Industry News
Just because the temperatures are in the 80s and 90s in the United States right now does not mean that ski resorts across the country are not working. Summer is the time when ski resorts are gearing up for the upcoming season and it can be one of the busiest times for a ski resort with regards to planning. It is also the time when big construction projects are made at resorts to infrastructure, lifts, water pipes, and more.
That is what is happening right now in Utah with the construction of the new Sunrise Gondola at Park City Mountain’s Canyons Village base now underway. The new 10-passenger gondola will replace the existing two-person Sunrise chair lift and transport skiers and snowboarders to the Red Pine area. The base of the new gondola will be located below the current lift near Pendry Plaza. The project entered its second phase in early June 2024, focusing on infrastructure improvements and preparing the site for the bottom terminal installation. The third phase, scheduled for 2025, will involve removing the existing Sunrise lift and installing the gondola. Approved in January 2024, the Sunrise Gondola is expected to be operational for the 2025-2026 winter ski season.
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The construction of the new 10-person gondola at Park City Mountain will replace the current Sunrise chairlift and improve circulation and access from Canyons Village to the Red Pine area. The 6,500-foot, 10-passenger gondola base terminal is next to the Pendry Park City and The Lift. The final destination is located in the Red Pine area, and its goal is to improve overall flow and circulation in the Canyons Village base area, resulting in reduced wait times.
This project marks a significant improvement in Park City’s overall guest experience with regard to lift capacity. Its goal is to significantly reduce wait times in the Canyons Village base area. The Sunrise Gondola will terminate at the Red Pine area, providing a third lift option to complement Red Pine Gondola and Orange Bubble Express for upper mountain access. The Sunrise Gondola will also provide greater access for lodging guests, day skiers, and snowboarders, improving the mountain access experience for everyone.
Managing high winds that can cause frequent impacts on the Canyons Village base area is one of the objectives of the new gondola. The new alignment of the Sunrise Gondola will be less susceptible to wind, significantly reducing weather-related holds and closures in the Canyons Village base area. The new Sunrise Gondola will have an alignment sheltered from the north, a profile that follows terrain contour more closely rather than crossing wide spans at height, and a greater cabin weight that provides stability.
The Sunrise chairlift will operate in the winter season once installation is complete. Construction will be compliant with Summit County and CVMA building codes and regulations. Phase one, which consists of planning and permitting, has already been completed. Phase two of the project involves utility relocations and infrastructure improvements, construction work and temporary fencing near the bottom terminal, and the establishment of a lift corridor on the mountain. Phase three consists of removing the existing Sunrise chairlift, installing terminals, towers, rope, and cabins, and constructing the bottom terminal plaza.
Park City’s plan is to improve flow and circulation in Canyons Village by providing a third option to complement Red Pine Gondola and Orange Bubble Express for access to the Red Pine area. The project will replace the Sunrise chairlift with a 10-passenger gondola connecting to our year-round mid-mountain hub.
Park City’s goal is to replace the Sunrise chairlift with a gondola, which will help improve the guest experience and reduce wait times out of the Canyons Village base area. This multi-year project will enter its second phase with utility and infrastructure improvements and establishing a lift corridor on the mountain in 2024. The third phase, with the removal of the Sunrise chairlift and installation of the Sunrise Gondola, is planned for 2025, with the opening of the new gondola planned for the 2025/26 winter season.
For more information, visit Park City’s website.
