PlanetSKI Reporter Returns to Park City

fifteenth February 2025 | Nick Dalton, Park Metropolis, Utah.

There have been just a few modifications happening since our roving reporter, Nick Dalton, final visited. Make that hundreds. NEW

What a distinction a decade makes.

Park Metropolis, the little, historic Utah mining city turned ski mecca, isn’t so little any extra.

It’s been 9 years – my final go to – for the reason that gondola hyperlink with the fashionable, car-free Canyons down valley created the largest ski space within the USA however issues haven’t stopped.

Park Metropolis’s quaint City Carry – picture © PlanetSKI

Park Metropolis’s tasteful clapboard houses and Victorian brick downtown have been – and nonetheless are being – joined by rather more in the identical type, spreading farther and farther.

The city’s second ski space, plush Deer Valley, a standalone neighborhood wealthy with mansions that may dwarf these of your common Premiership footballer, used to actually stand alone.

Now grandiose growth on each fronts is making the dividing line a lot more durable to identify and serving up new bars and eating places like by no means earlier than.

And in a world the place it turns into ever harder to broaden a ski space, both resulting from money constraints or environmental issues, Deer Valley, is making startling modifications.

Three new lifts opened this season with seven extra to comply with for the beginning of 25-26 – with one other six scorching on their heels.*

Meaning 20 new runs already plus one other 80, bringing the resort whole to 238 runs, virtually doubling the run tally.

Deer Valley’s horseshoe form is prolonged by the runs than pour all the way down to new East Village, throughout Freeway 40 from the peak-fringed fantastic thing about Jordanelle Reservoir.

From there I rode six-person Keetley Categorical chair which, with heated seat and cover, is a world away from a lot of the resort’s lifts.

On the trip one sees the work ploughing forward on a 10-man gondola for subsequent yr, solely the resort’s second non-chair raise (and the opposite, the quick Jordanelle Categorical, is extra an entry gondola throughout the luxurious houses under Little Baldy Peak with their one blue run.

What’s spectacular is the cruisy inexperienced that now runs three miles from the highest of 9,100ft Flagstaff Mountain to East Village, the brand new McHenry part decrease down with stirring reservoir views.

New Deer Valley McHenry run to East Village, with reservoir view – picture © PlanetSKI

It’s apparently the longest inexperienced run within the US however can be outshone subsequent season by the already prolonged Inexperienced Monster that may meander virtually 5 miles, taking in Park Peak, solely simply being developed and which can be house to lots of the new runs.

Quiet February day in Deer Valley – picture © PlanetSKI

Unbusy Park Metropolis – picture © PlanetSKI

Powder Day in Park Metropolis – picture © PlanetSKI

East Village guarantees to be a monumental affair; it has simply seen the 436-room ski-in ski-out Grand Hyatt open and a futuristic 4 Seasons (134 rooms and 123 residences of as much as six bedrooms) is underway.

Hyatt Deer Valley East Village – picture © PlanetSKI

Hyatt East Village 2 – picture © PlanetSKI

Then there’s the 60-acre Velvaere ‘wellness neighborhood’ with its personal ski raise; of 124 residences, costs as much as virtually £10m, the primary is full.

Deer Valley will by subsequent season have 10 peaks (4 of them new: Park, Huge Dutch, South and Hail, two of them topping 9,000ft), turning the horseshoe right into a full circle with an enormous quantity of snowboarding with reservoir views – and it’s pledged that if any raise isn’t accomplished on time, snowcats will transport skiers till it’s.

And that’s on high of the busy new picture alternative at a junction close to the highest of Flagstaff Mountain, the place there’s a selection of Ontario or Trump – each runs from the Eighties that, like so many right here, have been named after mining claims.

Ontario – Trump! Nick Dalton in Park Metropolis picture © PlanetSKI

On the essential Snow Park Lodge base, the automotive park can be despatched underground, permitting a gondola to switch the chairlifts, and bringing in outlets and apres-ski choices.

City Carry from Park Metropolis downtown – picture © PlanetSKI

Sunny Park Metropolis – picture © PlanetSKI

The massive St Regis lodge sitting on a lofty bluff is now related by non-public funicular to its grand residences that opened subsequent door to the lifts in 2024 – and work is effectively underway on one other wing for 2026.

St Regis lodge & extension – picture © PlanetSKI

The Canyons finish of Park Metropolis has additionally widened prior to now 10 years.

The Grand Summit lodge is now surrounded by Canyons Village, the coolly modern Pendry lodge the newest to open.

Subsequent season a 10-person gondola will run from the village, enhancing entry.

After I visited, Park Metropolis was simply getting its breath from the Sundance Movie Competition that completed on the weekend, prepared for Freestyle Worldwide, three evenings of moguls and aerials at Deer Valley, free though tons of went for the $200 Freestyle Feast VIP tickets that included a number of drinks together with limitless gorging, oysters to ice-cream and much in between.

Moguls Deer Valley – picture © PlanetSKI

Park Metropolis continues to be a spot for apres-ski… the continually altering Alpine Social Support & Pleasure Membership, a hip lounge, is sister of Alpine Distilling whose Utah Single Bourbon (a really moreish 46.2%) is served alongside Alpine Gin, an award-winner in London and lots of different locations.

Outdated City Cellars, reborn after a disastrous flood, is a wine-rich subterranean retreat with creations by founder Stephen MacKay who went from ski jumper to aviation to sommelier to wine mixing.

Park Metropolis at night time – picture © PlanetSKI

And Utah’s first brewpub, the Wasatch, is now reborn as High Of Predominant with Salt Lake Brewing Co’s ales together with the tongue-tingling Coalition Hellfire chilli and Polygamy Porter (its catchphrase ‘Why have only one!’ a cheery nod to native Mormons).

High of Predominant Park Metropolis – picture © PlanetSKI

And at Mountain City Olive Oil Co I tasted the very best – together with Excessive West’s Campfire Whiskey, a mix of rye, bourbon and scotch.

There’s at all times a brand new ingesting spot, alongside timeless favourites such because the at all times packed No Title Saloon.

Park Metropolis and Deer Valley ski areas dwell in concord though with the previous owned by Vail Resorts and on the Epic cross, the latter owned by Alterra Mountain Firm and on the Ikon cross, the rope that divides the areas (runs on the high of Deer Valley’s Empire Categorical raise and Park Metropolis’s McConkey’s Categorical) is unlikely to see a ceremonial chopping.

Assembly level of Deer Valley and Canyons – picture © PlanetSKI

There are different issues to do through the day.

Utah Olympic Park simply exterior city has a free museum however the bobsleigh monitor – house to runs within the 2002 Salt Lake Metropolis Video games and already making ready for the 2034 Video games – is the large attraction.

I liked each bone-rattling second however at $225 for a trip that lasts solely 49 seconds it’s removed from low cost – however value it.

Identical worth however lasting three hours is the Historic Snowshoe Tour from the Jans firm.

Beginning near the highest of Predominant Avenue, it heads straight up Daly Canyon previous mine buildings, dynamite retailer and different landmarks, with fascinating commentary by information Karri, herself a former ski racer.

A second-to-none free transport system permits you to leap from place to put, day and night time.

Added to the free buses and shuttles that run late into the night, the DV Direct app serves these staying within the many properties (resembling Lodges At Deer Valley, a country residence village with café, bar and out of doors scorching pool) run by Deer Valley itself.

The free Uber-like system permits friends to summon transport inside minutes – it could be a individuals provider, in case you’re fortunate it could be a Vary Rover – to get to Deer Valley lifts, but additionally to move to Park Metropolis itself, for buying or carousing.

After I arrived, the inexperienced of the encircling countryside was a bit of disturbing because of the lack of snow the realm has endured this season.

But, a sudden storm lasting virtually 24 hours meant that I used to be capable of go away having skied approaching a foot of Utah’s fabled powder.

What a distinction a day makes…

* New For 2024/25/26: Appreciable snowmaking machines have been added on the decrease Canyons slopes, guaranteeing necessary connections – Chicane and One other World – are undoubtedly open early.

The multi-year challenge will enter its second part with utility and infrastructure enhancements and establishing a raise hall on the mountain in 2024.

The third part removes the Dawn chairlift and the Dawn Gondola can be put in. The opening of the brand new Sunshine gondola deliberate for the 2025/26 winter season. Full particulars of the challenge right here.

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