Vail Resorts sends new Eagle and Silverlode lifts to Whistler Blackcomb

PARK CITY, Utah – Vail Resorts announced Wednesday in its earnings report that the new six- and eight-passenger lifts intended for Park City Mountain will now be sent to Whistler Blackcomb for a 2023 improvement project, replacing the aging Jersey Cream and Fitzsimmons high-speed quads.

The improvement project at Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) was not completed due to a successful permit appeal by four local Park City residents.

“While the company is committed to resolving our permit to upgrade the Eagle and Silverlode lifts in Park City, the Company intends to install the two previously-purchased lifts at Whistler Blackcomb in calendar year 2023,” said Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch, “[We are] replacing the four-person high-speed Jersey Cream lift with a new six-person high-speed lift and replacing the four-person high-speed Fitzsimmons lift with a new eight-person high speed lift.”

The equipment was originally intended to be used on the Silverlode, and Eagle lifts at PCMR, planning to make Silverlode PCMR’s first 8-person chair lift. The improvements were appealed in regard to public concerns about increased traffic in the area and PCMR’s insufficient parking plan. The appeal was filed in Park City’s district court this past July.

“The company expects to incur approximately $20 million in additional costs related to the Park City and Keystone lift projects, which is included in our calendar year 2023 capital plan,” Lynch said of the denied lift improvement projects in Park City.

Vail Resorts filed an appeal against the permit revocation in July, but no resolution has been reached. Due to the ongoing uncertainty, lift equipment was stored in Utah over the summer and will be re-engineered and adjusted for Whistler Blackcomb. Despite the Park City situation, 18 other lifts in the 2022 Epic Lift Upgrade are on schedule, including two at Whistler Blackcomb.

As far as what is to come, Park City Mountain Resort’s Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Deirdra Walsh maintains the resort’s stance on pushing to get the upgrades passed.

“We will continue to pursue our permit to upgrade the Silverlode and Eagle chairlifts because we are committed to investing in the guest experience at the resort. Once we have resolved our permit with the city, we plan to procure the lifts and equipment necessary for the installation… We are very optimistic about the future of Park City Mountain and look forward to sharing more about upcoming projects and capital investments soon.”