Park City, Utah— Starting in 2025, a surprising company will operate the concessions at Zion National Park.
Yesterday, POWDR announced that it has entered into an agreement with the National Park Service to run the concessions at Zion National Park. This will include operating lodging, food and beverage outlets, retail shops, and other visitor services. POWDR will take over from Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc., and will begin operating these services on January 1st, 2025.
According to the press release, POWDR envisions “upgrading lodging facilities, expanding sustainable food and beverage options, and introducing innovative educational programs that connect visitors with the park’s unique geology, ecology, and cultural history.” An improved environmental footprint is also planned as part of their Play Forever initiative.
POWDR’s CEO Justin Sibley said the following in the press release about the agreement:
“As a Utah-based company with deep roots in the outdoors, we understand the importance of preserving and protecting these incredible natural spaces while providing exceptional experiences for visitors…Zion is a true national treasure, and we are committed to being responsible stewards of this remarkable landscape. Through our collaborative partnership with the National Park Service we will work to enhance the visitor experience while minimizing our impact on the environment.”
Based in Park City, Utah, POWDR has an extensive portfolio. The current list of ski resorts or ski-related businesses that they own or operate includes Mt. Bachelor, Boreal, Copper Mountain, Eldora, Killington, Pico, Powderbird, Silverstar, Soda Springs, Snowbird, Sun Country Tours, and the Woodward properties. They previously owned Lee Canyon and Park City Mountain Resort. In January 2023, they announced a contract agreement to run the concessions at Death Valley.
Private companies running concessions at National Parks is nothing new. For example, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. runs concessions for the Grand Canyon, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, and Yellowstone. The food at POWDR properties is pretty decent, so I think it’ll be a good addition to the park. I wonder what the pricing will be like, as getting food and drink from their dining facilities can be a costly endeavor. This seems to be a division they’re interested in expanding more into, and based on other concessionaires’ terrible handling of facilities, it seems like POWDR could become more involved in our National Parks.
Hopefully, they don’t add Fast Tracks.
Image Credits: Omer Salom (Featured Image), Danika Perkinson (Header Image), Canyon Freak Adventures, Zion National Park
