Park City, Utah — Groundhog Day came early to Park City.
TownLift reports that Vail Resorts has resubmitted permit applications for the replacement of three chairlifts at Park City Mountain Resort.
These projects would see the replacement of the Eagle, Eaglet, and Silverlode chairlifts. Eagle is currently a fixed-grip triple chairlift, while Eaglet is a standing but not operating chairlift that served a terrain park. This would be replaced by a high-speed six-pack chairlift with a mid-station for unloading. This would also be a key lift for ski racers and terrain park riders, providing access to the Three Kings terrain park zone. As part of the plan, Three Kings would reduce its operational schedule. The top terminal would be situated near the top of the King Con Express chairlift, providing easier access to that carving-filled terrain pod.
Silverlode is currently a detachable high-speed six-pack chairlift. The proposal has that lift being replaced by a detachable high-speed eight-pack chairlift. That lift is situated at a crunch point at PC, with the other lifts being the Quicksilver Express gondola.
“Investments in lift infrastructure are critical to your experience, which is why, at Vail Resorts, we carefully target the areas where our capital investment will have the most impact. Every dollar we deploy is aimed at enhancing the guest experience to strengthen the long-term health of our resorts and communities,” said Deirdra Walsh, VP & COO of Park City Mountain Resort, in a letter to the Park Record.
Community Response
These projects were on the verge of happening in 2022. However, concerns about the ski resort’s comfortable carrying capacity during a lift-line-filled season led locals to file an appeal. The city sided with the locals, which led to legal challenges from Vail Resorts. Utah’s court system also sided with locals. Rather than continuing the lawsuit process, Vail Resorts decided to resubmit the application.
So far, it appears that town officials and the locals are open to this new proposal. Angela Moschetta, one of the locals who appealed the initial lift approvals, stated that they were “cautiously optimistic” about the new application because it was subject to a higher level of review due to them seeking a Conditional Use Permit. However, they advised against Vail Resorts taking a different route from its 1998 development agreement. If they do want to deviate from that, the locals are for amending the 1998 agreement. Park City’s government hasn’t determined yet whether these replacements would require new amendments to the development plan or a revised determination of the ski resort’s comfortable carrying capacity.
“This applies well beyond one resort,” said Moschetta prior to the resubmitted applications. “Capacity enforcement is now court-confirmed. The question is whether it will be used to defend quality of life for residents and the on-mountain experience for skiers.”
Park City plans to host a community meeting regarding the lifts on February 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Legacy Lodge. If they get the approvals in a timely fashion, the lifts would open during the 2027-28 season.
New Lifts @ Park City
We won’t see those projects next winter because the focus will shift to the Cabriolet. Currently, an open-air gondola is in place; the plan is to replace it with a ten-person gondola system. That replacement is planned for the 2026-27 season. This winter saw the replacement of the Sunrise fixed-grip chairlift with a 10-person gondola. The new Sunrise Gondola is intended to reduce lift lines at Canyons Village and make it easier to reach the Tombstone terrain pod.
A future Town Lift is also something to keep an eye on, as the adjacent landowner, Matthew Prince, has offered to help pay for a gondola to replace the slow lift.
Image/Video Credits: Park City Mountain Resort
