Industry News
Snowbird, UT has announced new products and improvements that mark the beginning of its 50th anniversary season, set to start on December 1, 2021. As Snowbird celebrates 50 years since opening in 1971, it also introduces a new ticket product, Fast Tracks, capital improvements in Mineral Basin, as well as the successful summer launch of Snowbird Power Systems.
“Snowbird was built upon the big dreams of Ted Johnson and Dick Bass 50 years ago, and we are proud of what we’ve accomplished in the time since. By continuing to invest in our mountain and guest experience, as well as our community and environment through our Play Forever initiatives, we are excited to continue that legacy for the next 50 years and beyond.”
– Snowbird President and General Manager Dave Fields
Brand new to Snowbird this season will be Fast Tracks: a daily experience upgrade that offers access to dedicated express lift lanes at select lifts. Guests who add on Fast Tracks to a day ticket, season pass, Ikon Pass, or Mountain Collective Pass gain access to exclusive lift lanes at Peruvian, Gadzoom, Gad 2, Little Cloud, Mineral Basin, and Baldy chairs. Fast Tracks will not be available for the Tram. The product may be purchased in advance at snowbird.com starting November 1, 2021, or day-of as available at either the ticket window or online. Snowbird is the only Utah resort to offer such a product.
In preparation for the 2021-22 winter season, Snowbird invested in and installed four new Wyssen Towers in Mineral Basin. Snowbird and Alta will be the first ski resorts in the country to install Wyssen Towers, which utilize remote explosive devices to perform avalanche mitigation work. The new towers are expected to lead to quicker openings of Mineral Basin terrain on snow days while increasing the safety of our employees performing mitigation work.
Another capital improvement was the successful launch of Snowbird Power Systems™ in July 2021. The facility will be fully operational this upcoming winter, supplying between 90-100 percent of the mountain’s power. Snowbird Power Systems is comprised of a cogeneration facility that is the only one of its kind at a ski resort in North America. This system replaces an original cogeneration facility that was built in 1986 and was acknowledged as a world-renowned engineering feat. The new system not only produces electricity for the mountain through natural gas but recycles thermal waste by using it to heat resort buildings and facilities such as The Cliff Spa. This saves the carbon emissions equivalent to not burning over 4 million pounds of coal a year and eliminates Snowbird’s dependency on the grid and coal.
Guests this season can expect a new hybrid parking system at Snowbird that allows for both free first-come, first-served parking as well as the option to pay for reserved daily parking. This updated system allows for greater affordability and flexibility for those who enjoy skiing and riding whenever their schedule allows, while also offering the security of the option to reserve. Costing up to $25 per day, advance daily self-parking will be available at the Lower Gad Valley or Pond Preferred Parking Lots. Day-of access will be available as space allows and will be discounted for those carpooling with four or more people. Finally, as vaccinations become more readily available, Snowbird hopes to encourage guests to carpool via expanded free carpool-only parking areas. These will be located in Main Lot, Upper Gad Valley Lot, and Entry 4. More information on parking can be found, here.
