TL;DR
Park City Mountain Resort has received planning approval to replace two major chairlifts - Eagle and Silverlode - with higher-capacity alternatives likely to debut in the 2027-28 season. The approvals end a years-long process that saw an earlier approval appealed, the original lifts redirected to Whistler Blackcomb, and a fresh application filed.
Park City Mountain Resort has received planning commission approval to replace two major chairlifts, ending a process that first started in 2021.
The Park City Planning Commission approved the construction of new Eagle and Silverlode chairlifts at its most recent meeting. Both lifts are targeted for the 2027-28 season, pending any further legal challenges.
The New Eagle Chairlift
The current Eagle is a fixed-grip triple chairlift. Alongside it, Eaglet - a non-operating lift that previously served a terrain park - will also be retired. Both will be replaced by a single high-speed six-pack chairlift running 5,796 feet with 1,600 feet of vertical rise and a ride time of around six minutes.
The new Eagle will include a mid-station near the top of the Three Kings terrain park, allowing unloading partway up the mountain. That mid-station is intended to serve beginner and intermediate skiers accessing mellow terrain, while the top terminal sits near the King Con Express chairlift - providing easier access to the carving terrain in that pod. The lift will also become a primary access point for ski racers.
Combined uphill capacity from the Eagle and Eaglet replacements increases from 1,800 to 2,800 people per hour - a 55% jump. As a trade-off, Three Kings park is likely to reduce its operational schedule given its proximity to the new mid-station.
The New Silverlode Chairlift
Silverlode is currently a detachable high-speed six-pack. The approved plan replaces it with a detachable high-speed eight-pack on a near-identical alignment. The lift sits at a recognised pressure point on the mountain, adjacent to the Quicksilver Express gondola. Uphill capacity increases from 3,000 to 3,600 people per hour - a 20% improvement at one of the resort's busiest pinch points.
A Long Road to Approval
The history here is worth understanding. Both projects were first announced in 2021 and received initial planning approval in 2022. Local residents successfully appealed that decision, citing concerns about the resort's carrying capacity and its effects on lift queues and parking. The appeals process dragged on for years.
By the time the new application was filed, the original lifts had already been redirected - Vail Resorts sent them to Whistler Blackcomb rather than hold them in storage. The chairlifts being approved now are a new batch of equipment.
This time around, Park City filed for a more comprehensive conditional use permit in an effort to address the concerns that sank the previous approval. Whether that approach holds up to scrutiny remains to be seen - the source reporting notes it is still unclear whether legal action will follow.
Other Recent and Upcoming Upgrades
The lift approvals sit alongside a broader period of infrastructure investment at Park City Mountain. Last season saw the opening of the Sunrise Gondola, providing a new route from Canyons Village to the Red Pine Lodge. This coming winter will bring the completion of the Canyons Village parking garage and the replacement of the Cabriolet with a gondola.
For the 2026-27 season, Park City is also set to introduce its first remote avalanche control systems, to be positioned around the Quicksilver gondola area.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
