The greatest snow
on earth should
belong to every Utahn.
Utah families are being priced out of the mountains they grew up in. This is a proposal to change that — permanently.
Utah's ski industry is thriving.
Utah families are being left behind.
Over two decades, lift ticket prices have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation — while Utah's population has nearly doubled with no new major resort to absorb the demand. High prices and overcrowding are two symptoms of the same market failure: demand has dramatically outgrown supply, and private operators have no incentive to fix it.
Utah's top resorts now charge up to $299 per day at peak season, with mid-tier options exceeding $159. A family of four skiing for a single day faces lift ticket costs alone exceeding $600 — before equipment, lessons, food, or travel.
Bundle passes help frequent multi-resort skiers, but are designed for travelers — not the Utah family that wants to ski their home mountain a handful of times each winter. The model that generates revenue for the state has inadvertently priced out the residents who live closest to the mountains.
Existing affordable options serve beginners, but avid skiers won't bring their families there — the terrain doesn't challenge or inspire intermediate and advanced riders. These resorts also sit at low elevations, forcing closures in poor snow years precisely when budget-conscious families need them most.
Utah's population has grown from 1.7 million in 1990 to roughly 3.5 million today — yet the number of ski resorts has held nearly constant at approximately 15 statewide. Per capita, Utahns have half the resort access they did a generation ago.
The explosion in backcountry skiing, chronic powder-day overcrowding, and years of debate over canyon infrastructure upgrades are all symptoms of the same structural constraint: demand has far outgrown supply. Multi-resort pass models have compounded this further — directing large volumes of out-of-state traffic toward Utah's fixed mountain capacity.
The average age of a Utah skier is now 48. If nothing changes, the 2034 Olympics will showcase world-class skiing to a Utah audience that can no longer afford to participate.
| Metric | 1990 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Population | 1.7M | 3.5M | +106% |
| Utah Ski Resorts | ~14 | ~15 | +7% |
| Resorts per 100K residents | 0.82 | 0.43 | –48% |
| Annual Skier Days | ~3M | 6.5M | +117% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Ski Utah; Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
A state-sponsored public ski area,
built for Utah families first
Utah should commission a feasibility study and pilot program for a resident-first public ski area. Not another luxury destination — a mountain that prioritizes terrain, reliable snow, and prices that Utah families can actually afford.
$59 adult day ticket for Utah residents — well below any comparable Utah mountain resort. $750 resident season pass for a resort with more terrain and vertical than any currently affordable Utah option.
1,000 skiable acres with 2,500 ft of vertical drop in Phase 1. Base elevation ~7,200 ft ensures reliable snowpack. Five fixed-grip quad chairs plus a magic carpet — efficient, proven, cost-effective.
~30,000 sq ft functional base lodge. Cafeteria-style food and beverage. Prior-season rental fleet. Costs are kept low by eliminating luxury amenities — what remains is what skiers actually care about.
Partnership with Utah public schools to deliver low-cost ski education at $15 per student. 5,000 participants projected in Year 1, growing 10% annually. Getting kids on skis young is the most reliable way to create lifelong participants.
Adding resort capacity distributes demand across a broader base of terrain, reducing lift lines and congestion at Utah's existing resorts. Even visitors who never ski the public resort benefit from less crowded conditions at the mountains they already frequent.
Phase 1 targets a 2029 opening with 3 lifts + magic carpet, ~500 acres, and full base lodge. Phase 2 adds 2 additional lifts and remaining terrain once financial sustainability is demonstrated. Reduces upfront state risk.
What it would actually cost to ski here
| Ticket Type | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Day Ticket | $59 | $119 |
| Child (Under 12) | $30 | $30 |
| Season Pass — Unlimited | $750 | $1,250 |
| School Program Rate | $15 / student | — |
The most affordable quality-terrain day ticket and season pass available to Utah residents.
Out-of-state visitors are welcome at market rates, funding operations and resident access. A state-sponsored resort would not cannibalize high-revenue tourist traffic — it would create an entirely new on-ramp for Utahns.
Site specifications are illustrative. Final site subject to formal feasibility study. Values broadly applicable to comparable northern Wasatch sites.
A proven model. Not a radical idea.
State-owned and municipally supported ski areas have operated successfully for decades. Utah need not invent this from scratch — and Utah has already voted for the underlying principle in two other recreation contexts.
- New York State owns and operates two major ski areas through a public authority — the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA)
- One resort has 450+ skiable acres and a 2,500 ft vertical, hosting over 300,000 skier days annually
- Justified by regional economic impact — not standalone profitability. The same case Utah can make.
- Recognized as among the top value ski destinations in the U.S. Resident-friendly season pass program.
- Has operated successfully for decades in one of America's most populous states
- Municipalities and regional governments have long operated ski areas as public utilities
- Built to keep the sport accessible to local residents, not to maximize per-ticket revenue
- Community ownership of lift infrastructure ensures locals aren't priced out by international tourism
- Often run modest deficits, offset by broader tourism and economic benefit to the region
- Proven over generations that public ski infrastructure builds lasting sporting culture
Cities and counties across Utah operate public golf courses at below-market rates to keep the sport accessible to local residents. Salt Lake County, Davis County, and Utah County all maintain publicly subsidized golf facilities. This proposal applies the identical operating model to skiing.
Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources uses a tiered pricing structure where residents pay significantly lower permit fees than out-of-state hunters and anglers. The policy rationale is identical: Utah's natural resources belong first to Utahns. A public ski area extends this well-established principle to winter recreation.
In 2013, Utah became the first state in the nation to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation. Since then, 24 other states have followed. A public ski area pilot project would again position Utah at the forefront — showing the rest of the country how to keep skiing accessible in an era of consolidation and price inflation.
Utah's moment — and a responsibility
When the 2002 Olympics came to Snowbasin and Park City, most Utahns could see themselves in those athletes — because they skied too. If nothing changes, the 2034 Games will showcase world-class skiing to a Utah audience that can no longer afford to participate. That is a legacy Utah cannot afford to leave.
economic output
employment created
for Phase 1
start
This proposal asks Utah to take the first step
This is not a request to immediately build a ski resort. It is a request for Utah's elected leaders to begin understanding whether this investment is feasible — and what form it should take.
Commission an independent study examining potential sites, capital costs, operating models, revenue projections, and legal frameworks.
Identify candidate locations with sufficient elevation, vertical drop, and terrain variety. State or federal land ownership reduces capital requirements.
Convene a working group of ski professionals, school districts, local governments, environmental stakeholders, and Utah families.
Design a phased pilot beginning with Phase 1 infrastructure — demonstrating the model before full capital commitment is required.
Identify the appropriate legislative and funding vehicle to establish a public ski authority, drawing on Utah's existing outdoor recreation framework.
Join the
movement!
Utah families deserve access to the mountains they call home. Whether you're a legislator, a ski industry partner, a school administrator, or simply a Utahn who believes the Greatest Snow on Earth should belong to everyone — your voice matters.