Many resorts across the west are making the most of the record-breaking snowfall by extending their season. Winter Park and Breckenridge in Colorado will be open through May, and in California, Squaw Valley and Mammoth Mountain will be shredding right through July.
Utah has also been dumped on this season, but the Park City resorts are not interested in extending their openings. Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort have both said the ski areas remain set on their closing date of April 7, just three weeks away.
Emily Summers, a spokesperson for Deer Valley, told the Park Record that the resort has not extended its closing date for 15 years, and it did not consider breaking its streak this year. Summers said Deer Valley sets its opening and closing dates a year in advance. Deer Valley selected April 7 as the closing date for this season because of Easter coming late in the month and spring break in many places around the country occurring in mid-March, Summers said.
“We have not had success in staying open longer in April when Easter is late like it is this year,” Summers said. “In past seasons where the calendar was similar, we didn’t see the skiers to warrant staying open later, and extending a season doesn’t give people the time to plan ahead and make a last-minute ski trip.”
As of March 15, Deer Valley had a base of 118 inches, and 317 total inches of snow had fallen at the resort.
Jessica Miller, a spokesperson for Park City Mountain Resort, said they have no plans to extend the season, despite the “abundant snowfall and excellent conditions.” The resort extended seasons due to heavy snowfall in 2009 and 2011 but did not explain why the resort is making a different decision this year.
Park City Mountain Resort also had a base of 118 inches, but it had 332 total inches of snow throughout the season.
bs!!!!!!! vail is closing a week early. that resort has ALWAYS closed the 2nd sunday in april, the sunday prior to Brighton closing day. BULLSHIT! they shortened it by a week last year and they did the same this year. we want our WEEK back.
bs!!!!!!! vail is closing a week early. that resort has ALWAYS closed the 2nd sunday in april, the sunday prior to Brighton closing day. BULLSHIT! they shortened it by a week last year and they did the same this year. we want our WEEK back.