Industry News
Much has been written and said—sometimes whispered, sometimes aloud—about the changes coming to Powder Mountain, Utah, since the acquisition by Reed Hastings. The founder of DVD-rental turned streaming service Netflix purchased Powder Mountain from the founders of the Summit Series, who had bought the resort in 2013 in hopes of turning it around. They approached Hastings, who had a lodge at Powder Mountain, in 2023 after his retirement from active CEO duties at Netflix. Hastings decided to buy out Summit and revamp the struggling resort.
A key component of Hastings’ strategy is the introduction of semi-private skiing, where less than half the resort will be reserved for lodge owners only. Under the new semi-private model, access to the terrain, as well as the lift infrastructure near Mary’s Lift, Village Lift, and the new Raintree Lift, was made for residents only. Hastings used the sale of land parcels to finance the operation of the resort and the construction of new infrastructure in both the private as well as public areas. For the 2024-25 season, a total of four new lifts were installed at Powder, consisting of two new lift lines (Raintree on the private side and Lightning Ride on the public side), as well as the replacement of two old fixed-grip lifts (Paradise and Timberline, both on the public side) with new, high-speed lifts. The construction of four new lifts within one season is a feat that is rare in the ski industry, but Hastings pulled it off and the four new lifts started spinning in time for the season start. In addition, he purchased an area known as Davenport on the northeast side from Monument.
- Related: Powder Mountain, UT, Gets Go-Ahead to Build 2 New Lifts (1 Private) in Time For 24/25 Season
The news that part of the resort would be private-access-only was naturally met with some consternation. However, the controversial move appears to be paying off, with real estate parcels starting at $2 million being snapped up quickly by high-net-worth individuals, enticed by the prospect of private lifts and exclusive terrain. The funds raised are being channeled in large part to operations on the public side, in essence subsidizing operations and providing more equitable access to some of the resort’s former expert-only areas that required snowcat or backcountry access.
Some loyal Powder Mountain visitors were outraged by the changes. Powder Mountain holds a unique place in the ski world, being the last bastion of uncrowded and authentic ski culture for many. The resort’s long-standing policy of capping day-pass and season-pass sales has made it a haven for those seeking an uncrowded ski experience. Some longtime visitors have voiced frustration on social media, accusing Hastings of turning a once-accessible resort into an exclusive enclave for the ultra-wealthy. The resort’s Instagram has been flooded with comments mourning the changes, with one user calling it “so sad,” and another lamenting, “It was perfect before.”
However, the vast majority of people I spoke to during my stay at Powder Mountain were excited about the changes. Locals appreciated the injection of much needed funds into the local economy. Visitors were raving about the high-speed lifts, which have improved guest experience on the public side of the mountain and also gave easy access to an additional 900 acres that were limited to cat- or backcountry skiing. Everyone I spoke with agreed that the resort needed investments and everyone was unanimous in their assessment that critics were simply “grumpy,” “uneducated,” and “reluctant to change.”
Its roughly 8,000 acres of skiable terrain makes Powder Mountain the largest resort in the U.S. in terms of acreage, however most of this is not lift served—something Hastings is slowly changing. Powder Mountain’s potential has long been underdeveloped. The Summit Series founders envisioned it as a year-round community for entrepreneurs and innovators, with a ski-in, ski-out village featuring luxury homes, educational institutions, and wellness centers. But the project ran into financial and legal roadblocks, leaving many of the grand plans unrealized. Lawsuits, local opposition, and stalled development eventually led to Hastings stepping in with a $100 million investment to take over majority ownership in 2023.
Hastings’ plan for Powder Mountain focuses on expanding terrain, improving infrastructure, and introducing new amenities while maintaining the resort’s character as a skier’s mountain. The most immediate changes included the opening of DMI (Don’t Mention It) guided backcountry terrain—500 acres of expert-only chutes and bowls accessible only with a guide. In addition, a new Nordic and snowshoe trail system near the Village lift will cater to non-alpine skiers, with a warming hut offering hot chocolate. The addition of Davenport terrain on the private side will add another 2,390 acres (not all of which is skiable). What also needs mentioning is that Hastings lowered the price of night skiing tickets from $49 to $19–an offer that is taken up keenly by many locals and is frequently booked out.
The next project planned for the imminent future on the public side of Powder Mountain is an expansion of the lift infrastructure into Wolf Canyon. This will give lift-serviced access to DMI and Wolf Creek for everyone without the requirement of a guide, and will expand the lift-serviced ski area at PowMow by another 900 acres. It means more equity for mountain users rather than limiting the backcountry terrain to just a few expert skiers with the right equipment.
Having had the privilege of staying on and skiing in the private terrain as well as the public side of the mountain, I can say, wholeheartedly, that I see the logic of the semi-private model and the appeal for lodge owners to invest in a slice of Powder Haven. Members of the so called Powder Haven, the residents only club, have access to private transport across the resort, access to the members lodge “Sky Lodge,” and naturally the private side and infrastructure of the mountain.
While the public side was never crowded and I had to wait at most for a couple of chairs at the busiest of times, the private side of the ski area was so private, I kept weaving through my own tracks all day without encountering many other skiers or boarders. But if you think the private side is turning into a glitzy elitist enclave, you don’t understand Hastings’ vision. What struck me the most about my time at Powder Mountain was the authenticity and laid-back nature of the resort across both areas. The joy is palpable from both the visitors as well as the staff. The focus is on an understated, authentic mountain experience without unnecessary bells and whistles. The stillness of the mountain on the private side makes one feel at one with nature while skiing down empty tree runs, while equally enjoying the comfort of a chair lift back to the top. This is the vibe Hastings wants to preserve.
The idea of a private ski resort is not new. Montana’s Yellowstone Club has long been a playground for billionaires, with membership requiring a multimillion-dollar buy-in. However, Powder Mountain is not planning on turning the resort into a private enclave. Hastings believes his hybrid model could offer a win-win for everyone: keeping Powder Mountain open to the public while leveraging exclusivity to fund improvements. There are no plans for Michelin star restaurants or luxury hotels.
Hastings’ vision is not to change the character of Powder Mountain but rather to sustainably grow the resort’s infrastructure to maximize guest experience for everyone. While this comes at the expense of access of some of the terrain, the increase in lift infrastructure—both already in place and also planned—will create more lift-serviced terrain, making the experience more accessible for the majority of skiers, rather than leaving vast terrain to those few willing to uphill. While those backcountry skiers are surely miffed their private powder stashes are no longer quite so private, it creates a better experience for the vast majority of visitors.
Part of Hastings’ plan for Powder Mountain is also the expansion of interactive art installations across the public side of the mountain. Through the Powder Art Foundation, Hastings will expand on the existing installations across the resort, such as the rideable paper airplane sculpture by Griffin Loop. In early 2024, a rainbow-tunnel was added over the magic carpet by artists Gerard & Kelly at the bottom of and the Sundown lift and the first of three planned bells by sound artist Davina Semo was added to the top of Timberline Lift. Chief Creative Officer Alex Zhang is in discussions with planners over an idea to have carousel horses by artist EJ Hill as feature on one of the chairlifts, and he shared that the next installation at Powder Mountain will be a Ganzfeld room by artist James Turrell called “Apani.” Zhang stresses that all art projects will be on the public side of the mountain and are meant to be year round installations that offer both summer as well as winter visitors the unique opportunity to interact with art and nature.
While the idea of a semi-private model is revolutionary for the ski market, it is not uncommon in other service industries to provide a two-tier system with a premium segment for a small group subsidizing the running cost of the whole operation. Airlines offer business and first class tickets at four to 10 times the cost of an economy ticket, respectively, that help keep the cost of economy class tickets low. Likewise, many amusement parks will offer VIP passes that give premium access that help support the cost of operating the park while keeping park tickets affordable. However, applying this two-tier model to the ski industry is revolutionary. Whether this experiment succeeds or alienates core skiers remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: under Hastings’ leadership, Powder Mountain is entering a new era, one that could set a precedent for the future of ski resorts across North America.
The majority of skiers/snowboards probably can’t afford a private plane ride to get to Powmow. The road is 7 miles and it is sometimes tricky depending on the weather but they do a great job of keeping the road clear and ready for daily access to the resort.
Build a runway (easily) on the flat top butte (plateau) directly to the south of PowMow, it could offer small turboprop commuter service from Ogden, Provo and SLC airports. To accomplish this, might have to do a land swap with the forest service. One of the worst things about PowMo is the road, very steep and hard on vehicles, especially brakes.
It could also be a haven for sailplanes (gliders) year round but especially the non winter season. This would be very big and in demand, they would also buy property there. Sailplane launching could be done by ground based winch, truck tow or combination truck mounted winch.
This would help dramatically with year round activity and not noisy.