Alterra announces $344 million investment in capital improvements

The Burns Express chairlift will debut at Deer Valley winter 22/23 on the resort's Wide West learning area. It will connect the Snow Park base area to Little Baldy Mountain. Photo: Deer Valley Resort

DENVER — On Monday, Alterra Mountain Company announced a plan to invest $344 million in capital improvements ahead of next winter.

It includes $237 million in large-scale resort development, which involves $93 million towards increased capacity and terrain expansion, $91 million in skier services upgrades, and $16 million in guest experience technology around booking and on-site experience.

The most prominent focus of the investment focuses on the company’s top resorts, including Park City’s Deer Valley.

“This historic investment is clear evidence of our commitment to deliver a premier guest experience at our North American destinations and our engagement towards the long-term future of our mountains,” said Rusty Gregory, the CEO of Alterra.

“More than ever, we continue to infuse meaningful capital into projects that will transform our base areas while significantly improving our physical and digital on-mountain offerings to ensure that our guests experience the best of the mountains.”

The breakdown (from the company’s press release):

Deer Valley Resort

“We are thrilled to dedicate such a significant investment to Deer Valley, one of the most premier destinations in our entire portfolio,” said Alterra Mountain Company COO and Deer Valley Resort Interim President Mark Brownlie.

“Given Deer Valley’s existing legacy and exceptional reputation for its unparalleled guest service, we look forward to unveiling these innovative developments and reimagined spaces for visitors to enjoy for years to come.”

With plans to invest $20 million in Deer Valley’s infrastructure, terrain, and world-class amenities, guests can experience the following enhancements in the upcoming seasons.

2022 Summer Season

New Mountain Bike Terrain

In partnership with Gravity Logic, international experts of bike park design, trail development, and longstanding partner of Deer Valley, the resort will build an intermediate flow trail and additional expert trail on the lower mountain, Bald Eagle. Creating more trails on the lower mountain expands the bike park offering between our Snow Park and Silver Lake areas and provides additional options for riders looking for various terrain.

2022-23 Winter Season

Expanded Beginner Access with Burns Express Chairlift

The Burns Express chairlift will debut on Deer Valley’s Wide West learning area. The new chairlift will connect the Snow Park base area to Little Baldy Mountain, offering Ski School access to more beginner teaching terrain and providing an additional option for skiers to navigate out of the main arrival area. The $6 million investment to improve the ski school learning area on Wide West will also enhance the existing Snowflake chairlift, installing and reconfiguring surface lifts and grading beginner terrain.

Ongoing Maintenance Investments

A $5 million investment is also allotted for resort-wide maintenance with a focus on snowmaking systems, grooming equipment, ski rental fleet, and employee housing and uniforms.

2023

Snow Park Village Transformation

The renaissance of the Snow Park Village will create a premier arrival experience designed to transform the base area. The plans include a reimagined plaza and transit arrival with hospitality accommodations, new food and beverage options, retail, and an expansive ski beach. This project is currently in the permitting process with Park City Municipal, with plans to break ground in 2023.

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Palisades Tahoe, California

The highly anticipated $65 million Base-to-Base Gondola at Palisades Tahoe will be completed for the 22/23 winter season. The gondola will connect the two mountains of the resort for the first time, giving skiers and riders a brand-new way to access a combined 6,000 acres of storied terrain. Together, Palisades Tahoe will become the third-largest ski area in North America. The 16-minute gondola ride will take skiers and riders between the two base areas, The Village at Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Lodge, reducing road congestion in the region and making it easier to enjoy both mountains in a single day. It is the first gondola of its kind in North America, with four terminals connecting two base areas via a climb of nearly 2,000 vertical feet, offering panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.

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Steamboat, Colorado

Winter 22/23 will bring Phase 2 of Steamboat’s Full Steam Ahead redevelopment with $90 million of investment to include the relocation of the lower terminal of the Christie Peak Express lift and the first leg of the Wild Blue Gondola, which will take guests to the new Greenhorn Ranch learning center at mid-mountain. Redevelopment of Steamboat Square continues with The Range Food Hall, Skeeters Ice Rink, and slope-side guest amenities, including new and expanded restrooms, lockers, and more. Phase 1 of Steamboat’s Full Steam Ahead transformation brought significant changes in 2021, including the relocation of the lower gondola terminal, the installation of escalators, and the demolition of Gondola Square to make way for the new Steamboat Square amenities. For a complete timeline of Full Steam Ahead projects, visit www.steamboat.com/fullsteamahead.

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Crystal Mountain, Washington

Over the next five years, $100 million in infrastructure and service advancements will be invested at Crystal Mountain. The largest investment ever made at Crystal will transform the base of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved mountains with a focus on greater access, more space, and significantly enhanced skier services. Work will begin this spring with a $25 million investment in additional parking and a new 25,000 sq. ft. skier services facility called Mountain Commons. The two-story building will replace the existing skier services building and include a new guest services and ticketing experience, retail, dining, and an expanded slope-side beach area. The project is expected to break ground in March 2022 and open for the 23/24 winter season.

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Mammoth Mountain, California

Summer 2022 will see the beginning stage of ground and infrastructure work to facilitate the replacement of two key lifts, Canyon Express (Chair 16) at Canyon Lodge and Broadway Express (Chair 1) at Main Lodge. These new high-speed six-pack lifts are planned to debut in winter 23/24. In addition, Mammoth will initiate a multi-year upgrade at Woolly’s Adventure Summit by re-orienting, expanding, and lengthening the tube runs and installing a summer tubing surface for year-round fun. Future phases will include the installation of one of the longest mountain coasters in North America and the addition of adventure ropes courses and a permanent base lodge with food & beverage services. When complete, Woolly’s will become a year-round adventure center with a variety of activities for kids of all ages. Mammoth will also begin a multi-year snowmaking enhancement program that includes higher efficiency equipment to open more terrain faster in the early season. Also planned for this summer are improvements to the popular Mill Café that include the expansion of indoor dining seats, restrooms with new furnishings, and an exterior refresh. Finally, Mammoth Mountain continues to work on the planning and entitlement process for the eventual redevelopment of the Main Lodge and Mammoth Mountain Inn.