Park City resort opens just in time for weekend snowstorm

Park City resort opens just in time for weekend snowstorm

(The Deseret News)


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PARK CITY — "Today was wonderful. The powder was awesome."

That was Becca Swain's description of opening day at Park City Mountain Resort Saturday. Swain, a Salt Lake City resident, said she became a "forever client" for the resort after learning to ski there last year.

"I'm addicted," she said.

Park City Mountain Resort opened for the first time under new ownership after Colorado-based Vail Resorts Inc. announced its purchase of the resort in September. This year's opening featured music, giveaways and remarks from the resort's new chief operating officer, Bill Rock, as well as Park City Mayor Jack Thomas.

The resort is now included in Vail's Epic Pass, which grants pass holders access to several resorts in and out of Utah, including Canyons Resort adjacent to Park City Mountain Resort.

Park City Mountain Resort spokesman Andy Miller said Saturday's crowd was "certainly a locals crowd," but the resort's inclusion in the Epic Pass is expected to attract a national crowd of skiers to the state.

"As the season goes along, our inclusion in the Epic Pass is going to open up a lot of eyes to the Park City area and to Utah," Miller said. "We're hoping we can pull in some new guests this year, and the whole region can benefit."

While enhancement projects for lifts and restaurants at the resort are in the planning stages and have not yet been announced, Miller said the resort plans to maintain its unique identity and local appeal.

"Basically, Vail knows that Park City ain't broke, so they're not trying to fix it," he said. "If people have enjoyed coming to Park City Mountain Resort in the past, the same stuff they've loved for years here is what we've got going on again this year."

Swain said she enjoys the resort's beginner-friendly terrain and "cozy" atmosphere — something that hasn't changed from last year.

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"I like the small-town, kind of local feel of Park City," she said. "I still felt like I was going to Park City just like last year."

Miller said a steady stream of snow fell Saturday as visitors enjoyed the use of three operating lifts, six runs and two terrain parks.

"Everybody's having a blast," Miller said. "It's dumping up here now."

The resort was expected to get between 12 inches and 18 inches of snow through Sunday, though the snow will likely be wet due to warmer precipitation occurring in other parts of the Wasatch Front, according to KSL meteorologist Dan Guthrie. Temperatures in Park City were expected to remain below freezing through Monday.

Heavy precipitation caused power outages in parts of Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties on Saturday, affecting about 11,000 customers, according to Rocky Mountain Power. Park City was unaffected by the outages.

Saturday's rain was expected to turn into snow through Sunday afternoon for lower regions of the Wasatch Front. High temperatures will be in the 30s with lows in the 20s for Sunday and Monday. Snow showers are expected to resume Sunday night through Monday afternoon, according to Guthrie.

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Morgan Jacobsen

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