And the big announcements just keep coming. It wasn't so long ago that Vail Resorts bought Park City Mountain Resort for $182.5 million, and Mammoth announced its purchase of Big Bear Resorts for $38 million. Now, Deer Valley has purchased Solitude Mountain Resort and will begin operating the ski area on May 1, 2015. It seems like mergers and acquisitions are the name of the game these days, so Curbed Ski breaks down what it all means for Utah skiers.
Currently owned and operated by the DeSeelhorst family, Solitude Mountain Resort is located in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon and boasts 1,200 acres and 2,047 vertical feet. For the upcoming 2014-2015 ski season, Solitude will operate as usual under the DeSeelhorst family while Deer Valley staff transitions into their new ownership roll. Then, on May 1, 2015, Deer Valley will take full ownership of Solitude.
There's no word on how much Deer Valley paid for the resort, and in press releases Deer Valley says they don't anticipate any major staff changes at the moment. This season, Deer Valley Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort full season pass holders will receive four ski days at each respective resort. Deer Valley midweek pass holders will be given two passes valid, Monday through Friday, at Solitude for the coming season (Holiday restrictions apply). Here is the other relevant info:
Snowboarding will still be allowed at Solitude.
ONE Wasatch: With plans for ONE Wasatch moving forward, it sounds like this purchase doesn't change much. Deer Valley says that Ski Utah's recent lift alignments make the most sense, despite their new ownership of Solitude.
Branding: Deer Valley plans to keep the Solitude branding, but does hint that there may be a small name "adjustment," whatever that means. So it's unlikely that Solitude will all of a sudden start taking off your ski boots for you, à la Deer Valley. They also have not released details on what, if any, capital improvements Deer Valley plans to make at Solitude.
What do you think Curbediverse? Are we in a new age of ski area mergers?
· What Vail's Purchase of Park City Means for Skiers This Year [Curbed Ski]
· Mammoth Mountain Acquires Big Bear Resorts for $38 Million [Curbed Ski]
· Which Ski Resort Has The Most Skiing in North America? [Curbed Ski]
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