Deer Valley Resort didn’t venture too far off-piste when it came to naming the base at the center of its newly expanded terrain.
Formerly referred to as Mayflower Resort, the ski resort’s eastern portal off Highway 40, across from the Jordanelle Reservoir, will now be called — wait for it — Deer Valley East Village.
“Deer Valley East Village is a long-anticipated project that will serve as the heart of the expanded terrain at Deer Valley Resort,” Gary Barnett, the founder and chairman of Extell Development Company, which developed the ski area with the intention of one day connecting it to Deer Valley, said in a news release. “With careful planning, we’ve curated a village that will redefine luxury and offer unparalleled amenities for our guests. Our partnership with Deer Valley signifies our dedication to creating a destination where luxury, recreation, and accessibility harmoniously come together.”
Deer Valley and Extell announced the nearly decadelong lease in a joint presentation in August after five years of negotiations. At full build out, the expansion will add 3,700 acres of terrain and 16 chairlifts, nearly tripling Deer Valley’s current size.
The first phase of the expansion, due to be ready to ski by 2025-26, will include 110 runs over 2,900 acres. To access that terrain, skiers will be able to take one of nine new lifts, one of which is a 10-person gondola that stretches up to the 9,350-foot Park Peak. The new advanced, intermediate and beginner terrain should also be accessible from Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge. One ticket — which on peak days this season costs more than $300 after taxes — will allow skiers to access all lifts.
“At Deer Valley Resort, we are proud of our legacy as a top-tier ski destination, and we’re staying true to our founding principles set over four decades ago,” Todd Bennett, Deer Valley’s president and COO, said in a news release. “This expansion improves our resort’s accessibility and enriches the guest experience with additional world-class amenities. We will honor our history and strengthen our ties to the community as we expand over the next several years.”
Most guests interested in exploring the new terrain will access it through Deer Valley East Village, which has been designed as a full-service base and the site of 1,700 homes and condominiums. Though the skier services center is not set to open until 2026-27, it is expected to offer its own ski school, rentals, shops and restaurants. Plans also include 1,200 parking spaces for day use and at least three hotels totaling 800 rooms.
Among the hotels will be the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, set to open later this year. In addition to 387 rooms and 55 suites, it will house 40,000 square feet of conference and event space. About 100 rooms within the hotel are expected to be set aside for military members, who will be offered discounted rates as part of Extell’s collaboration with the state’s Military Installation Development Authority. In exchange for the rooms, MIDA, a quasi-governmental agency, aided the assembly of the various parcels of land that make up the resort, some of which were owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the Trust Lands Administration.
Deer Valley has a reputation for being among the most bougie ski areas in Utah, if not in the United States. When it came to picking a name for the new base, though, Deer Valley’s brand and marketing team chose the groomer route, as it were, by opting for brand recognition and wayfinding over something more snappy and adventurous.
Deer Valley spokesperson Christine Spinkston said the resort consulted with a marketing agency to “ensure the name reflects unique geographical features and aligns with Deer Valley’s legacy.
“This emphasizes our commitment to excellence and the creation of a distinctive experience at Deer Valley East Village as we continue to evolve and grow thoughtfully.”
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