Deer Valley expansion will add 3,700 skiable acres, new village

The company that owns Deer Valley Resort in Park City has announced plans for a major expansion of the Wasatch Mountains ski-only destination. Alterra Mountain Co., headquartered in Denver, released its plans to add 3,700 acres of ski terrain as well a new village and a new portal that the company said will dramatically improve access to the resort.

In partnership with Extell Development Co. of New York City, Alterra will add lodging, dining and retail amenities at the resort.

The expansion will more than double Deer Valley’s skiable terrain, adding 16 new lifts and a new 10-passenger gondola. The diverse terrain will also be supported by a new cutting-edge snowmaking system and feature precise snow grooming that adheres to Deer Valley’s existing standards, Alterra said. The last time Deer Valley saw a significant terrain expansion was for the 2007-08 winter season, with the addition of 200 acres of skiing on Lady Morgan Mountain.

The complete project will take place over the next three seasons, with a significant portion of the new lifts and trails set to open as early as the 2025-26 winter season. When completed, Deer Valley will offer 5,726 acres of ski-only terrain spread across 10 mountains.

The Deer Valley investment is in addition to the $500 million capital program announced by Alterra earlier this year to enhance the guest and employee experience across its portfolio of 17 resorts.

“Alterra Mountain Co. is committed to investing in large-scale projects that will deliver differentiated experiences in incredible places and this project is exactly that,” said Jared Smith, president and CEO of Alterra Mountain Co. “Deer Valley has long been a world-renowned resort and this project will offer guests more of what it has always been known for — legendary service, an exceptional ski-only experience and industry-leading culinary offerings.”

The resort’s new terrain and village will be accessible directly from a new portal off of U.S. Highway 40, creating a major eastern portal that adds convenient access to the resort from nearly every direction, a release about the expansion said.

In partnership with luxury real estate developer Extell, the village and portal will feature over 1,200 new parking spots and a new skier services facility offering additional premium ski school, equipment rental, retail and food and beverage amenities.

“Deer Valley Resort is known across the globe for its unique approach to first-class service. We are committed to building on their well-respected reputation and legacy by attracting some of the world’s best brands, in addition to elevating the living experience by creating luxury residences with exquisite architecture and design,” said Gary Barnett, founder and chairman of Extell. “This partnership with Deer Valley brings together two of the very best in the business of real estate, service and hospitality, and we look forward to working with them to create what will be the crown jewel of Utah.”

In addition to the ski-specific amenities, the new village is slated to have over 800 hotel rooms across multiple properties, nearly 1,700 residential units, 250,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and a 68,000-square-foot recreation center. The development is expected to create approximately 2,000 new jobs.

“Deer Valley Resort is committed to building upon our legacy as one of the world’s most exceptional ski areas while staying true to our founding principles created over four decades ago,” said Todd Bennett, president and chief operating officer at Deer Valley. “This expansion will facilitate even better access to the resort for our guests, while offering a substantial increase in world-class amenities consistent with the resort’s original vision.”

Alterra Mountain Co. own 17 year-round resorts, the world’s largest heli-skiing operation; and Ikon Pass, a ski and snowboard season pass offering access to more than 50 mountain destinations around the world.

Deer Valley Resort currently offers 21 chairlifts; 103 ski runs, six bowls, 300 annual inches of powder and 2,026 acres of alpine skiing. The resort limits lift ticket sales to reduce crowding on the ski runs. It has been ranked as the United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards for 10 consecutive years.