A Reimagined Park City Mountain: Putting the Guest Experience First

At Free Park City, we believe that the guest experience should be the cornerstone of a world-class resort. Unfortunately, under Vail’s ownership, the focus appears to be on maximizing revenue at the expense of guest satisfaction. Park City Mountain may boast the title of the largest resort in the U.S., but the current setup funnels all guests into just two main base areas (three if you count the Town Lift, which has its own challenges), creating long lift lines and overcrowded runs. This isn’t the experience skiers and riders deserve.

Our vision for a reimagined Park City Mountain includes practical and impactful changes designed to make every guest’s visit enjoyable and memorable:

1. Balanced Crowds for a Better Experience

Crowding is one of the biggest challenges facing the resort today, particularly on its busiest days. By reviewing and adhering to the National Forest Service’s occupancy limits, we can responsibly regulate daily skier capacity. This doesn’t mean drastically slashing access but rather ensuring the resort is safe, enjoyable, and compliant with legal requirements.

2. Celebrating Park City’s Unique Culture

Park City isn’t just another corporate franchise—it’s a community with a rich mountain culture. Our plan would:

  • Incorporate more locally inspired experiences, like independently operated on-mountain restaurants akin to the Viking Yurt, providing guests with something truly special.

  • Source food, drinks, and products from local businesses, ensuring every lodge has a distinct Park City flavor. Imagine sipping locally roasted coffee or enjoying Park City’s own craft beers—small touches that make a big difference.

3. Ski School Reinvented

Safety and skill on the slopes are paramount. We aim to:

  • Lower the cost of ski lessons to encourage broader participation, especially among beginner skiers. A more accessible ski school benefits everyone by creating safer slopes and a more enjoyable experience for all.

  • Elevate the quality of instruction by compensating instructors fairly and cultivating a “guide” mentality, similar to European ski schools, where instruction is as much about enhancing the overall experience as it is about technique.

4. Dining and Service for Every Guest

Park City Mountain can cater to a wide range of guests by offering tiered service experiences:

  • Affordable dining options for families and budget-conscious visitors.

  • Elevated dining experiences for those seeking a touch of luxury.

  • Opportunities for private operators to create intimate, high-end dining experiences, adding variety and character to the mountain.

5. A Resort That Feels Like Home

Under local ownership, Park City Mountain could shed its hollow corporate feel and instead become a vibrant, welcoming community hub. By reinvesting profits locally, the resort would:

  • Improve infrastructure to enhance the guest experience, from well-maintained slopes to shorter lift lines.

  • Cultivate a sense of belonging for visitors and locals alike, creating a resort that feels like home.

Park City Mountain has the potential to be more than just a resort—it can be a place where unforgettable memories are made, where local culture thrives, and where the guest experience is second to none. Together, we can make this vision a reality and ensure Park City remains one of the world’s premier ski destinations.