Deer Valley Resort announced Wednesday morning that it plans to open on Dec. 5 for 2026-27 winter operations, conditions permitting.

The announcement follows the installation of the Hail Peak lift last week, one of the final steps in the on-mountain Expanded Excellence initiative.

“We are proud to maintain the momentum from last season’s historic
expansion with increased access and new terrain, and we are eager for guests to experience it firsthand this 26/27 ski season,” Deer Valley Resort President & Chief Operating Officer Todd Bennett said in a press release.

Construction will continue through the winter on the Park Peak and East Village lodges, each set to open for the 2027-28 season.

Deer Valley is the fourth resort of Utah’s 15 to set a winter season opening date. Last month, Park City Mountain said it plans to open for the season on Nov. 20.

The post Deer Valley Resort plans Dec. 5 opening date appeared first on Park Record.

Last weekend marked Deer Valley Resort’s return to elite downhill racing after its essential role in competitive mountain biking throughout the ’90s and early 2000s.

The Fox US Open of Mountain Biking brought hundreds of racers and countless spectators from across the world to Park City. The crowds were loud, racers were fast and the track was widely celebrated. 

On Friday, racers participated in practice rounds and the first group of qualifying runs. Both professional and amateur athletes competed. Groups were divided by age and skill.

Evan Lee and Ethan Ortega traveled from California to experience the US Open. Lee and Ortega have both raced at US Open and national competitions in the past, and Lee raced at Deer Valley this weekend. 

“There’s lots of stoke and lots of skill levels,” Ortega said. “That’s what makes (Deer Valley) special.”

Both Lee and Ortega said the track was better than others they’d raced at past national and US Open competitions.

“It’s steeper and more challenging,” Lee said. 

Ortega said he liked the dry gravel of the track at Deer Valley more than the track at the previous host location in Vermont, saying it has a specific “West Coast” appeal.

“(They) nailed it audience wise. Park City is an action sports city. There are more people who already want to come here. This is just another reason,” Ortega said. 

After the qualifying rounds determined who would race Saturday, fans and racers migrated up the mountain to the Silver Lake Lodge to watch the best whip competition. 

“Let’s get loud, Deer Valley!” shouted the commentator. 

Spectators crowded the landing zone and the front of Silver Lake Lodge and sat alongside the trails to catch the best view. In whip contests, athletes jump off large ramps and kick the back wheel of their bike to the side, soaring perpendicular to their jump trajectory before straightening out to land.

“The vibes are high,” said DC and Liz Wright, Park City locals and Deer Valley mountain bike team coaches.

The Wrights have been fans of downhill mountain bike racing and were excited to see the return of pro races to Deer Valley after nearly two decades since hosting its last elite downhill race.

“To have the community all out here together is great,” DC said. 

Liz coaches the women’s team at Deer Valley, and both she and DC said they were stoked to see more women in the practice sessions this year. Gender inclusion is becoming more common in extreme sports like downhill mountain biking, but the category is still heavily male dominated, reflected in the participation numbers at the US Open: Out of the 320 racers, 53 were women. 

The winding, fast-paced action continued at Deer Valley on Saturday, when the men’s and women’s professional and U18 youth categories raced in the premier events of the week. Bikers and fans flooded the resort once more, many even hiking from Deer Valley’s Snow Park base up Bald Eagle Mountain to secure their view of their favorite section of the course. Some fans brought sawless chainsaws, which echoed across the resort. 

Logan Drake made the hour-plus trek down from Ogden for Saturday’s professional and U18 races. He’s a huge mountain biking fan who had a mountain biking season pass at Deer Valley this summer and will return to the Wasatch Back this week for the UCI World Cup at Soldier Hollow. Drake parked himself next to the finish line Saturday, fancying it one of, if not the, best spots to catch the action. 

“The biggest difference (between amateur and professional riders) is the pace that these guys carry down the track,” Drake said. “They go super fast and over the gnarliest obstacles. The speed they have is insane.”

In addition to seeing the world’s best up close, Drake said he enjoyed the sense of community at the event. He felt like Deer Valley helped it feel like a casual hangout with fellow mountain bikers with vendors to supply beer and food. Drake encourages those who couldn’t make it to the US Open to consider coming out to the World Cup to revel in the mountain biking atmosphere.  

Also enjoying being part of the packed crowd at Deer Valley on Saturday was John Gibbons of Issaquah, Washington. Gibbons came to town to support his son, Austin Gibbons, who finished 42nd in the men’s U18 category. Traveling the country watching Austin race and a biker himself, John believes Deer Valley is the best venue the two have been to all year. 

“The feedback from the racers is the course is fantastic,” John said. “It looks like they’re pulling off a great event, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they do it here again next year.”

Deer Valley said it hopes to host the US Open again and other mountain biking events if the US Open is deemed a success. 

John believes the resort and town’s expansive trail system could help draw further riders to potential future US Opens at Deer Valley, in addition to word spreading about how well run the event was. 

George Ryan, one of the professional men’s competitors, said the loose dirt and rocks, as well as how steep the course was, made for one of his favorite challenges. He has raced every US Open since the event’s inception in 2003. Ryan finished in 61st on Saturday. 

“This is one of the most fun tracks I’ve ridden in a long time,” Ryan said. “And I’ve heard the same thing from a lot of the other racers. They’re having so much fun out there. It’s not like the hardest thing ever, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s super fun, and the venue has been great.”

Ryan said he and the competitors could hear the crowd blaring megaphones and revving chainsaws as they prepared for the race, and that energy was part of what made the weekend so great. He hopes first-time fans saw just how exhilarating the sport can be. Ryan enjoyed what were sunny but not overly warm temperatures last week and spent a lot of his free time on Park City Main Street.

Nate Kitchen of the United States won the professional men’s race on Saturday, and Aletha Ostgaard, also from the United States, won the professional women’s. The United States’ Boston Bryant came out on top of the U18 men’s competition, and Ainsley Wolf from the United States won the U18 women’s. 

The US Open wrapped up the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series season on Sunday with additional youth and amateur races. For further information about the US Open such as finish times and Sunday’s results, see its website: prodownhillseries.com. 

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Woodward Park City hosted the first annual Wheelfest with Wasatch Adaptive Sports on Saturday, where organizers emphasized the importance of helping wheelchair users expand ideas of what’s possible.

Many people were at Woodward for an average day of fun, but had their minds opened with their first exposure to adaptive sports. 

“You see kids who are here, who don’t have disabilities, just having a rad day at Woodward, coming up to our tent saying ‘What’s that?’ and then learning about hand-cycles,” May-West said. “Watching a group of kids here skateboarding, (their) jaws dropped watching some of the kids in wheelchairs at the skatepark. It was really cool.”

Saturday marked the expansion of the former Wheelchair Palooza event to include more biking and wheelchair motocross, also known as WCMX, in line with a mission to celebrate all wheels.

“The goal we’re always pursuing is to see a community where anyone can recreate whenever and wherever they choose,” said Eileen May-West, program director for Wasatch Adaptive Sports. 

Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham demonstrated wheelchair motocross riding in the Woodward skatepark. Fotheringham, from Las Vegas, was born with spina bifida, leaving him without use of his legs. He started using a wheelchair when he was 8 years old, around the same time he started going to skateparks with his brother. 

Fotheringham eventually tried riding at skateparks in his wheelchair. Now, he’s a professional WCMX rider with several sponsorships, touring with action sports entertainment brand Nitro Circus. He’s been involved with Wheelchair Palooza since Wasatch Adaptive Sports started the event in 2019, and Fotheringham said he looks forward to continuing with Wheelfest. 

“There’s something about Utah that’s got such a good community for wheelchair sports. Anything (for) disabilities here is so much better than Vegas,” he said. 

Part of that is because of healthcare services, like those he received at Primary Children’s Hospital, Fotheringham said.

The Wasatch Back recently expanded its efforts to become an accessible area through continued work at the National Ability Center and Park City’s partnership with Wheel the World. 

The Park City Chamber/Bureau has emphasized its commitment to being an accessible tourism destination with the recent certification with Wheel the World. Through the partnership, many businesses and recreation areas are working with adapting services to become more accessible to a wider range of disabilities, including developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities and differing physical disabilities.

Camille Kramer, an ambassador for Wasatch Adaptive Sports, said she was particularly excited for new people to experience Woodward through Wheelfest. 

Kramer pointed out that Woodward can come across as an intimidating place, but that couldn’t be further from her experience. The trails are wide enough and groomed well for a hand-cycle bike to ride safely. And Kramer said she doesn’t feel like other riders are annoyed or frustrated by her presence as an adaptive rider on the trails.  

“You feel like you belong here,” Kramer said. “I’m excited for (new people) to have that experience here, too.” 

Toward the end of Wheelfest, Fotheringham and other WCMX riders took to the indoor megaramp to show off jumps and flips. 

“I’ve just been having fun. It’s something that brought me a lot of joy, so to come out to these events and see everyone just having fun and trying stuff with their wheelchair they maybe never thought of doing, it’s cool to see how it shifts the way people see the wheelchair and what you can do with it,” Fotheringham said. 

One of the younger riders was Damian Munoz, a 13-year-old from Los Angeles. Munoz’s mother, Sophie, said Damian has been inspired by Fotheringham to try WCMX and was very excited to have a “Wheelz Chair,” a WCMX chair designed by Fotheringham.

Munoz said she’s always been supportive of her son’s interests, though she is sometimes nervous — as most moms would be if their kids were involved in action sports. 

“I never doubted him,” Munoz said. “He’s very limited at what he can do, why limit him more?”

Damian tried adaptive mountain biking at Woodward, something he’s always wanted to do. Within minutes on the bike, he could be seen ripping around the park, though he never flipped or fell. 

“Everyone (at Woodward) is awesome, supportive and helpful,” Munoz said. “They cheer you on and encourage the chaos.”

Just like Fotheringham, Damian is always looking to help people try out new things. On Saturday, he got someone to try WCMX for the first time. 

Munoz said people around Woodward were disappointed to hear that Damian lived far away because they wanted him to visit and participate in more events. 

“We’re stoked to bring him back,” she said.

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As construction continues at Deer Valley Resort East Village, developers at Extell are turning their focus to the intricacies of staffing for once the project is complete, starting with hiring a general manager for the entire area.

“The village is coming to life,” said Kurt Krieg, Extell’s executive vice president of resort development. “This is an incredible opportunity for someone to lead and cultivate a sense of place.”

Extell plans to hire a general manager at the end of this year or early next year. Once hired, the general manager will have roughly 18 months to prepare before East Village is fully opened for the 2028-29 winter season.  

Krieg said the general manager will mediate between Deer Valley, each of the hotels, homeowners associations within the village and retail operations. Krieg compared the manager’s responsibilities to that of a mayor.

As of now, East Village is expected to employ 50-70 full-time staff in the core area once completed. Krieg said the number of part-time staff will be determined by details related to features such as the ice skating rink or firepits, which are further down the line of development. 

Wasatch County Councilor Erik Rowland, a Military Installation Development Authority liaison, estimated 6,000 workers will be employed at the East Village within the next decade. That number estimates how many people will work within the entire East Village area during peak season. 

While East Village is developing for guest experiences, Extell is making progress on construction to support employees’ needs at Marina West. 

The area, which is on the other side of U.S. 189 from East Village, next to Jordanelle Reservoir, is set to include different types of housing from dorms to condos, childcare services and what Krieg described as “community retail” like grocery and convenience stores. Close to 1,000 parking spaces are planned for the hotel areas, which will be accessible to employees. 

Krieg said Extell has conducted market research in the Deer Valley demographic and by analyzing similar employee housing areas to make an optimal plan before construction advances.

The land used for the Marina West development is under Wasatch County land use authority, so any plans will go through normal county approval processes. On the west side of U.S. 40, the land for the East Village area is under MIDA authority. Rowland explained MIDA has its own approval processes separate from the county.

Rowland said the county is still waiting for a finalized proposal from Extell, which will come after market research is completed.

“(Extell has) been open and very willing to talk to the county,” Rowland said. “We want to keep that relationship and make things best for the community.”

The goal, Krieg said, is for employees and guests to experience and enjoy Deer Valley and the Wasatch Back in the same way.

“It’s important to us that (resort staff) are able to come and participate, because that’s what creates a sense of community,” Krieg said. “We value and really are looking to these employees to provide the experience that others haven’t recently. We need this energy.”

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Scattered yellows and reds are becoming more common in the trees as summer fades away. 

In Northern Utah, the fall leaf-viewing window can be narrow and hard to plan for. This year, The Farmers’ Almanac and OpenSnow meteorologists are expecting the maples and aspens along the Wasatch Back to start turning within the next two weeks, with colors peaking from early to mid-October.

Justin Brown, co-owner of guide company All Seasons Adventure, is no stranger to leading hikes built around the fall. 

“The way we approach it is to try to follow the colors,” Brown said. “Generally, those are (starting at) higher elevations and working lower.”

Brown said he’s observed that the autumn colors arrive slightly later but with brighter hues when there’s late summer rain, and the leaves stay on the trees longer. He thinks the heavy precipitation throughout August will be a good sign for a bright, colorful autumn.

Early in the season, Brown said Bonanza Flat is a good location to see aspens. Lofty Lake Loop and Bald Mountain along Mirror Lake Highway are great for those seeking a little more adventure, he said. Both are considered moderate trails, but with different challenges. Lofty Lake Loop is just around 5 miles long with little elevation gain. The Bald Mountain trail is just under 3 miles, but there’s a steep climb of 1,200 feet to see the summit.

Along with hikes and scenic drives, Brown said fall is an excellent time for mountain biking because of the cooler temperatures.

Travis Engvall, community outreach supervisor for Basin Recreation, recommended a variety of trails for hiking or biking, from the longer routes like the 16-mile Flying Dog trail or 9-mile Rob’s Trail to shorter trails like Willow Creek or the Right Turn Sage loop.

“The mixed-surface trail system around Willow Creek offers a more accessible way to enjoy fall colors,” Engvall said.

Brown also recommended fly fishing during late fall, especially through the Middle Provo River area.

“The later colors where the Cottonwoods are still trying to change can be really nice,” Brown said. “Throughout the fall, as that yellow creeps down, that’s really cool to see from the riverside.”

For people looking to bring dogs along, Engvall recommended visiting the Run-A-Muk off-leash dog area. The area has beginner and intermediate hiker-only trails where dogs are safe to run free.

Cascade Springs, Guardsman Pass and Empire Pass are also highly recommended for fall drives, along with the classic Alpine Loop. 

Another popular hike is the Horse Flat trail along the Alpine Loop. The trail starts at the top of Cascade Springs and follows through meadows and aspen groves to an overlook of Mount Timpanogos. Early morning is the best time for this trail.

Trails in the Park City area can be busy during fall weekends, so Engvall said to plan accordingly and park only in designated areas. Preparation also includes checking trail regulations before heading out on an e-bike or bringing along dogs, packing plenty of water and always sharing details and estimated return times with someone outside of your party. 

Brown advised hikers to stay cautious of moose over the next few weeks. Bull moose become more active during the fall, so Brown said it’s important to give them as much space as possible, at least 100 yards.

“It’s a really great time as a local to get out and experience the town,” Brown said.

The post How, when and where to see the best fall leaves in the Wasatch Back this year appeared first on Park Record.

Picabo Street is the most recognizable of the nominees for Vail Resorts’ board of directors submitted by activist investor Oasis Management, which seeks changes in how the ski company that owns Park City Mountain manages itself.

The company announced Friday morning it had received notices of intent to nominate the following individuals on these dates: 

• Via Oasis Management, on Sept. 9 and 10: Robert A. Chapek of Florida; M. Ashton Hudson of Florida; Bryce Roberts of Park City; and Picabo Street of Park City. 
• Via Gregory Syvert Meyer, on Sept. 10: The company received a self-nomination of Gregory Syvert Meyer of Florida. 

Vail Resorts said it “prioritizes consistent engagement with shareholders and welcomes ongoing dialogue around the shared interest of continuing to drive long-term shareholder value. As previously announced, the company has an active, fulsome search underway for a new independent director, which it expects to complete in early 2027.”

In other words, um, no. Not unless they can drum up a majority of shareholders to upend the company’s current path.

According to online news outlet SnowBrains, Oasis, which holds 6%-8% of Vail Resorts’ stock, seeks changes in the company’s management that could include selling some of its mountain properties.

Park City-based Cloudflare cofounder and CEO Matthew Prince has been loud about his desire to purchase Park City Mountain and publicly critical of the ski company’s management. Prince and wife Tatiana own The Park Record.

According to SnowBrains, because Vail Resorts is the largest ski resort operator in North America and the only major publicly traded ski resort company, a successful activist campaign could influence more than just the company’s future:

“If Oasis is able to enact changes, the outcome could also have implications for how major ski resorts are operated and invested in across the industry.”

“After evaluating all candidates, the board will include its recommended slate of director nominees in the company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and distributed to all shareholders eligible to vote at the annual meeting,” Vail Resorts said. “Vail Resorts shareholders are not required to take any action at this time.”

Stockholders can obtain free copies of the company’s proxy statement (when available) and other documents that will be filed by Vail Resorts with the SEC at sec.gov, the SEC’s website, from the investor relations section of Vail Resorts’ website, investors.vailresorts.com, or by emailing Connie Wang at InvestorRelations@vailresorts.com.

Street charted a new course for American women in winning World Cup season titles and taking silver in the 1994 Olympics, gold in 1998, and began to show what American women could do on the slopes. Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin went on from there to dominate. Street’s last race was during the 2002 Olympics, finishing 16th in the downhill.

She has since started a school for winter athletes in Park City, Picabo Street Academy, and is a commentator for NBC Sports.

“I’ve spent my life skiing, winning Olympic medals, and giving back to the sport,” Street said Friday morning. “Over the years, I’ve learned that real success isn’t just about gold medals — it’s about passing that love on.”

She said she wanted in a director’s role to help bring back the magic of skiing for more people and families.

“Whether visitors are strapping on boots for the very first time or chasing powder on a cold morning, I want them to feel the same spark I felt as a kid. It’s time to make the most of these mountains that we all love so much,” she said.

On Sept. 2, Vail Resorts announced the departure of Sue Decker from the board after 11 years. In July, Vail Resorts added MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle, a Park City second-home owner, to the board.

Why is Park City so pivotal in the board of directors battle?

Discontent over Vail Resorts ownership has been simmering there for years, with complaints about crowding, infrastructure and worker pay wreaking havoc during recent seasons, including a debilitating ski patrol strike.

In an interview this summer with the Vail Daily, Prince again urged Vail Resorts to sell the ski area to him so he could properly invest in the employees and the mechanical infrastructure of the mountain where he once taught skiing before launching Cloudflare.

Prince said that the shareholder activist strategy is fairly straightforward in acquiring enough stock to force a board of directors vote on the direction of the company, either by changing leadership, taking the company private, selling off individual resorts, or all three. He emphasized at the time that he was not part of any activist takeover and doesn’t own Vail Resorts stock.

“Every one of the activist firms that is sniffing around Vail, and there are lots, has called me because I’m part of the strategy,” Prince said. “If they can find me and a handful of other people at the other resorts who are willing to pay to take over the resorts, then it becomes really inexpensive for them to actually launch this campaign because they’ve basically got a guaranteed source of financing to do it.”

Oasis officials did not respond to requests for comment for that story, in which some longtime Vail residents also discussed the future of the company and the possibility of Vail Resorts being compelled to spin off individual ski areas.

Vail Resorts in July launched Epic Experience to try to improve dining, customer service and other aspects of the ski experience at its various resorts.

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And the 2026 Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award goes to … Randy Barton!

Barton, best known as manager of the Egyptian Theatre, was honored with the Park City Chamber/Bureau’s annual award at its meeting last week. In Barton’s words, however, it’s a “recognition,” not an award.

“I don’t accept on behalf of myself, but on behalf of all the folks who love arts and culture,” Barton said.

He added that he appreciated that the award was not competitive in what can be a very competitive town.

Since moving to Park City in 1975, Barton founded the iconic late-night fast food chain Sconecutter, organized a cow ballet, hosted a drive-time radio show, saved the Egyptian Theatre from financial ruin and, most recently, was seen riding a camel through Main Street at the Miners Day parade.

“I was always involved with the Egyptian Theatre from the day that it was renamed the Egyptian in 1981,” Barton said. “I was never in charge but always there.” 

As a member of the Park City Players, Barton was involved at the theater as an actor and worked concessions at the Sundance Film Festival. 

Over the next few decades, Barton’s involvement around town ranged from television to concert promotion to radio. His TV show, “Park City Faces,” spotlighted the people and personality of Park City every weeknight live for nearly a decade. 

“It was really fun to do that show during the Olympics,” Barton said. 

For two weeks, the program filmed from Main Street instead of the usual studio, and Barton interviewed a horse. 

“I just love that we hosted the world,” Barton said, “and speaking of hospitality, we did such a marvelous job of it.”

After a stint on television, Barton moved to radio.

KPCW ran “The Local View” for four hours a day, five days a week for 20 years. During his time on the radio, Barton was known to make what he called “outlandish” statements. Outlandish, maybe. Radiantly positive, definitely. 

Barton said he would advise people to get out and learn to drive in the snow instead of being afraid of storms. During traffic jams, he’d tell listeners to embrace it, relax and enjoy the music. 

Barton was organizing a concert series in Salt Lake City in the ’90s and wanted to bring the same energy to Park City. In 1997, he started Mountain Town Stages. That evolved into Mountain Town Music, which programs, produces and fosters live music performances in the area. 

“Radio, theater, television, all kinds of at the same time as doing music and concerts. That was kind of my deal,” Barton said.

In 2009, Barton added “Saved the Egyptian Theatre” to his resume. 

“Everybody tells me, you know, ‘You saved the theater. Without you, it wouldn’t be there,’” Barton recalled. “I say, ‘Yeah, but I’m one of many, going all the way back to the 1800s, of people that would rise up and save the theater.’”

As Barton tells it, in the spring of 2009, the theater had closed and canceled all productions because it was out of money. The board of directors had in mind a schedule full of community theater programming, but Barton had a different vision. 

“I told them that was a bad decision for the community and (to) give me 90 days to show you what it should be,” he said. 

Barton luckily negotiated a contract at the beginning of the 90 days; the board tried to fire him three times during that period.

By the end of the three months, Barton had built a model of the theatre that still stands today.

“That is, something on stage every week, building a Pharaoh Club for the support of the theater and making the Egyptian the centerpiece of social life in Park City and a real gathering place,” he said. 

As Barton accepted his recognition, he proudly described the theater as “historic, authentic, intimate, genuine, social and, because of me, slightly irreverent.”

There are many opinions about what makes Park City unique. Is it the skiing, the history, the proximity to Main Street or the culture?

“(Arts and culture) has always been a part of Park City from the very beginning, and it is always what makes Park City a real town,” Barton said. “People talk about going to other ski areas, and what they love about Park City is it is real because of the dining, the arts, the culture, the history.”

If it were up to Barton, Park City would market itself as a “stationary cruise ship.”

“We have all the things that you would go on a cruise for: entertainment, shows, great food,” he said. “Base (the city) on that model. If somebody’s here, they’re going to be entertained.”

Barton is quick to share business strategies, and as a father of three, he’s well-versed in giving life advice.

“You know, I tell my kids and others, be careful with what you decide to do because you just might end up doing that and nothing else for the rest of your life,” Barton said. “I’ve done more than the arts. I’ve done business and I’m a runner. I’m a golfer. I have great joys. Best is being a parent, always.”

He enjoys what he calls “goof-off golfing,” a discipline of the sport where points aren’t counted and improvement isn’t the goal. Unlike his openness toward business matters, his favorite golf course is top secret.

Barton was recognized with a hospitality award, so why all the talk of entertaining? Entertainment and hospitality are one and the same, he said. Barton was born in Hollywood, after all.

“When you say that you’re entertaining tonight, that doesn’t have to mean that you’re dancing or on stage with a mic,” Barton said. “(When) you’re entertaining people, you’re bringing them into your home and showing them a nice time. Hosting is the same thing.”

According to Barton, entertaining and hosting go hand in hand with kindness and openness. 

“The divisiveness of the world is based on a lack of hospitality and ‘I will welcome anybody’ attitude,” he said.

As he accepted the Chamber/Bureau’s recognition, Barton reminisced about the days when he was new in town and faced with the common question: “So, how long have you been here?”

Barton said he feels like he’s on the other side of that question after 50 years in Park City. 

“People want you to talk about what makes you mad or upset, what you hate about the town,” he said. “But I love this town more every year.”

The post Perspectives on hospitality and entertainment from Randy Barton appeared first on Park Record.

Deer Valley installed the final lift of its Expanded Excellence plan this week as the parts for the Hail Peak Express lift were flown into place by helicopter early Wednesday morning. 

“We’re getting really excited for winter,” said Garrett Lang, senior director of mountain operations at Deer Valley Resort.

Hail Peak is the 11th new lift in Deer Valley’s East Village expansion since 2024. The new lift will open seven runs and 200 new acres of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain. With the addition of Hail Peak, Deer Valley now has 32 lifts in operation throughout the resort.

The seven new runs off Hail Peak will feature a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced groomed terrain. Lang compared the area to Flagstaff Mountain, for people familiar with the western side of the resort.

Deer Valley adds to its collection of over a dozen Doppelmayr high-speed detachable quad lifts with the Hail Peak Express. The new lift can move 2,400 skiers per hour through its 86 carriers. The slightly smaller Neptune Express can move the same number of people with 74 chairs, and the longer Pioche Express lift moves 1,800 people per hour.

The chairs on Hail Peak Express, along with the other lifts in the east expansion area, are designed to be more comfortable with higher backs and smoother suspension. 

Its proximity to the East Village parking lot makes Hail Peak a great candidate for early morning runs or as a location to start out the ski day before exploring the rest of the mountain. Parking at the East Village lot is free all day in its 1,200 spaces. Lang said the resort’s complimentary trams will run from the parking lot near the lift to transport skiers closer to the hub.

The installation of Hail Peak marks a milestone in the resort’s expansion. After three years working on mountain developments like its new lifts, the resort will now focus on finishing the East Village and Park Peak lodges. 

“We’re excited for, hopefully, a great snow year so we can really showcase what we have to offer and what this expansion is truly capable of,” said Riley Elliot, communications manager at Deer Valley Resort.

The resort has plans for the rest of the mountain, but there’s no set timeline on when those developments would start.

Alterra Mountain Company, Deer Valley Resort’s parent company, announced on Sept. 9 its investments for the 2026-27 season across all resorts total over $350 million. The improvements to snowmaking systems and the addition of the Hail Peak Express lift are the primary focuses this season at Deer Valley.

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The Park City Historic Mine Route officially opened to the public on Miners Day.

The route, organized by the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, combines two of Park City’s most important attractions: history and outdoor recreation. 

The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History worked with the Mountain Trails Foundation to incorporate existing trails along 24 historic silver mining sites to create the 7-mile route. The pinnacle is the recently restored Silver King Mine sitting near the eastern boundary of Park City Mountain.

“There’s a genuine destination (to the hike),” said Colleen Logan, marketing manager for the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History. “It’s so rich, there are so many stories to learn about.”

Almost the entire route follows existing trails, with new wayfinding signs marking the Historic Mine Route. The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History also created interpretive signs to tell stories at specific sites and QR codes linking to the trail’s audioguide via the TravelStorys app. 

Logan said another great thing about the trail is the variability.

The route starts on Main Street and stretches 7 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain when hiked in full.

“You definitely feel a good workout, but it’s in sections, so you don’t feel like you’re just walking straight uphill,” Logan said. 

A more moderate option is to ride the Town Lift or Payday Express lift from Park City Mountain to the mine, and hike down Empire Canyon. This shortens the route to 3.4 miles and reduces elevation gain while allowing hikers to visit 15 historic sites. The easiest way to explore the historic mine route is by an out-and-back trail from Main Street to Empire Canyon. 

There’s a 10-mile bike trail to view the Historic Mine Route, too. It follows the same path as the 7-mile hike, with a short diversion around the hiker-only Trestle trail.

The downhill section past the Silver King Mine and through Empire Canyon is densely packed with mine sites, including the Silver King Mill, the next Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History restoration project.

Logan said one of the nonprofit’s goals for the route is to “make Main Street your trailhead.” Parking, water and restrooms are easy to find at the start of the route near the Park City Museum.

The route is described by the nonprofit as an “open-air museum,” but Logan still recommended stopping by the Park City Museum before hitting the trails.

“It really is a complement to go to the museum before or after you do the hike,” Logan said. “The museum helps explain things at a level of detail you can’t get when you do the hike, but the mountain experience brings an ‘ah-ha’ moment to what you see at the museum.”

Whichever route is taken, the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History hopes the new Historic Mine Route can teach people about the sites they might have often skied, biked or hiked past. 

“It takes something that may be familiar, but now (you) know something about it. Now you know the stories,” Logan said.

Details of each route can be found online at hmr.parkcityhistory.org.

The post New hiking trail combines Park City’s history with recreation appeared first on Park Record.

This Miners Day, Barry Hanover marched in the parade with the League of Women Voters. Hanover first became involved with the league because of his wife, Allison, but before he marched on Monday, his family had a long history of advocating for the rights of women to vote.

“Since it was the League of Women Voters, I couldn’t wait to get (to the parade) because of this tie with my family,” Hanover said.

Hanover is from Tennessee and moved to Utah in the ’70s. His great uncle, Joseph Hanover, was a representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives when the state voted to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote in the United States. 

In 1920, Tennessee was the last state to vote on the amendment. Joseph Hanover, or Uncle Joe, as Barry calls him, led the fight on the House floor. 

Hanover knew his uncle well, he said. 

Uncle Joe was a Jewish immigrant from Poland who came to the United States as a young child. When Joseph was young, he often asked “why mother can’t vote,” the family said. 

“That was a question he repeated,” Barry said. “He understood it, but he didn’t like it. He didn’t think it was right, even as a young boy. They never had a very good answer for him because there wasn’t a very good answer.”

When it came time for the House to vote on the amendment, the League of Women Voters, the same group Hanover marched with in the parade, asked Joseph to fight on their behalf. The amendment passed, with much effort, largely credited to Joseph’s work in the House of Representatives. 

“It’s a great heritage to be tied to that,” Hanover said. “I can’t think of anything better.”

During the suffrage movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the League of Women Voters and those in support of giving women the votes could be seen wearing yellow roses and white dresses. The League of Women Voters wore the same outfits this Miners Day.

At the parade, Hanover could be seen running back and forth asking people if they were registered to vote and handing out voter registration cards. Hanover said he specifically wanted to make sure the younger people and women in the crowd had the information. 

“My wife and I try to do our part largely by encouraging young people to get involved,” Hanover said. “I tell young people, ‘Whether you know it or not, I’m voting for you. I’m voting for your future.’”

As Hanover ran around handing out voter registration cards made by his wife, he was inspired by the crowd, he said. 

“Most of the people that I asked, and it was mostly young people, and especially women, when I asked them if they were registered to vote, they said, ‘Of course,’” Hanover said. “‘Yes’ is good, but ‘of course’ is great.”

The post Family legacy honored during Miners Day Parade appeared first on Park Record.