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Latest in Park City
Vail Resorts Hires Defence Bankers as Billionaire Pushes to Buy Park City Mountain Resort
Vail Resorts has quietly engaged takeover-defence bankers to assess its vulnerabilities, as pressure builds from multiple directions - a rough winter, union tensions, and a persistent billionaire who wants to buy Park City Mountain Resort. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has gone public with a $500 million offer and says activist investors are calling him. Vail's CEO isn't selling.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts Q3 Fiscal 2026: Bad Winter Out West Hits Revenue as Pass Sales Fall 10%
Vail Resorts has reported its Q3 fiscal 2026 results, and the numbers reflect what anyone skiing the Rockies this past winter already suspected - it was rough. Net income fell from $389.7M to $314.4M, visitation dropped 15%, and early pass sales for 2026/27 are down approximately 10%. The one bright spot? Epic Australia Pass sales are up 26% in units and 31% in revenue. Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham head into the southern hemisphere season with real momentum behind them.
Michael Fulton
Park City Mountain Resort Gets Approval for Eagle and Silverlode Chairlift Replacements
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.
Michael Fulton
Park City Extends Paid Parking to Canyons Village for 2026-27
Park City Mountain Resort is converting the previously free Cabriolet lot at Canyons Village to paid parking from the 2026-27 season. The US$29 daily charge represents another reduction in free parking options across Utah resorts, though several workarounds remain available.
Michael Fulton
Utah Billionaire Escalates Campaign Against Vail Resorts Ownership of Park City
Matthew Prince, Utah's wealthiest resident, has intensified his public criticism of Vail Resorts' management of Park City Mountain Resort. The Cloudflare CEO claims Vail's 10-year stock performance has been dismal and argues the company should sell off individual resorts. Vail says it's not selling.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts CEO Purchases $5 Million in Company Stock as Share Price Continues Multi-Year Decline
Rob Katz has purchased roughly $5 million in Vail Resorts stock as the company's share price sits at around a third of its 2021 peak. The purchase follows criticism of board members failing to buy stock and comes as the company battles reputation issues that may prove harder to fix than financial metrics.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts Introduces 20% Discount on Epic Pass for Under-30s
Vail Resorts has announced a 20% price reduction on Epic Pass products for skiers and riders aged 13-30, bringing the 2026-27 Epic Pass down to $869 and Epic Local Pass to $649. The move comes as the ski industry grapples with participation rates among younger demographics.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts Unveils 2025-26 Season Plans: New Lifts, Tech, and Pricing Strategies
Vail Resorts has announced opening dates and key developments for the 2025-26 ski season across its global portfolio. Notable changes include new lifts in Park City and Switzerland, expanded tech integration, and a revised friend ticket program aimed at boosting visitation.
Michael Fulton
Utah Ski Season 2024-25: Third-Busiest Year Despite Visitor Decline
Utah's ski resorts recorded their third-busiest season ever with 6.5 million visitors in 2024-25, but the 3.6% decline from the previous year highlights growing challenges. Weather patterns, the Park City strike, and economic pressures all contributed to the drop, even as the industry invests hundreds of millions in new infrastructure ahead of the 2034 Olympics.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts CEO Confirms Park City Mountain Not for Sale
Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz has firmly stated that Park City Mountain is not for sale, despite recent interest from a tech billionaire. This article explores the situation and its implications for the popular Utah ski resort.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts' Former CEO Kirsten Lynch Receives $2.2 Million Severance Package
Kirsten Lynch, former CEO of Vail Resorts, is set to receive a substantial severance package following her departure from the company. The package includes cash payments, equity awards, and health insurance benefits.
Michael Fulton
Rob Katz Returns as Vail Resorts CEO After Kirsten Lynch's Departure
Vail Resorts announces a significant leadership change as Rob Katz returns to the CEO position, replacing Kirsten Lynch who has stepped down after 14 years with the company.
Michael Fulton
Park City Mountain Resort: Local Tech CEO's Vision for Acquisition and Expansion
Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare, has purchased Town Lift Plaza in Park City and expressed interest in acquiring Park City Mountain Resort from Vail Resorts, with plans for significant upgrades including a potential gondola connection to Alta.
Michael Fulton
Deer Valley's New Gondola Project Progresses
Deer Valley Resort in Utah is making significant progress on its new gondola project, part of a major expansion plan set to transform the ski area.
Michael Fulton
Deer Valley's Major Expansion Plans for 2025 and Beyond
Deer Valley Resort in Utah is undergoing significant changes, with new trails, lifts, and base area developments planned over the next several years. This article outlines the recent expansions and future projects that will transform the ski resort.
Michael Fulton
Epic Pass 2025/26: A Comprehensive Buying Guide for Skiers and Riders
Explore the various Epic Pass options for the 2025/26 season, including new resort access, pricing, and benefits for skiers and snowboarders looking to maximise their mountain time across multiple destinations.
Michael Fulton
Utah Ski Resort Closing Dates for 2024-25 Season
As the 2024-25 ski season winds down in Utah, find out when your favourite resorts are planning to close and make the most of the remaining snow days.
Michael Fulton
Park City-Deer Valley Gondola Connection: New Feasibility Study Planned
Park City officials are taking steps toward a potential aerial gondola system connecting the historic Main Street district with Deer Valley Resort. The City Council is considering hiring specialised consultants to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study, marking a significant move in the long-discussed transportation initiative.
Michael Fulton
Park City Ski Patrol Strike Hitting Vail Resorts Where It Hurts
The ongoing ski patrol strike at Park City Mountain Resort has created significant operational challenges for Vail Resorts during peak season. With patrollers demanding higher wages and only 50 of 350 trails initially open, this labor dispute highlights broader challenges facing one of North America's largest ski resort operators.
Michael Fulton
Park City Ski Patrol Strike Disrupts Operations at Vail's Largest Resort
The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association's strike has entered its fifth day, severely impacting operations at Park City Mountain Resort. With approximately 200 patrol members striking for better wages and benefits, Vail Resorts faces mounting pressure as limited terrain access and long lift lines frustrate guests.
Michael Fulton
Best Ski Resort In Utah For Beginners in 2025
Planning your first ski trip? Utah's resorts offer an unmatched experience for beginners, with terrain ranging from 13 gentle trails to a whopping 38 beginner-friendly runs across 1,975 acres. From Powder Mountain's uncrowded slopes to Park City's world-class instruction and Deer Valley's luxurious amenities, we've analyzed every resort to help you choose the perfect destination. Discover why Utah should top your list for learning to ski or snowboard.
Michael Fulton
Why Park City Is Amazing For Intermediate Riders!
We're going to tour the best intermediate terrain on both the Park City and Canyons sides of the resort, so strap yourself in — there's a LOT of terrain to explore! Remarkably, 41% of the 341 trails, that's 140 different trails, are graded blue for intermediates. That adds up to a whopping 105 kilometres or 65 miles of trails.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026