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WEBER COUNTY — What started as a project to add one new lift at Powder Mountain turned into two this past summer.
"The owners decided that funds would be available, so we put in two lifts instead, which changed the planning a little bit," General Manager Mark Schroetel explained.
On top of that, the new skiable areas being added with the lifts totals about 1,000 acres. As the project moved forward, Schroetel says they learned just how unique that was.
"We weren't really setting out to have the largest expansion in North American history," Schroetel said. "We just knew we were adding a bunch of new terrain."
By the time Powder Mountain opens this winter, it will have approximately 7,900 acres of ski area, served by lifts. In terms of sheer acreage, that would make it the largest in the United States. Schroetel, however, says they are not interested in competing with big-name resorts like Park City or Vail.
"Our eventual development, we're never going to exceed one skier per acre," Schroetel explained. "This year, we'll probably be closer to three acres per skier. To put that in perspective, most of our competitors on peak days are seeing between 15 and 20 skiers per acre."
Schroetel says the resort will maintain the wide-open feel many of its customers have grown used to. The number of day passes sold will be limited to 2,000.
"We have a ton of land up here and we want to continue to offer that pristine experience," Schroetel said. "So, limited amounts of groomed terrain, lots of powder, lots of open tree-skiing, and plenty of space for everyone to roam."
