Powder Mountain Begins Transformation Into Public-Private Resort
The grand experiment is underway at Powder Mountain in northern Utah, as the 2024-2025 season opens with four new chairlifts, a portion of the mountain roped off for homeowners only, a longtime season pass cap lifted, and February weekends restricted to season pass holders.
Owner Reed Hastings is using his Netflix fortune and ingenuity to bring the nation's largest ski and snowboard mountain -- 8,464 acres within the ropes -- to profitability. As an enticement for luxury real estate sales, Hastings reserved three lifts into about 2,000 acres for property owners only -- with a promise of more.
On the mountain, four new chairlifts went in this summer. On the public side, the 25-year-old Paradise fixed-grip is now a high-speed quad on the lower mountain. One of the originals, the Timberline double is now a new fixed-grip quad for easier access around the main base. And, a new fixed-grip quad opens up Lightning Ridge and Shugir Bowl for lift-accessed skiing and 'boarding.
The heretofore closed Wolf Canyon and DMI bowls off the top of Sundown chair will be opened for guided tours this season, with the promise of a new chairlift for the 2025-2026 season.
On the private side, the new Raintree fixed-grip quad will anchor the bottom of the new homeowner-only terrain by running up the ridge for access into lower Cobabe Canyon. Existing Mary's and Village chairs at top of canyon will also be closed to the public. However, non-residents can hike into the private side any time.
Because it sits on private land, Powder can manipulate ticket sales, lift construction and terrain access without U.S. Forest Service oversight.
Gone is a much-treasured season pass limit that, since the mountain opened in 1972, had produced a "locals' mountain" without lift lines and fresh powder tracks most every day. Season pass holders (currently $1,649) will get February weekends all to themselves. Day ticket sales at $259 retail continue to be limited. Powder eschews any mega-pass after dumping the Indy Pass last season.
In a further effort, ownership purchased another chunk of steep terrain off the Raintree lift line to skier's right that features more than 1,700 feet of vertical drop over nearly 1,000 acres that is currently accessed by snowcat.
All-private skiing areas are inching into the American winter scene:
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Utah has the exclusive Wasatch Peaks Ranch north of Salt Lake City.
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Colorado has Three Forks Ranch near Steamboat and Cimarron Club between Telluride and Crested Butte.
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Wyoming has Yellowstone Club.
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New York has HoliMont.
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A number of others, including Silverton and Eagle Point, can be rented by the day.
Sitting above the town of Eden, Powder has historically served a two-headed customer base: Serious powderhounds who don't need fancy facilities and the uber-rich who want a McMansion the hill. Previous owners tried to take Powder even further into uncharted waters by envisioning a social and philanthropic think-tank retreat -- a "Davos for millennials." The nouveau-riche ownership put in a couple of new lifts, but that vision soured.
