Park City, Utah — Earlier this year, Vail Resorts was handed yet another lawsuit over the lifts at Park City Mountain Resort. A non-profit landlord that acquired the land in 2024, UI Chairtable, argued that the lease was never transferred to Vail Resorts. Now, we know Vail Resorts’ side of the story.
The Park Record reports that Vail Resorts filed a motion to dismiss UI Chairtable’s lawsuit against Park City Mountain Resort. In their legal filing, the ski resort conglomerate argued that the non-profit has made an “unsupportable claim that a ski resort that has been operating … for nearly two decades, and for many years before Parcel B even existed as a legal parcel, suddenly has no right to do so.”
In the lawsuit that was filed in February, the landowner argued that the ski resort doesn’t have the right to operate the lifts on its land. It was filed in Summit County’s 3rd District Court. They are seeking millions in damages and the shutdown of the Iron Mountain Express and Timberline chairlifts.
UI Charitable is a non-profit that bought the land in 2024. Park City operates various lifts at the ski resorts thanks to easements, which are agreements with third parties. The non-profit argues that the easement for their land permits skiing (“ski easement uses”) but not lift operations (“ski resort uses”).
According to ABC4 Utah, the non-profit stated that the Park City Mountain Resort’s operation “exceeds the scope of any easement, constitutes ongoing trespass, and unjustly enriches them by enhancing resort connectivity, increasing revenues, and reaping operational benefits—all at UI’s expense and without compensation.”
Their legal argument also contends that the American Skiing Company (which once owned The Canyons) never transferred its easements to the future owner, which eventually became Vail Resorts.
Vail’s response was that a 2003 easement granted the ski resort operator the right to maintain trails and operate lifts on the land.
The Timberline chairlifts opened in 2008, while the Iron Mountain Express was installed in 2010. The Iron Mountain Express terrain pod services intermediate and advanced trails and glades. Timberline is a connector lift that serves both Tombstone and Iron Mountain. These areas also serve as one of the routes back to Canyons Village and to the QuickSilver Gondola.
Vail’s is arguing that there would be multiple negative impacts on the ski resort. They would employ fewer people due to the land’s lack of use. Also, they would be unable to maintain the trails for HOA members.
“The harm that (Vail Resorts) would suffer far outweighs the alleged harm to (UI Charitable Advisors),” stated Vail’s response. “The harm suffered by (Park City Mountain Resort) would be severe, affecting not only the resort, but its employees, its guests and the surrounding community. When properly weighed, the harm far outweighs (UI Charitable Advisors’) unsupported allegations of injury.”
Writer’s Thoughts
I think that Vail’s in the right here. The landowner’s argument would be clearer if this were a longtime owner who feels there are violations.
Another issue is that the previous landowner had no objection to the development, so why would the new landowner object now when everything’s built out?
However, weird things have happened before regarding lifts and leases at Park City Mountain Resort, so anything is possible.
Image/Video Credits: Park City Mountain Resort, UI Charitable
