Deer Valley Resort Announces Massive Expansion, Opening New Terrain This Winter

Massive ski area expansions like Deer Valley’s huge East Village project—which will more than double its current terrain when completed—require a lot of patience. Typically it’s years before skiers can experience the new terrain and get an idea of what full build-out will look like. And while it will indeed be several seasons before the entirety of the expansion is complete, Deer Valley skiers will be able to ride the first new lifts this winter.

The portion of the 3,700-acre East Village expansion that will debut for the 2024-’25 ski season includes three new chairlifts, 300 skiable acres, and a handful of cut trails. There will also be 500 parking spots on tap at the new East Village entrance, located on U.S. Route 40, giving guests an alternative to driving through often-congested Park City.

New Lifts Open the Door to Expanded Terrain

The longest chairlift, named the Keetley Express, is expected to open in December, conditions permitting. The high-speed six-person chair will be the resort’s first bubble lift and will connect the East Village terrain with the rest of the ski area. The Keetley’s terminus will be at the bottom of Bald Mountain’s Sultan Express. Two more lifts, Hoodoo Express, and Aurora, will both serve the new East Village beginner terrain.

East Village Amenities Offer Convenience and Comfort

As for amenities at the new East Village this season, skiers can expect a rental shop, ticketing windows, and Deer Valley’s signature complimentary ski storage. There will also be a parking shuttle. When it’s complete—estimated for the 2026-’27 season—East Village will feature 800 hotel rooms and 1,700 condo units, dining outlets, retail, a children’s ski school, an ice-skating facility, and a huge ski beach. It will become another home base option for Deer Valley skiers in addition to the resort’s three other ski villages (Snow Park, Silver Lake, and Empire Pass).

Phase Two Brings More Terrain and Gondola Access

The bulk of the new ski terrain will be part of Phase 2, which, if all goes according to plan, will come online for the 2025-’26 ski season. It will feature a 10-person gondola plus six more chairlifts that will serve an additional 100 new trails.

Variety of Terrain for All Skiers

So what will this new terrain be like? There’s a little bit of everything, according to Deer Valley Senior Marketing Operations Manager Emily Summers. Since the terrain will span four peaks, skiers will find different aspects as well as terrain ranging from bowls and north-facing glades to steep, sustained groomers like the iconic Stein’s Way. The new highest point of the resort will become Park Peak, accessed via the gondola.

Future Plans for an Even Larger Resort

A final phase, which will bring the skiable terrain up to 5,726 acres, hasn’t been penciled in on the calendar yet. At completion, Deer Valley will get on the board as one of the top 10 largest ski areas in the U.S., although its neighbor, Park City Resort, still reigns with 7,300 acres. That said, the expansion will be one of the biggest undertakings in ski industry history, and it’s not the only project on Deer Valley’s docket.

Updates Beyond Terrain Expansion

The resort is also planning to redesign the original Snow Park base, which opened in 1980 as part of the original resort footprint. That undertaking includes adding a new hotel, more dining options, an expanded ski beach, an underground parking garage, a transportation hub, and two new lifts, including a gondola to replace the Silver Lake Express quad. The land the resort wants to build on is currently used as a massive parking lot—land that the resort has had development rights to since the 1970s. If approved, the construction is expected to begin in the spring.

Deer Valley Remains a Skier’s Paradise

Lots of changes are coming for Deer Valley, but one thing’s staying the same: The resort will remain skier-only for the foreseeable future. Sorry snowboarders.

Alterra’s Investments Boost the Guest Experience

The latest commitment continues the company’s industry-leading capital investment cycle, which includes the first phase of the major Deer Valley expansion.

Denver, CO, September 5, 2024 – Today, Alterra Mountain Company, the world’s premier mountain operating company, announces a capital investment program of over $300 million, focused on on-mountain improvements to enhance the guest experience across its portfolio of North American destinations.

Alterra will invest in new and refurbished lifts, additional snowmaking enhancement programs, summer activities, and resort infrastructure. In the past year, Alterra completed Steamboat’s three-year Full Steam Ahead project with the opening of 655 new acres of expert terrain in Mahogany Ridge and Fish Creek Canyon, plus the Wild Blue Gondola, now the longest gondola in North America and the fastest 10-person gondola in the country. In the coming years, Alterra’s marquee ski destination, Deer Valley in Utah, will see a major expansion and new base area, Deer Valley East.

“At Alterra Mountain Company, we continue to believe our guests deserve a premium experience at every one of our beloved destinations and we are continuing to concentrate on investments that make that a reality. During this significant capital investment cycle, we have been focused on making improvements that all of our guests will see, while reimagining and doubling down on some of our most iconic properties like Steamboat and Deer Valley.”

– Jared Smith, President & CEO, Alterra Mountain Company

Deer Valley East Village Debuts This Winter

Deer Valley’s extraordinary terrain expansion will begin to come to life this winter when the first chairlifts begin to spin from the new Deer Valley East Village. This season, Deer Valley will debut three new chairlifts, over 300 new skiable acres, several new ski runs, and 500 additional day-skier parking spots. This new resort gateway will offer skiers an alternative arrival option to Deer Valley via U.S. Route 40, helping to reduce traffic throughout Park City.

The Keetley Express: Deer Valley’s First Bubble Lift

Keetley Express, one of the three new chairlifts expected to open in December 2024, conditions permitting, and Deer Valley’s first 6-person chairlift with a bubble, will include direct access from the new Deer Valley East Village into the existing Deer Valley footprint, dropping skiers off near the bottom terminal of the Sultan Express chairlift on Bald Mountain. The extra two chairlifts, Hoodoo Express and Aurora, will service new beginner-level ski trails and return access into the new Deer Valley East Village.

Amenities and Parking at Deer Valley East Village

For the 24/25 season, the Deer Valley East Village will have limited day-skier amenities, including a rental shop, complimentary ski storage, and ticketing. A complimentary skier shuttle will transport guests from the day-skier parking directly to the amenities and lift access.

Deer Valley’s Expansion: One of the Largest in Ski Industry History

When all phases of expansion are complete, Deer Valley will add 3,700 acres of skiable terrain, more than doubling the size of the resort and making Deer Valley one of the largest ski resorts in North America. This project represents Deer Valley’s first terrain expansion since 2008 and stands as one of the most significant expansions in the ski industry over the past four decades.

Alterra’s Investment Across the Portfolio

With an eye towards providing all our guests with options that suit their needs, Alterra has committed to investing in the transformation of its base areas and on-mountain amenities, including food and beverage and skier services offerings through a variety of projects scheduled to come online for the 24/25 season.

Enhanced Lift Capacity and Efficiency

Skiers and riders will ride more efficiently at several Alterra destinations next winter. This year, Alterra will invest in an additional seven lifts, including new or replacement lifts aimed at increasing skier capacity and speed at Mammoth Mountain, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Sugarbush, plus lift refurbishments at Mammoth Mountain, Steamboat, and Stratton, aimed at offering improved operational reliability.

Snowmaking Improvements for a Consistent Season

To help ensure a consistent season length and a quality experience, Alterra is investing in robust, multi-year snowmaking enhancement programs designed to bring higher efficiency equipment to resorts. Winter Park will see the culmination of a $37 million, two-year effort to completely rebuild the snowmaking infrastructure from the ground up, an investment that will improve system capacity and efficiency to help ensure more early-season terrain openings. Other notable upgrade efforts include increased coverage at Mammoth Mountain, Palisades Tahoe, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Stratton, and Sugarbush. These new systems all favor increased energy efficiency and reduced water usage allowing our destinations to improve the guest experience while reducing our environmental impact.

The Future of Deer Valley: A Resort Redefined

Deer Valley’s “Expanded Excellence” initiative is poised to transform the resort, making it a powerhouse in the ski industry. The addition of 300 acres of new terrain this winter is just the beginning, promising a future filled with expanded opportunities for skiers and a redefined ski experience for all.