As many Newport Beach families turn their attention from beach days to ski season getaways, Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, is making headlines once again. Following the successful Expanded Excellence: Future in Flight event this summer—where guests witnessed lift towers soaring into place by helicopter—the resort is now well on its way to delivering the largest ski resort expansion in history for the 2025/26 season.

“Seeing those first towers for the East Village Express gondola and Pinyon Express bubble lift go up was a defining moment,” shared Deer Valley Resort President & COO Todd Bennett. “It marked the beginning of skiing from Park Peak and is a major step toward more than doubling our terrain. Our teams are working tirelessly to bring this vision to life, and we’re thrilled to welcome both longtime guests and first-time visitors to experience nearly 100 new ski runs this winter.”

A Season of Transformation

This winter marks a historic leap forward for the resort. Deer Valley will debut seven new chairlifts, including the Deer Valley East Village Express, a state-of-the-art 10-passenger gondola linking the brand-new Deer Valley East Village to Park Peak. With this addition, the resort has now installed 10 new lifts since December 2024, expanding access and reshaping the mountain experience. Guests will enjoy 31 lifts and 4,300 acres of skiable terrain—over double the size of Deer Valley’s previous footprint.

Snowmaking has also received a massive upgrade, with a new automated system and dedicated pumphouse ensuring consistent coverage across the newly opened terrain. For day skiers, the Deer Valley East Village base will now feature 1,200 parking spaces, making access easier than ever.

Setting a New Standard in Mountain Transport

At the heart of the expansion is the East Village Gondola, Utah’s most advanced ropeway system and one of the largest gondolas in the country. Stretching nearly three miles, it boasts 142 cabins with heated seats, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a vertical rise of 2,570 feet. Traveling at 1,400 feet per minute—40% faster than conventional lifts—the gondola brings guests from Deer Valley East Village to Park Peak in just 15 minutes.

Complementing the gondola, the Pinyon Express will feature heated six-passenger bubble chairs, providing warmth and protection at high elevation. With 58 chairs covering 6,300 feet of haul rope, this new lift enhances skier flow across the expanded terrain.

A Legacy of Excellence

For decades, Deer Valley has set the standard for luxury ski experiences—limiting daily lift tickets, offering five-star hospitality, and consistently earning recognition as the United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards for 12 consecutive years. With this expansion, the resort reaffirms its commitment to delivering an unmatched blend of world-class skiing, impeccable service, and modern infrastructure.

As the snow begins to fall, Newport Beach families can look forward to experiencing Deer Valley in a whole new way—where tradition meets transformation, and the best days on the mountain are still ahead.

✦ Deer Valley Cheat Sheet ✦

Ski-only resort — no snowboards
4,300 acres skiable terrain
31 lifts total (10 new since Dec ’24)
7 new lifts debuting this winter
Nearly 100 new runs added
Deer Valley East Village Gondola — 3 miles • 142 heated cabins • 15 min ride
Pinyon Express — 6-passenger heated bubble chairs
1,200 new day-skier parking spots
State-of-the-art snowmaking
Stay in Style: Stein Eriksen Lodge, Montage Deer Valley, The St. Regis Deer Valley, Goldener Hirsch. There are also many vacation rentals to choose from for those wanting more space for families, groups, etc.

Après-Ski Highlights

Chute Eleven – luxury yurt with oysters, caviar, Lobster & Caviar Grilled Cheese, champagne, and live DJs
Vintage Room (St. Regis Deer Valley) – an après hot spot with champagne, curated cocktails and lively entertainment in a chic glass pavilion
Empire Canyon / Montage Deer Valley – The Après Lounge, Slope Stream, and Vista Lounge & Terrace serving Veuve Clicquot and alpine-inspired bites
Silver Lake Village – McHenry’s Beach with Fire + Ice Après and High West Whiskey Garden; cozy favorites like Royal Street Café and vintage-inspired Sticky Wicket bar

Travel Tips: Quick nonstop flights from John Wayne or Long Beach to Salt Lake City, then just a 40-minute drive to the slopes. Aero and JSX offer round-trip semi-private flights from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, and STA Jets out of John Wayne offers private charter options.

For more information about the progress and future timelines of Expanded Excellence at Deer Valley, visit deervalley.com/expandedexcellence