A new gondola out of the Canyons Village is one step closer to reality.
KPCW reports that the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission approved a proposal last week by Park City Mountain Resort to replace the Sunrise chairlift with a ten-person gondola. The proposal saw widespread support from the community, with over eighty letters embracing the plans. Pat Putt, who’s the Summit County Community Development Director, gave the final approval needed for the project to proceed.
Deirdra Walsh, who’s Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Park City Mountain, released the following statement to TownLift last week about the approval:
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of today’s hearing and the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission’s unanimous vote to recommend our permit to replace Sunrise chairlift with a 10-person gondola… This new gondola will mark a significant improvement to the guest experience in Canyons Village. We are excited to reduce wait times and get skiers and riders on snow faster by providing a third lift option to complement Red Pine Gondola and Orange Bubble Express.”
The ten-person gondola has a planned length of 6500 feet. It will start around The Pendry Hotel, where the Sunrise chairlift is currently situated, and end near the Red Pine Lodge. The new gondola would help reduce lift lines around the Canyons Village, which has become a crunch point for the Utah ski resort. With high winds frequently being an issue for lifts starting around the Canyons Village, the new gondola will be aligned and positioned to protect itself from closures.
If it receives approval from the Summit County Community Development Director, it will enter Phase 2 of the process. This phase will include establishing the lift line and making the necessary utility and infrastructure improvements for the new gondola. Phase 3 will entail removing the Sunrise chairlift, installing the new gondola, and then opening it to the public. Vail Resorts has indicated in prior earnings reports that they plan to install the lift in 2025.
Image Credits: Park City Mountain Resort
