Alterra

Expanded Excellence Takes Shape at Deer Valley

Peter Landsman8 Comments

Hundreds of workers are racing to finish the initial phase of Deer Valley’s Expanded Excellence addition, scheduled to open in December. Garrett Lang, Deer Valley’s Director of Mountain Operations and Mike Walker, Senior Construction Manager, kindly gave me a personal tour of the megaproject yesterday.

Top drive terminal for the Keetley Express, set to open this winter.

This winter will be a 316 acre preview of what will be a much larger expansion totaling 2,900 acres over two years. Winter 2024-25 will launch the mountain’s first six pack – a bubble – and two quad chairs rising from the new East Village. Additional lifts are in varying states of completion, including a monster 10 passenger gondola set to open in 2025-26. Simultaneously, a Grand Hyatt hotel, 500 new day skier parking spaces, miles of snowmaking pipe, electrical infrastructure and temporary skier services are also coming together.

Those driving by on U.S. Route 40 probably won’t grasp the full scale of the expansion, which encompasses 2,850 vertical feet and 110 new trails by 2025-26. Several new lifts will be among the longest at Deer Valley. While 500 paved parking spots will open this season, 700 more are being reserved for lift construction laydown. Workers from both Doppelmayr and Highlander Ski Lift Services & Construction are piecing together the lifts, which are being manufactured in Austria, Canada and the United States.

Rocky Mountain Power built an entire new substation to service the vast snowmaking system and burgeoning village. A brand new mid-mountain maintenance facility will support lift, snowmaking and vehicle maintenance needs. Employee housing is also included in the project.

Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, the first of several hotels set to anchor the East Village.

The main attraction this season will be Keetley Express, a D-Line sixer loading steps from the Hyatt. Keetley is the name of the town once buzzing nearby but overtaken by the Jordanelle Reservoir in the 1990s. Like all Deer Valley lifts, Keetley Express will sport a thoroughly green livery with white accents. The flagship will feature gray bubbles and European-made seats. From the top of Keetley Express, skiers will gain access to Deer Valley’s existing footprint via either Mayflower or Sultan Express.

Map showing this winter’s preview lineup, center in yellow.

Directly adjacent to Keetley is Hoodoo Express, a UNI-G high speed quad (the word Hoodoo means a column or pinnacle of weathered rock; all the expansion’s trail and lift names were chosen from a pool of 500 historic mining claims in the vicinity.) Hoodoo will parallel Keetley but stop after only a handful of towers, creating an ideal beginner area above the East Village. Because of its proximity to Keetley Express, the bottom terminal will be modeled to look like a D-Line.

Galena Express lift line and completed foundations.

Finally a quad named Aurora will load in a drainage near the East Village and return skiers to the Hyatt zone. Aurora is the only fixed grip lift in the entire expansion and will feature a loading conveyor. Three carpet lifts are also planned for beginners.

Several other lifts are well on their way to reality. Near the top of Keetley Express, foundations are also complete for Galena Express, a UNI-G high speed quad set to open next winter. The East Village Gondola, made up of seperable upper and lower segments, is coming along with foundations being formed. Two major lifts have yet to start construction: the upper mountain Pinyon Express bubble and the giant Revelator Express six pack on Park Peak. These two systems will service a vast network of high elevation trails miles above the East Village. The final two lifts set to open next year are Neptune Express and Pioche Express, detachable quads primarily serving lower elevation real estate.

2025-26 footprint.

The East Village and planned terrain expansion are just part of Deer Valley’s ambitious roadmap. Later phases may include lifts on both South Peak and Hail Peak. Simultaneously, Alterra Mountain Company aims to redevelop the Snow Park base, including the replacement of Silver Lake Express with a gondola and Carpenter Express with a six seat detachable. A third new gondola is being eyed to connect Silver Lake Village to Park Peak, where the gondola from East Village lands. Both gondolas landing on Park Peak will share an underground cabin parking and maintenance facility. Deer Valley also plans to begin replacing aging existing lifts such as Northside Express and Wasatch Express in the coming years.

One of hundreds of new HKD stick guns, supplemented with TechnoAlpin fan guns.

Although no specific grand opening date has been announced, we are likely only around 90 days out from what’s sure to be a celebration and huge milestone for Deer Valley.

News Roundup: Megaprojects

Peter Landsman6 Comments

Deer Valley to Open Three New Lifts This Season

Peter Landsman19 Comments

Deer Valley has unveiled the names for three chairlifts that will open this winter in phase one of the Expanded Excellence expansion. The three inaugural lifts, being constructed by Doppelmayr, include a high speed six pack with bubbles, a detachable quad and a fixed grip quad. Skiers will gain access to 300 acres and 20 trails this season via a temporary gateway with 500 parking spaces, a rental shop and ticketing services. “In just a couple of months, we are looking forward to welcoming our guests to experience the beginning of Deer Valley’s Expanded Excellence vision,” said Todd Bennett, President & COO of Deer Valley Resort.

The flagship D-Line Keetley Express will load near the new Grand Hyatt Deer Valley and lift skiers to Keetley Point. This lift will feature Deer Valley’s first-ever bubble comfort chairs and provide access to the existing Sultan Express lift. Next door, the shorter Hoodoo Express quad will service beginner terrain above the East Village. This lift will be a UNI-G detachable designed to look like the D-Line next door. The third new lift for this season, called Aurora, will provide a short return route back to the East Village. This Alpenstar quad will feature a loading conveyor to maximize efficiency. Keetley Express is expected to open in December with Hoodoo Express and Aurora to follow shortly thereafter.

Concrete work is also underway for six additional lifts set to open for the 2025-26 season. These include a two stage, 10 passenger gondola and five detachable chairlifts. The final four lifts in the expansion will open in future seasons with the exact timeline yet to be determined. When the expansion is complete, Deer Valley will have added 3,700 acres of skiable terrain and 135 new ski runs, making it one of the largest resorts in North America.

News Roundup: Antitrust Scrutiny

Peter Landsman2 Comments

News Roundup: Sunrise

Peter Landsman27 Comments

Alterra to Buy Arapahoe Basin

Peter Landsman24 Comments

Alterra Mountain Company has reached an agreement to acquire Arapahoe Basin, Colorado from Dream Unlimited, a Canadian developer which has owned the Basin since 1997. Alterra did not disclose the sale price but Dream Unlimited said in a release that “management believes this sale will result in after-tax profit of CA$110 million” before closing costs and adjustments. Under Dream, Arapahoe Basin nearly tripled in acreage and replaced its entire lift fleet. “Arapahoe Basin has been a great investment for Dream and one that we are very proud of,” said Michael Cooper, Chief Responsible Officer of Dream. “We have had the honour of taking care of this Resort over the last quarter century, with a constant commitment to the visitor experience. We are thrilled that Alterra recognizes and shares the same values and will continue to foster its unique and incredible culture.”

Arapahoe Basin will become Alterra’s 18th owned destination in North America and third in Colorado when the sale closes later this year. Veteran Chief Operating Officer Al Henceroth will continue to lead A-Basin under Alterra and guide the next phase of capital improvements, to include expanded snowmaking and parking. Henceroth noted on his legendary blog that “it has been a wild and fun 27 years, but it is time for the next step. Through the Ikon Pass, Alterra has created a partnership of the greatest resorts in the world. They know and understand The Basin and are enamored by its culture and vibe. I think they are the best team to help us through our next phase of growth and maturation.”

A-Basin partnered with Alterra to join the Ikon Pass in 2019 and Ikon access will remain unchanged for the current season. In Colorado, Ikon offers unlimited access to Copper Mountain, Eldora, Steamboat and Winter Park along with limited access to Aspen Snowmass and Arapahoe Basin. “Arapahoe Basin is considered legendary for a reason,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of Alterra Mountain Company. “From its unparalleled terrain, to its commitment to sustainability, A-Basin has a team that has a passion and commitment for this unique place and its traditions, making it an ideal fit for the Alterra Mountain Company family.”

News Roundup: Legoland Gondola

Peter Landsman10 Comments

Deer Valley Unveils Phasing for Eastward Expansion

Peter Landsman43 Comments

Deer Valley Resort today detailed plans to open a two stage gondola and eight chairlifts for the 2025-26 season in phase one of Expanded Excellence. Deer Valley also revealed the new village portal along U.S. Route 40 will be named Deer Valley East Village. Previously known as Mayflower, the expansion is a collaboration between Deer Valley owner Alterra and Extell Development Company of New York. In August, the two companies came together and announced all new terrain would become part of Deer Valley rather than a separate ski resort.

Deer Valley East Village will cater to both day skiers and destination guests. The project includes a skier services facility with ski school, children’s programs, rentals, retail, and dining options along with 1,200 new skier parking spaces. The village will also be home to the upcoming Grand Hyatt Deer Valley and two additional hotels totaling more than 800 rooms.

A burly 10 passenger gondola will anchor mountain expansion, traveling from the East Village to 9,350 foot Park Peak. This 15,000 foot long lift will feature an angle station on Big Dutch Peak, servicing a variety of trails which return back to the village. Two six place chairlifts are also planned to terminate near the gondola on Park Peak, one for beginners and the other geared toward intermediate and advanced skiers. The larger of the two, Park Peak Express, will feature a mid-loading station for repeat upper mountain skiing.

Also opening by the 2025-26 season are two lifts on Sultan’s Nose unloading near Deer Valley’s existing Sultan Express and Mayflower. One of these lifts is a six pack from the new village and the other a high speed quad starting mid-mountain. Finally, four quad chairlifts are planned on the lower reaches of the expansion servicing the East Village, Marcella and Velvære communities. Many of the lift alignments have already been cut and graded and lift construction is likely to begin this summer. Deer Valley has not yet announced a manufacturer for the nine lifts in phase one.

While the majority of terrain will open in 2025-26, full buildout will continue over several years. Future phases will see three additional connector lifts to legacy Deer Valley terrain, two quad chairs on Hail Peak, two quads on South Peak and a high speed quad on Big Dutch Peak. In total the expansion adds 16 lifts and more than 3,700 acres to Deer Valley. Upon completion, the resort will offer over 5,726 acres of skiable terrain accessed by 37 chairlifts serving 238 runs.

“At Deer Valley Resort, we are proud of our legacy as a top-tier ski destination, and we’re staying true to our founding principles set over four decades ago,” said Todd Bennett, President & COO of Deer Valley Resort. “This expansion improves our resort’s accessibility and enriches the guest experience with additional world-class amenities. We will honor our history and strengthen our ties to the community as we expand over the next several years.”

News Roundup: Gondola Down

Peter Landsman20 Comments

Deer Valley Plans Snow Park Gondola

Peter Landsman16 Comments

Tonight Deer Valley Resort and Park City Municipal announced a public-private partnership to redevelop the Snow Park Base Area with a new gondola providing a key transportation link. Under the proposal, Deer Valley would reduce skier parking at Snow Park Village by 15 to 20 percent and devote $15 million to regional transportation and housing. A ten passenger gondola system would connect 1,200 new parking spaces on the Jordanelle side of the mountain to Snow Park, which will transform into a pedestrian-focused base village with lodging and dining. “We’ll have lift and gondola infrastructure that will connect from the new portal all the way to Snow Park, which we think is a really unique opportunity for transportation in the area,” Deer Valley President Todd Bennett told the City Council.

The newly-unveiled gondola would carry skiers and foot passengers year round between Snow Park Village and Silver Lake Village, likely replacing the Silver Lake Express. From Silver Lake, gondola cabins would continue to Park Peak, the 9,400 foot summit of Deer Valley’s upcoming Expanded Excellence expansion. The gondola would terminate just steps from another planned gondola rising from a new base portal along U.S. Route 40. Together a total of four gondola segments would link five points around Deer Valley and reduce the need for skiers to drive through Park City to park. Deer Valley notes that “several new chairlifts and the 10-passenger gondola will seamlessly connect our expanded terrain with the existing resort, ensuring a more balanced traffic flow and reducing congestion.”

The four gondola sections would span 5.4 miles and form one of the largest gondola systems in North America. A ride along the entire line from U.S. 40 to Snow Park would last approximately 25 minutes. The lift would be built and funded by Deer Valley on top of the $15 million Deer Valley is committing to fund other transportation and housing initiatives.

Park City’s City Council plans to hold a public hearing on the proposal next week with a potential vote to move forward before the end of the year. Deer Valley expects to open the first new ski terrain for the 2025/26 season, though Snow Park redevelopment will take the majority of this decade. The entire project is expected to be completed in advance of the potential 2034 Salt Lake Olympics.