NAC breaks ground on McGrath Family Mountain Center at PCMR

Groundbreaking Event for MaGrath Family Mountain Center Photo: Dave Obzansky

PARK CITY, Utah— The National Ability Center (NAC) broke ground on the McGrath Family Mountain Center on Tuesday with a ceremony to thank donors and community partners. The $6.5 million McGrath Family Mountain Center will be built at the base of Park City Mountain Resort and is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023.

“Words cannot express how thrilled we are to have finally broken ground,” said Danny Glasser, CEO of the NAC. “The new McGrath Family Mountain Center will benefit thousands of individuals and families in need of adaptive recreation and adventure programs. We are very appreciative to Vail Resorts and Park City Mountain for the donation of land on which to build our state of the art Mountain Center.”

The 9,400-square-foot ADA-accessible facility will be built on a 50-year land lease between the NAC and Park City Mountain Resort. Housed within the facility will be a fitting area for mono and bi-skis, storage space for the specialized adaptive ski equipment, a locker room for instructors, a locker room for adaptive athletes, and other amenities. The space will also house key rooms such as a specialized sensory room for calming and multipurpose rooms for training and education.

The new facility is a significant departure from the previous one consisting of a temporary double-wide building.

“The ‘temporary’ mountain center that was put in place over 20 years ago is long overdue for replacement. This new facility will positively impact the adaptive community both logistically and operationally,” said Mike Kerby, President of Big-D Signature.

The NAC is a nonprofit that enables opportunities for individuals and families with disabilities, physical, cognitive, and developmental, a path to adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures. Its facility at Park City Mountain has been a launching pad for many adaptive athletes. One local athlete, Saylor O’Brien, has spent many years on the NAC team and is now on the U.S. Paralympic team.

“I’ve been on the NAC team for about six years. There are quite a lot of you here today that have seen me in the last six years grow and change and become better athletes in that double-wide trailer, and I am just so excited for this next step for this program,” said O’Brien.

NAC developed partnerships with Vail Resorts, Park City Mountain, Big-D Signature, Architectural Nexus, and the town of Park City, and after six years, the dream is becoming reality for all involved.

“This is a significant moment to reflect on the transformative experiences and life-changing services the NAC has provided for nearly four decades,” said Deirdra Walsh, Vice President and COO at Park City Mountain. “And it’s an exciting moment as we anticipate the impact of this state-of-the-art facility as they expand their world-class adaptive ski and snowboard programs for people of all ages and abilities at Park City Mountain for years to come.”