorts is launching Epic Mountain Rewards which gives Epic Pass holders a discount of 20% off food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals and more at Park City Mountain and other Vail Resorts locations.
Additionally, Epic Pass holders can redeem one free wax and 50% off one basic tune per season at select U.S. locations. Epic Mountain Rewards is available to anyone who purchases an Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Day Pass, Epic Military Pass, and many of the Company’s other regional season pass products. T
Snowbasin Resort
There are a number of enhancements for the 2020–21 winter season at the resort’s expansive 3,000 acres.
New Learning Area: Snowbasin has relocated the Grizzly and Wildflower Carpets to offer expanded beginners’ terrain with an 11% slope, just north of the Learning Center.
Outdoor/Slopeside Dining: Three new ski-in/ski-out, outdoor dining options will open on-mountain to provide faster service while also eliminating the need to go inside lodges. These slopeside dining facilities are near Earl’s Lodge, the Old Day Lodge and at the base of Strawberry Gondola. Guests will be able to purchase food or drinks at a window and enjoy outdoor seating with a view.
Yurts & Warming Areas: A new yurt village has been built at the base of the Middle Bowl to provide an area for guests to rest and warm-up, remote from any resort lodge. Additionally, the resort has added a yurt to the base area to provide faster season pass and ticket pickup without entering Earl’s Lodge. Also, the Old Day Lodge will be open to provide additional space for seating and restrooms as well.
Handle Tow: The Wildcat Handle Tow was installed at the junction of Littlecat Trail and Orson’s Terrain Park to provide easier access to Wildcat Express. This allows guests an additional open-air option to access upper and mid-mountain terrain without taking Needles Gondola.
Ski Trail to Canyon Rim Parking: Snowbasin added a new trail, Squirrel, to easily access the Canyon Rim parking area without entering a shuttle. Guests can enter the trail near the top of Littlecat Chairlift to ski 3,000 feet to the parking lot. A new crosswalk will also be added to allow guests to safely enter the parking.
Needles Lodge: Renovations were made at Needles Lodge with the addition of ‘The Overlook,’ a new full-service bar with panoramic views from 8,700 feet as well as operational improvements to increase speed of service and flow.
Slopeside Drop-Off: A new drop-off zone was added to the Wildcat Parking Area, allowing guests to drop off friends or family slopeside. From there, guests can ski to several lifts without needing to visit the base area. With this update, the Wildcat Parking Lot will be open daily. Skier services, including rentals, are not available at this location.
To read more about operational updates and safety protocols at Snowbasin, visit snowbasin.com/2020-21-winter-season.
Snowbird
Snowbird has an official new app to make it easier to connect with friends on lifts and trails, track your performance stats, view real-time weather, resort information and more. Learn more at snowbird.com/snowbird-app.
Snowbird’s newest dining additions include two food trailers: “Gadzooks” in Gad Valley and the “Subie Shack” on Dick Bass Deck. These food trailers will provide more outdoor food and drink options.
Mid-Gad Restaurant has always been the ultimate ski-in/ski-out location for those looking to fuel up between runs with a sit-down dining experience and cocktails.
While physical distancing in lift queues occurs organically due to the length of skis and snowboards, guests can expect additional spacing measures including extended maze designs and more lateral spacing to ensure a consistent flow of appropriately spaced traffic. Front row mazes will be in place at Gadzoom, Peruvian Express and Mineral Basin.
For more information about new additions for Winter 2020–21, visit snowbird.com/winter-experience-2021.
Solitude Mountain Resort
Solitude Mountain Resort is introducing both upgrades and new experiences that accommodate social distancing and increased safety measures, including:
More outdoor seating – including tents and heaters – and more grab-and-go options at restaurants.
Fresh-made, take-and-bake dinners available at the Village Store for lodging guests and neighbors.
The Yurt Experience at St. Bernard’s will bring our signature culinary experience into Solitude Village, allowing for greater distance between tables while preserving the intimate feel and outstanding cuisine.
Reservations for rentals, reconfigured flow in rental shops.
Touchless transactions for parking.
Additional, temporary public restrooms to reduce queueing, plus additional cleaning and hand sanitization across the resort.
Solitude Mountain Resort will not be selling walk-up day tickets on site for the 2020–21 season. Single-day lift tickets must be purchased online in advance for a specific date.
The resort does not anticipate requiring reservations for Ikon Pass, Solitude season pass, or Solitude Ticket Pak holders.
Group lessons for children 6 and under will not be offered this season. Group lessons for children ages 7-12; Fly Like an Eagle, our multi-week program for children ages 7-13; and adult group lessons will be offered with modified hours (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) and no lunch will be served.
The Solitude big mountain, race team, devo program, Women on Wednesdays multi-week lessons, and Hidden Tracks mountain tour will be offered as usual. Solitude will also be adding more options for private lessons to meet anticipated demand.
Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain has purchased three new snow cats outfitted with open air seating and trailers to provide safe transportation up Lightning Ridge and Raintree, allowing the resort to continue offering its well-known Single Ride Snow Cat skiing experience.
All food and beverage outlets will be outfitted with to-go windows for quick and easy food to eat on-hill or in your car.
The Timberline Lodge Cafeteria will now be a sit-down restaurant, offering a full menu.
For all other information about Powder Mountain’s updates and efforts to keep guests safe and healthy this season, please visit powdermountain.com/winter2021.
Woodward Park City
Woodward Park City, Utah’s newest sports resort, has upgraded ways to access the one-of-a-kind indoor Action Sports Hub and outdoor Woodward Mountain Park, terrain refinements, “Four Then More,” a beginner learn to ski conversion program.
Guests will find new ways to purchase access to Woodward Park City including All Access Memberships, new outdoor Mountain Park memberships, and monthly All Access and Mountain Park passes. Memberships require a multi-month commitment and offer additional perks; passes do not require a multi-month commitment.
Memberships and passes are currently available for purchase.
Woodward Park City’s Woodward Mountain Park and Tubing lanes will open November 20, 2020 (weather and conditions permitting) for the 2020–2021 winter season with enhancements to the Woodward Mountain Park, including: a rerouted Easy Rider, the resort’s easiest way down; a repositioned Progression Park, a skier or rider’s first introduction to freestyle terrain; and an expanded Peace Park, freestyle terrain that focuses on a fun, non-linear flow to create the ultimate environment for creative expression.
The new “Four Then More” program is Woodward Park City’s beginner conversion initiative. It includes four on-snow sessions with lessons, lift tickets, and rentals for $299 for ages four and up. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive an outdoor mountain park membership for one month.
Guests are encouraged to pre-purchase indoor and outdoor sessions in advance for the best availability and pricing. Tubing session tickets purchased in advance will be available through an on-site contactless kiosk. Lift tickets providing access to the Hot Laps Quad lift will be sold in four-hour sessions.
Woodward also offers contactless food and beverage orders for its two food and beverage outlets.
Additional information:
For specific information about what Utah ski resorts have done to create streamlined operations, employ consistent safety guidelines and offer unparalleled pass options and assurances to help guests plan ahead and navigate skiing in Utah during the coronavirus pandemic, visit the Ski Utah 2020–21 Winter Operations Page.
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