The greatest snow
on earth should
belong to every Utahn.
Utah families are being priced out of the mountains they grew up in. With the 2034 Winter Olympics coming home to Utah, we have one chance to change that — permanently.
Utah's ski industry is booming.
Utah families are being priced out.
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 demand. When the 2034 Winter Olympics return to Utah, the contrast between world-class ski infrastructure and priced-out local families will be on display for the world to see.
Utah's top resorts now charge up to $299 per day. A family of four faces lift tickets alone exceeding $600 — before equipment, lessons, food, or travel. The revenue model has priced out the residents who live closest to the mountains.
Utah's population has grown from 1.7 million to 3.5 million since 1990 — yet the number of ski resorts has barely changed. Per capita, Utahns have half the resort access they had a generation ago. The average Utah skier is now 48. If nothing changes, the 2034 Olympics will showcase world-class skiing to an 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.
Utah's moment — and a responsibility
When the 2002 Olympics came to Utah, most Utahns could see themselves in those athletes — because they skied too. The 2034 Games are coming back, bringing the world's eyes to the Greatest Snow on Earth. But if nothing changes, the Olympics will celebrate skiing that Utah families can no longer afford. A public ski area ensures that moment belongs to every Utahn — not just those who can pay $299 a day.
economic output
employment created
resort access since 1990
to act
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, but a community mountain with serious Wasatch terrain and prices Utah families can actually afford.
$59 adult day ticket and $750 season pass for Utah residents — well below any comparable option in the state.
1,000 skiable acres, 2,500 ft of vertical, and a ~7,200 ft base elevation for reliable snowpack. Five fixed-grip quads plus a magic carpet — efficient, proven, cost-effective.
~30,000 sq ft base lodge with cafeteria-style dining and a rental fleet. Luxury amenities are cut — what remains is what skiers actually care about.
$15-per-student school program, with 5,000 participants projected in Year 1 growing 10% annually. Getting kids on skis young is the most reliable path to lifelong participation.
New capacity distributes demand, reducing lift lines at Utah's existing resorts. Even skiers who never visit the public area benefit from less crowded mountains.
Phase 1 targets a 2029 opening with 3 lifts, a magic carpet, ~500 acres, and a full base lodge. Phase 2 adds 2 lifts and remaining terrain once sustainability is demonstrated, limiting 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 public resort doesn't cannibalize tourist traffic — it creates an on-ramp for Utahns who've been priced out.
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. Public access skiing is not a new idea — and Utah has already embraced the underlying principle in other recreation contexts.
- Multiple U.S. states operate publicly owned ski areas the same way Utah operates public golf courses and wildlife areas
- These resorts are justified by regional economic impact and community access — not standalone profitability
- Resident-first passes and below-market day tickets are standard features of publicly operated mountains
- Public ski areas in other states consistently rank among the country's top value destinations
- The model is proven, financially documented, and directly applicable to Utah
- Municipalities across Europe, Canada, Scandinavia, and Japan have run ski areas as public utilities for generations
- Community ownership of ski infrastructure is the norm in many great ski nations — keeping the sport accessible regardless of tourism demand
- These areas exist to serve local residents, not to maximize per-ticket revenue from international visitors
- Public ski infrastructure builds lasting sporting culture, drives youth participation, and supports local economies across generations
- If Austria, France, Canada, and Japan can do it — Utah, with the Greatest Snow on Earth and the 2034 Olympics, has every reason to lead
Utah already operates public golf courses at below-market rates and uses resident-first pricing for hunting and fishing permits. A public ski area simply extends that same principle to winter recreation in the Wasatch.
States and countries worldwide have decided ski access is part of the public good. Utah has the greatest snow on earth, the 2034 Winter Olympics, and a population priced out of the mountains. The question isn't whether public skiing works — it's why Utah hasn't done it yet.
In 2013, Utah became the first state in the nation to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation — 24 other states followed. A public ski area pilot project would position Utah at the forefront again, proving that the Greatest Snow on Earth belongs to the people who call Utah home — especially as the world watches during the 2034 Winter Olympics.
This proposal asks Utah to take the first step
This is not a request to immediately build a ski resort — it's a request for Utah's elected leaders to determine whether this investment is feasible and what form it should take. With the 2034 Olympics less than a decade away, the window to act is narrow.
Commission an independent study covering potential sites, capital costs, operating models, revenue projections, and legal frameworks.
Identify candidate locations with sufficient elevation, vertical, and terrain variety — prioritizing state or federal land to reduce capital requirements.
Convene a working group spanning ski professionals, school districts, local governments, environmental stakeholders, and Utah families.
Design a phased pilot starting with Phase 1 infrastructure, proving the model before full capital commitment is required.
Identify the legislative and funding vehicle to establish a public ski authority, drawing on Utah's existing outdoor recreation framework.
Common questions, straight answers
Join the
effort.
Utah families deserve access to the mountains they call home. The 2034 Olympics are Utah's moment to show the world what we stand for. Legislator, ski industry partner, school administrator, or simply a Utahn who believes the Greatest Snow on Earth belongs to everyone — your voice matters.