Sundance offers winter zip line for 1st time

(Sundance Mountain Resort)


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SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT ā€” For the first time, Utahns can hit the slopes for a day of skiing or snowboarding and then go zip lining down the mountain ā€” an experience you won't find anywhere else, according to the Sundance Mountain Resort director.

The zip line is among many improvements and expansions at Sundance Mountain Resort since it opened in 1944. Originally known as Timp Haven, the resort was purchased by Robert Redford in 1969 and renamed Sundance, according to Sundance Mountain Resort Marketing Director Mari Turner.

In 1985, Redford took over the U.S. Film Festival, started in Salt Lake City in 1978, and renamed it after the resort. The Sundance Film Festival is now one of the most well-known independent film festivals in the world; and while the majority of the films are now shown in Park City, several films are still shown at the "Screening Room" in the resort during the festival.

The resort opened its zip line in May 2015. It offers four zip lines, totaling almost 2 miles. The resort decided to offer a unique experience to its winter visitors and kept one zip line open for the ski season.

"We can't wait for our guests to experience the snow-capped mountains with a whole new perspective ā€” soaring at a bird's-eye view for almost 4,000 feet," Sundance Mountain Resort director of mountain operations Czar Johnson said in a statement. "For the first time, a couple or a family that may not ski can still have a winter experience they won't find anywhere else."

Photo credit: Sundance Mountain Resort
Photo credit: Sundance Mountain Resort

The winter Sundance ZipTour utilizes the longest span of the four zip lines. Sundance Mountain Resort ZipTour supervisor Addyson Reynolds said the zip line is about .75 miles long and lasts between 60-90 seconds. She said it is common for people to reach up to 60 miles per hour on the zip line. Reynolds said the resort offers a package deal for $99 that allows people to ski or snowboard for the day and also ride the zip line.

"I definitely recommend it because you kind go all morning, ski and snowboard all over the mountain," Reynolds said. "And people generally tend to take a lunch break in the afternoon and so the zip line is a really cool way to break that up. Go out, see the resort from a different angle for about an hour and then finish off your afternoon of skiing or snowboarding after you've kind of refreshed your legs and taken a break."

To just ride the zip line and not include the ski/snowboard package, tickets are $49 per person, and Reynolds said people can add on a second run for $15. The zip line is currently open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but during the summer months, the hours are extended to include night zip lining.

"We had people who came back from the summer to ride the winter zip line and their feedback is that it's a totally different experience," Reynolds said. "The mountain looks so different, the way you are interacting with your environment is totally different, and so I definitely recommend, even if they came in summer, to come check it out again because it's a totally different scenario."

Reynolds said people should dress for the cold weather, but that the wind chill is no colder than that experienced during sledding or skiing.

Along with the zip line, the resort also has four chairlifts that access 450 skiable acres. The resort plans to upgrade one of the chairlift from a triple chair to a quad for the 2016-2017 ski season, Turner said. Unlike some resorts in Utah, Sundance Mountain Resort allows skiing, snowboarding and snow bikes on its slopes.

The resort also has about 100 different cottages and 10 mountain homes available for rent and offers four restaurants with different dining options ranging from fine dining to a deli with soups and sandwiches.

While the current focus is on winter sports, the resort also offers a host of family-friendly summer activities, including 25 miles of mountain biking and hiking, guided fly fishing, plays at the Sundance Summer Theater, free concerts from July 10 to Aug. 13 and the popular Bluebird Cafe Concert Series.

Location: 8841 N. Alpine Loop Road, Sundance

Hours: The resort is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday it is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Prices: An adult day lift ticket is $65 and day lift tickets for children ages 6-12 are $43. Lift tickets for seniors 65 years or older are $21. Tickets for military are $35.

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UtahOutdoors
Faith Heaton Jolley

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