Proposed Utah Olympic Park hotel project aims to secure park’s financial future

UOP Master Plan Core Area. Photo: Utah Olympic Park

The 120-room hotel is part of a master plan to enhance visitor experience and sustain the Olympic venue

PARK CITY, Utah — The Utah Olympic Park in Park City, home to key events from the 2002 Winter Games and a future venue for the 2034 Winter Games, is moving forward with plans to build a 120-room hotel as part of a broader effort to secure its financial future. The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, which manages the park, aims to reduce operating losses, enhance services for athletes and visitors, and create a year-round hub for winter sports through the new development.

Why it matters: The planned hotel is critical to the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation’s strategy to boost revenue and ensure the park remains financially viable through and beyond the 2034 Winter Games.

Details:

• The hotel would feature 120 rooms, a restaurant, a conference center, and a pool and would be located near the park’s freestyle training pool and ski jumps.
• The project, part of a master plan developed over a decade ago, would be moving forward regardless of being awarded the 2034 Winter Games, officials said.
• If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the hotel operational by 2028.

“This would be happening, regardless of whether the Olympics was coming or not,” Colin Hilton, CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, told TownLift. “We want this to be very compatible with running an Olympic training site and continuing to have athletes training and competing.”

Hilton added the hotel is expected to improve the visitor experience: “It will offer much-needed services for families, athletes, and visitors who come to watch competitions or take part in activities. We believe it will attract family-oriented and outdoor recreation-focused visitors.”

He also noted that reducing traffic in and out of the park was a priority: “Having on-site lodging will reduce traffic to Kimball Junction for meals and accommodation, making the park more self-sufficient.”

Financial impact:

• The foundation has struggled with operating losses, with its legacy fund dropping from $76 million to $46 million since it was started in 2002.
• Hilton said the hotel and future projects aim to eliminate $3 million in annual operating losses and reduce reliance on state subsidies.

The big picture: The hotel is part of a broader plan that includes commercial spaces, a high-performance center, and sports medicine services. The goal is to make the park a year-round hub for winter sports and training, beyond the Olympics.

What’s next: The project is currently under review by the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission. Public hearings are expected later this year.

Hilton’s outlook: “If all goes well, the hotel should be up and running by 2028, well before the 2034 Winter Games,” Hilton said. “But our focus has always been on making this a year-round facility, not just for the Olympics.”