Park City, Utah — It didn’t come easily, but Park City Mountain Resort finally has approval to build two lifts essential to its future. For real this time…We think.
Last night, the Park City Planning Commission approved a plan by Park City Mountain Resort to construct two new chairlifts next year. Likely to debut during the 2027-28 season, Park City is planning to construct new Eagle and Silverlode chairlifts.
About The New Lifts
Eagle is currently a fixed-grip triple chairlift, while Eaglet is a standing but non-operating chairlift that served a terrain park.
These will be replaced by a high-speed six-pack chairlift. The new chairlift will feature a mid-station near the top of the Three Kings park for unloading. The new Eagle will have a total length of 5,796 feet, a vertical rise of 1,600 feet, and a ride time of nearly 6 minutes.
It will likely become a key lift for ski racers and terrain park riders. The mid-station will also be used by beginner and intermediate skiers seeking mellow terrain. The top terminal will be situated near the top of the King Con Express chairlift, providing easier access to that carving-filled terrain pod. Considering the current Eagle and Eaglet chairlifts, this would increase uphill capacity from 1,800 to 2,800 people per hour, an increase of 55%. As part of the plan, Three Kings will likely reduce its operational schedule due to its proximity to the new Eagle mid-station.
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 will follow a practically identical alignment. That lift is situated at a crunch point at PC, with the other adjacent lift being the Quicksilver Express gondola. This will increase uphill capacity from 3,000 to 3,600, a 20% increase.
These projects were originally announced back in 2021. Park City’s Planning Commission initially received approvals for these lifts in 2022. However, locals successfully appealed the decision due to concerns about the ski resort’s comfortable carrying capacity. That rejection led to a years-long battle over the ski resort’s recent crowding issues regarding lift lines and parking. However, those issues have improved in recent years. Due to the delays, Vail Resorts ended up sending the lifts to Whistler Blackcomb. As a result, these additions will be a new batch of lifts.
It’s unclear whether legal action will be taken over these new lifts. While there has been opposition to these “new” plans, the ski resort sought a more comprehensive conditional use permit this time around.
Recent PC Upgrades
The news follows what has been a busy past several years in the Canyons Village of Park City Mountain Resort. Last season saw the opening of the Sunrise Gondola. This lift created a new way to the Red Pine Lodge from the Canyons Village. This upcoming winter will see the opening of the full Canyons Village parking garage along with the replacement of the Cabriolet (RIP) with a gondola. According to KPCW, next winter will also see the introduction of PC’s first remote avalanche control systems. These will be situated around the Quicksilver gondola.
Image/Video Credits: Ian Wood, Park City Mountain Resort, PeakRankings
