Park City Mountain Resort said goodbye to its winter ski season and hello to summer operations last week.
“Park City Mountain Resort activities include one of the world’s longest alpine slides; the ZipRider and Flying Eagle Zip Line; and over 70 miles of hiking and mountain biking terrain served by three chairlifts,” said Margo Christiansen, senior manager of communications for the resort.
Summer 2015 marks the change in ownership for Park City Mountain Resort from Powdr Corp. to Vail Resorts. With the change in ownership the resort will commence a $50 million improvement project to join Park City Mountain Resort to Canyons Resort.
The centerpiece of the project is the Interconnect Gondola, which will connect the two resorts. Upon completion it will take approximately 8 minutes for riders on the eight-passenger gondola to go from Canyons to Park City Mountain Resort.
Upgrades will also be made to Park City’s King Con and Motherlode lifts. “King Con will be upgraded from a four-person to six-person high-speed detachable chair, meaning increased lift capacity. Motherlode will switch from a fixed-grip triple to a four-person high-speed detachable, similarly improving the number of guests it can carry,” said Bill Rock, COO of Park City Mountain Resort.
The resort also plans to build a new Snow Hut restaurant, which will seat 500 guests; renovate the Red Pine Restaurant, improving capacity to the tune of 250 indoor seats; and improve the flow of diners inside the Summit House. The expansion is anticipated to be completed prior to the 2015–2016 winter ski season and will make the resort the largest resort in the United States, with 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
BYU student Kevin Boyer loves to take trips to Park City Mountain Resort for fun group dates. “It is the perfect place to take a girl on a day date,” Boyer said. “The scenery is beautiful, and Park City Mountain Resort always cultures a fun, unforgettable atmosphere.”
Park City Mountain Resort is home to more than two dozen restaurants. Visitor favorites include the Summit House, Mountain Waffle Co. and Pay Day Pizza.
“One of the best things about Park City is the food,” Boyer said. “I have never been disappointed by the amazing food. Sharing a meal with friends and having a mountain backdrop adds to the experience.”
Christiansen called the resort’s Fourth of July celebration “the pinnacle of events this summer.” On the Fourth of July Park City will host the Park City Main Street Parade and City Park celebrations. The resort will provide fireworks and live music.
For now, visitors can enjoy sliding down the mountain on the alpine slide, bouncing on the Legacy Launcher trampoline, exploring the mountain on foot or seeing breathtaking views from the zip line all in one day.
“Summer is an activity-filled season in Park City, and we are happy to offer an extensive choice of recreation across two mountains,” Rock said. “The entire summer season is jam-packed with activities and special events, allowing guests to enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery of Park City. Our mountains are the perfect destination to beat the heat and explore the outdoors through adventures for everyone.”
Park City Mountain Resort opened for the early season on May 22. Regular season hours begin June 5.
