A small Utah ski area that reopened to the public last winter after more than four decades is already moving into the next phase of its revival.
Snowland Ski Area, located in Fairview Canyon in central Utah, says construction on its new Ridgeline Surface Lift will begin this month. The nonprofit ski area expects the lift to be completed during the 2026-27 season. Here is a video of the exact same model surface lift that will be installed:
The project is a major step forward for a ski hill that only returned to public operations in January after last regularly operating for the public in 1980.
Snowland reopened last winter with a limited schedule and rope tow access, offering a deliberately small-scale alternative to Utah’s much larger destination resorts. Less than a year later, crews are preparing to install another surface lift that should substantially improve uphill access at the community-focused mountain.
$1.46 Million Grant Helped Fund The Next Phase
The new lift has been in the works since before Snowland reopened.
In November 2025, the ski area received a $1.46 million grant from the State of Utah to help fund a new surface lift. The money was awarded through Utah’s Outdoor Adventure Commission as part of a broader round of recreation infrastructure funding.
At the time, Snowland Foundation Chair Brent Lange said the entire $1.46 million award was expected to go toward a new surface lift, likely a T-bar or J-bar, with installation targeted for the 2026-27 season. That timeline has now reached the construction stage. Snowland’s website lists the project as the Ridgeline Surface Lift and says construction will begin in October, with completion planned during the coming ski season.
Snowland Reopened After 46 Years
Snowland originally operated as a public ski area from 1967 until 1980. Wasatch Academy later used the property and surface lifts for private race training, but the general public no longer had lift-served access.
Skiers, snowboarders and sledders continued visiting the area, and some drivers reportedly dropped riders at the top before driving down State Route 31 to pick them up near the bottom. The awkward arrangement contributed to traffic and safety concerns and eventually helped build momentum for formally reopening the property.
The nonprofit Snowland Foundation began working with local officials and other partners to revive the long-dormant ski area. Utah provided an earlier $1 million grant for the first phase of the project, which included parking improvements, bathrooms and safety work around the property. Snowland finally reopened to the public on Jan. 17, 2026.
The operation remained intentionally modest during its comeback season. Access was limited to select days, reservations were required and lift tickets were free. The mountain was served by rope tows and primarily easier terrain aimed at families and local skiers rather than destination visitors.
Skiing Will Remain Cheap
For 2026-27, the ski area’s current ticket information lists all-day access at just $20 for guests ages 12 and older, while children 11 and younger ski free. Snowland says tickets for the coming season are expected to be released around Dec. 1. The mountain is scheduled to operate only on select winter days, with lifts running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. when conditions allow.
That affordability is closely tied to Snowland’s nonprofit structure. The Snowland Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3), allowing the organization to pursue grants, donations and other public support rather than relying entirely on lift-ticket revenue to fund improvements.
The new lift is one of several projects Snowland hopes to complete as the ski area develops. Future plans for the resort include additional parking, a new lodge, a dedicated tubing run and yurt rentals.
Another Step In An Unusual Ski Area Revival
Snowland sits 7.8 miles up Fairview Canyon in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, about an hour from Provo. Its return stands out in an industry where stories about small ski areas often involve closures rather than reopenings. Snowland went more than four decades without regular public lift service before reopening last winter, and its comeback has been built largely around government recreation funding, nonprofit management, volunteers and donated services.
The ski area is now closed until December as preparations continue for its second winter back. If construction stays on schedule, that second season will also bring one of the most significant improvements since Snowland returned to public skiing: a new surface lift climbing the ridgeline.
