Park City Resort Eyes $20M Lift Expansion for Backcountry Thrills

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Mountain Resort, operator Vail Resorts' flagship in Utah, announced a $20 million lift expansion to add three new chairlifts, enhancing access to untouched backcountry terrain for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Initially reported by FOX 13 Utah, the project targets improved connectivity across the resort's 7,300 skiable acres, the largest in North America since the 2015 Quicksilver Gondola merger of Park City base and Canyons Village[2][3][6]. Set for completion ahead of the 2026/27 season, it aligns with Vail's aggressive capital plans amid Summit County's booming tourism economy. The expansion builds on recent upgrades, including the King Con lift's shift from a four-person to six-person detachable chair and the Motherlode lift's conversion to a high-speed quad, part of prior $50 million investments[2][3]. Looking ahead, Vail eyes a new Canyons Village gondola in 2026 to replace the aging Cabriolet, with resubmitted plans for an eight-person Silverlode Express and six-person Eagle replacement targeted for 2027 construction[4][5]. These moves come as Park City Planning Commission reviews lift proposals, though past rejections in 2022 over capacity concerns linger without updated analysis[5]. Competition intensifies with neighbor Deer Valley Resort's historic Expanded Excellence project, debuting seven new chairlifts—including the 10-passenger East Village Express gondola—and over 80 runs for 2025/26, doubling terrain since December 2024[1]. Park City's push aims to retain its edge in Summit County, where winter sports drive $2.5 billion annually to Utah's economy. Resort officials emphasize sustainable growth, with new terminals and mid-mountain stations to minimize environmental impact while drawing international visitors to Park City's storied slopes.