This past weekend four more Utah resorts opened for skiing. Brian Head in central Utah, Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and Park City Mountain Resort have all opened with very good conditions for the middle of November. We received about 6" of snow Friday night and snow has continued off and on all weekend and into today, Monday. This week, Thanksgiving week, Canyons Resort opens followed by Deer Valley the following weekend, December 3rd. With the early snow that we have been receiving and the resorts opening with very good conditions, the lodging companies are all reporting higher than normal bookings for the year. While in the past, management companies have all said that visitors are booking closer and closer to their actual vacation time to see who has the best snow and rates. This year with early snow throughout all of the Rockies, visitors are once again booking ahead and booking early to assure that they get the accommodations that they want.
Last week I was at a luncheon where we heard speakers from all three Park City resorts talking about what's new and what improvements the resorts have made over the summer months and also from White Pine Touring which operates the cross-country ski tracks around town. White Pine Touring also works closely with Mountain Trails Foundation which is a non-profit here in town dedicated to the building and maintenance of mountain biking and hiking trails throughout the mountains. Apparently the International Mountain Biking Association has named Park City as the best mountain biking town in the country. This is such a tribute to the Mountain Trails Foundation and the hard work that they do building and maintaining the Park City trail system.
On another note two weeks ago Park City, through our local radio station held a community wide call-in fundraiser for all of Park City's nonprofit organizations. I am very proud to say that our small town of Park City, permanent population of 7,000, contributed over $300,000 that day to our nonprofits. These non-profits are such an integral part of our community in maintaining hiking trails, putting on music festivals and contributing to the arts in town and this money will help assure their continued success. Way to go, Park City, and one of the things that I so much love about this town.
Last week I was up at the Montage Hotel at Empire Pass in Deer Valley and toured some of their new residences. They are absolutely stunning and the location of the Montage Hotel is in the "A" location for skiers. The Montage Hotel is located at the base of the Empire lift of Deer Valley with premium ski access to Deer Valley's most challenging expert terrain or the easy groomers of Northside. It is no wonder that The Montage has been a resounding success for both guests wishing to stay at the best Deer Valley has to offer or buyers wanting to own a condo in the heart of skiing.
Ski season is here so get your skis tuned up and waxed, and when you are out this winter, let me take you on a tour of Deer Valley and show you my favorite places to ski. Remember my office is mid-mountain Deer Valley in the Silver Lake Plaza, right across from the ticket booth.
