Park City • Utah already claims "the greatest" snow, but can now also boast that it has "the biggest" — when it comes to resort size in North America.
In front of hundreds of skiers, community residents and snow-sports buffs, officials Wednesday unveiled a new, overarching brand for the ski resorts formerly known as Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort — now combined into one mega resort, known simply as Park City, with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
"It's an exciting time in Park City's history," said Bill Rock of Vail Resorts, which owns and manages the resort. "We are thrilled to invest in Utah and create a world-class resort."
The new logo was presented as part of a three-minute video at Legacy Lodge. The design combines the infinity sign from the Canyons logo and the Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) color palette, and a new tagline — "There is only one" — was also announced.
Though the official name of the resort is Park City Mountain Resort, Rock said the hope is that the simple "Park City" brand will resonate with visitors near and far.
But Park City resident Alicia Stockman said that with the change, "Park City lost some of its identity. I'm disappointed in the new logo."
Others were excited for the future. "I think it's fantastic," Ashlon Smith, a Park City resident, said. "It's a giant step in the right direction. It's being led by a great group of individuals."
Vail Resorts acquired Canyons Resort in 2013, then PCMR in September 2014.
The Park City Planning Commission approved the plan to combine the resorts in March.
The process of combining the resorts and upgrading infrastructure has cost $50 million.
Renovations began at the end of last year's ski season and will continue leading up to the resort's Nov. 21 opening, said Rock, chief operating officer of the combined resort.
An addition to the Park City resort will be a high-speed, eight-passenger gondola called Quicksilver connecting the two mountains. The gondola will run from the base of Park City's Silverlode lift to the Flatiron chair at Canyons, with an unloading station in between on Pine Cone Ridge — what used to be the border separating the ski areas.
Other major features of the plan include:
• Upgrades to the King Con and Motherlode chairlifts.
• A new restaurant called Miners Camp near the base of the new gondola, with indoor seating for 500 and a top-of-the-line kitchen.
• More snowmaking along two trails in the Iron Mountain area of Canyons.
• An extra $5 million in "catch-up" maintenance work on top of the $5 million conventionally budgeted for upkeep and upgrades.
The former Canyons base area will now be called Canyons Village, one of the last vestiges of that name.
smorris@sltrib.com
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Bill Rock, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts speaks with the media in Park City following the unveiling of the Resort's new logo, brand, digital presence, signage, uniforms and new trail map. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Bill Rock, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts stands before a large crowd gathered at the Legacy Lodge in Park City to reveal the Resort's new logo, brand, digital presence, signage, uniforms and new trail map.. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Bill Rock, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts speaks with the media in Park City following the unveiling of the Resort's new logo, brand, digital presence, signage, uniforms and new trail map. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Bill Rock, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts stands before a large crowd gathered at the Legacy Lodge in Park City to reveal the Resort's new logo, brand, digital presence, signage, uniforms and new trail map.. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune People gather for the unveiling of Park City Resort's new logo, brand, digital presence, signage, uniforms and new trail map that combines Park City with the Canyons. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune People gather for the unveiling of Park City Resort's new logo, brand, digital presence, signage, uniforms and new trail map that combines Park City with the Canyons. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A gondola reveals a combination of the two logo's from Park City and the Canyons that will soon be the norm during a press announcement on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Park City. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Davey Ratchford, Director of Marketing for Park City and Canyons reveals a few of the changes that will take place following the merger of the two resorts. Last season, Vail Resorts announced a $50 million capital improvement project to connect Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible