View source for Deer Valley

{{short description|Ski resort in Park City, Utah, United States}}
{{for|urban village in Phoenix|Deer Valley, Phoenix}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox ski area
| name           = Deer Valley
| logo           = Deer Valley Resort logo.svg
| picture        = Deervalleyutah 0209.jpg
| caption        = Overview of a portion of the resort's Flagstaff Mountain terrain
| location       = [[Wasatch Range]]<br />[[Summit County, Utah|Summit County]], [[Utah]]<br />{{USA}}
| nearest_city   = [[Park City, Utah]]
| pushpin_map    = Utah#United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
| coordinates    = {{coord|40|37|22|N|111|29|22|W|display=inline, title}}
| pushpin_label_position = 
| map_caption    = Location in [[Utah]]
| status         = Operating
| owner          = [[Alterra Mountain Company]]
| vertical       = {{convert|3040|ft|abbr=on}}
| top_elevation  = {{convert|9570|ft|abbr=on}}
| base_elevation = {{convert|6530|ft|abbr=on}}
| skiable_area   = {{convert|4300|acre}}
| number_trails  = 202<br />[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg|13px]] 35% easiest <br />[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg|13px]] 44% more difficult <br />[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg|13px]] 21% most difficult
| longest_run    = {{convert|4.8|mi|abbr=on}}
| liftsystem     = 36<br />- 2 [[Gondola lift|Gondolas]]<br />- 2 [[Detachable chairlift|High-speed six packs]]<br />- 20 [[Detachable chairlift|High-speed quad chairlifts]]<br />- 1 Quad chairlift<br />- 5 Triple chairlifts<br />- 1 Double chairlift<br />- 5 [[Magic carpet (ski lift)|Magic carpets]]
| lift_capacity  = 85,360 skiers/hr
| terrainparks   = No
| snowfall       = Base: <{{convert|150|in|cm}}<br/>Peak: {{convert|294|in|cm}}
| snowmaking     = Yes, over {{convert|886|acre}}
| nightskiing    = No
| external_link  = [http://www.deervalley.com/ Deer Valley]
|}}
'''Deer Valley''' is a ski-only resort in the [[Wasatch Range]], located {{convert|36|mi|km}} east of [[Salt Lake City]], in [[Park City, Utah]], [[United States]] where snowboarding is prohibited.

Deer Valley was one of the venues for the [[2002 Winter Olympics]], hosting the [[Freestyle skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics|freestyle]] [[mogul skiing|mogul]]s, aerial, and [[Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics|alpine]] [[slalom skiing|slalom]] events. It is expected to host the mogul event for the [[2034 Winter Olympics]] but lost out on hosting the slalom event. Deer Valley also regularly hosts competitions for the [[International Ski Federation]] for moguls and aerials, but is not steep enough nor does it have long enough terrain to host events such as the GS, Super G, or Downhill.

==Resort profile==
[[File:The St Regis at Deer Valley Park City Utah photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|left|thumb|The St. Regis Resort at Deer Valley]]Deer Valley is exclusively for skiers and it emphasizes on upscale accommodations and amenities. Deer Valley appeals to the ski community due to it being one of three resorts in the nation that is ski only.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 December 2007 |title=Skiers only: Two Utah resorts among three in the nation without snowboards |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/695239132/Skiers-only-Two-Utah-resorts-among-three-in-the-nation-without-snowboards.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726202205/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/695239132/Skiers-only-Two-Utah-resorts-among-three-in-the-nation-without-snowboards.html |archive-date=July 26, 2015 |website=[[Deseret News]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==History==

===Mountain development===
[[File:Skiing at Deer Valley Utah photo Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|Skiing at Deer Valley Utah]]
[[File:Deer Valley Summer Summit.jpg|thumb|A view down the backside of Deer Valley's summit in the summertime]]
Skiing began at Deer Valley with the Park City Winter Carnivals of the 1930s, and the [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA) built the first ski trails and other facilities during the winter of 1936–1937. The first ski lifts appeared in 1946, when local residents Robert Emmett Burns, Sr. and Otto Carpenter constructed them, largely from nearby [[lodgepole pine]]s. The ski area was called the ''Snow Park Ski Area'', a name which endured from 1946 to 1969.<ref name="deer_valley_history">{{cite web |url=http://historytogo.utah.gov/places/olympic_locations/historyofdeervalley.html |title=History of Deer Valley |author=State of Utah |work=Utah History to Go |access-date=20 December 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110075845/http://www.historytogo.utah.gov/places/olympic_locations/historyofdeervalley.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1981 Edgar Stern founded '''Deer Valley Resort''' in the same area and above.  It has grown to include six mountains with six bowls, {{convert|930|acre}} of glade skiing and {{convert|670|acre}} of snow-making. The resort totals {{convert|2026|acre}} in size.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deervalley.com/OnTheMountain/Mountain |title=Deer Valley Weather & Mountain Report  |date= |website=www.deervalley.com}}</ref>

===Expansion and improvements===
{{Wide image|Deer Valley Ski Resort Park City Utah photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|900px|Deer Valley Ski Resort Park City Utah}}
In 2007, the resort expanded onto Lady Morgan Peak, to the north of Flagstaff Mountain, with a new 200 acre pod composed of nine trails and additional gladed terrain serviced by its own high speed quad.<ref>[http://www.feedthehabit.com/skiing/deer-valley-opens-lady-morgan-express-chair-tree-skiing-galore/ Lady Morgan Express Chairlift]</ref>

In 2012, detachable chairlift service was added to Little Baldy Peak with the replacement of Deer Crest with a Doppelmayr high speed quad, known as the Mountaineer Express.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_21000646/park_city-contact_us |title=$8M in upgrades at Deer Valley |publisher=Park Record |date=2012-07-03 |access-date=2012-08-18 |last=Barker |first=Gina |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712200253/http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_21000646/park_city-contact_us |archive-date=2012-07-12 }}</ref>

In September 2023, the resort announced that it would integrate the Mayflower ski area, which is adjacent to the resort's eastern boundary, into Deer Valley.<ref name=":0" />

==International competitions==
[[File:Deer Valley Olympic venue.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Deer Valley Olympic venue|The aerials venue at the resort during the 2002 Winter Olympics]]

===2002 Olympic Winter Games===
During the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 games]] Deer Valley hosted the [[Freestyle skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics|freestyle moguls and aerials]], and alpine [[Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's slalom|men's]] and [[Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's slalom|women's]] slalom events. Three of the trails on Bald Eagle Mountain were used during the games including Champion (site of freestyle moguls), Know You Don't (site of alpine slalom), and White Owl (site of freestyle aerials).<ref>{{cite web|author=|title=Deer Valley|url=https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/utah-ski-resorts/deer-valley|url-status=live|access-date=1 November 2021|work=VisitUtah.com|publisher=Utah Office of Tourism|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612195403/https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/utah-ski-resorts/deer-valley/ |archive-date=2018-06-12 }}</ref> Temporary spectator stadiums were located at the end of each run, they were 12 stories tall and included seating for 10,000 people, while spectator standing areas were located along the sides of each course; the standing areas and stadium combined allowed roughly 13,300 spectators to view each event. 99.4 percent of available tickets for events at the venue were sold, which totaled 96,980 spectators witnessing competitions at the resort.<ref name="deer_valley_official_guide">{{cite book |title=Official Spectator Guide |last=Salt Lake Organizing Committee |year=2001 |page=66}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Official Report of the XIX Olympic Winter Games |last=Salt Lake Organizing Committee |year=2002 |isbn=0-9717961-0-6 |page=77 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2002/2002v1.pdf |access-date=30 November 2010}}</ref> During the games 95 percent of Deer Valley remained open to the public for normal seasonal operations.<ref name="deer_valley_official_guide"/>

===World Cup events===
The resort hosted the [[FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships 2003|2003]] and the [[FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships 2011|2011 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships]], becoming the first American venue to host twice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005110293|title=Idaho Mountain Express: Deer Valley gets 2011 World Freestyle finals – May 31, 2006|publisher=www.mtexpress.com|access-date=2009-02-08|date=2006-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115939/http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005110293|archive-date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also hosted the men's and women's moguls and aerials events for [[FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2019]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1067763/new-winter-olympic-events-boost-for-2019-snowboard-freestyle-and-freeski-world-championships|title=New Winter Olympic events boost for 2019 Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships|date=21 July 2018|access-date=2018-08-29}}</ref>

Deer Valley is a regular host to [[International Ski Federation|FIS]] World Cup events, having hosted men's and women's [[Mogul skiing|mogul]] and aerial competitions yearly since 2000 (with the exceptions of 2003 and 2004).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/freestyle/fisworldcup.html?place_search=Deer+Valley&seasoncode_search=all&sector_search=FS&date_search=&gender_search=&category_search=WC&codex_search=&nation_search=&disciplinecode_search=&search=Search&limit=20&date_from=begin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526140142/http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/freestyle/fisworldcup.html?place_search=Deer+Valley&seasoncode_search=all&sector_search=FS&date_search=&gender_search=&category_search=WC&codex_search=&nation_search=&disciplinecode_search=&search=Search&limit=20&date_from=begin |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-05-26 |title=FIS-Ski – FIS World Cup |publisher=www.fis-ski.com |access-date=2009-02-08 }}</ref> The resort also hosted a [[skicross]] event in 2008, and is scheduled to host a World Cup event every year through 2019.  Deer Valley's track record of event hosting has led it to be described as "a Mecca for freestyle skiing events".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snocountry.com/article.php/20081215155247546 |title=Ski Reports, Snow Conditions and Weather at Ski/Snowboard Resorts Worldwide – FIS Freestyle World Cup Returns to Utah |publisher=www.snocountry.com |access-date=2009-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218005013/http://www.snocountry.com/article.php/20081215155247546 |archive-date=December 18, 2008 }}</ref>

==Snowboard prohibition==
Deer Valley is one of three remaining American ski resorts that prohibit snowboarders along with [[Alta Ski Resort|Alta]] and [[Mad River Glen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snowboarding.about.com/od/snowboardresorts/i/snowboardingban.htm|title=Resorts That Ban Snowboarding|publisher=snowboarding.about.com|access-date=2009-02-08|last=Del Sole|first=Christopher|archive-date=2009-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823011101/http://snowboarding.about.com/od/snowboardresorts/i/snowboardingban.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The resort has occasionally been the subject of protests and poaching by snowboarders such as when snowboard manufacturer [[Burton Snowboards]] offered $5,000 for video footage of riders snowboarding at Alta, Deer Valley or Mad River Glen in late 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kutv.com/news/local/story/Snowboarders-Encouraged-To-Invade-Ski-Only-Resorts/tnlFChnDcUi0KQQxQmjfwA.cspx |title=Snowboarders Encouraged To 'Invade' Ski-Only Resorts |publisher=www.kutv.com |date=2007-12-16 |access-date=2009-02-09 |last=Ware |first=Doug G. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801192019/http://www.kutv.com/news/local/story/Snowboarders-Encouraged-To-Invade-Ski-Only-Resorts/tnlFChnDcUi0KQQxQmjfwA.cspx |archive-date=August 1, 2012 }}</ref>  According to Burton's website, the point of their campaign was that such discrimination displays a "blatant aggressive disregard" for the [[Constitution of the United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.connpost.com/jimshay/ci_7904120 |title=Burton's crusade could pay off – The Connecticut Post Online |publisher=www.connpost.com |access-date=2009-02-09 |last=Shay |first=James D. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228164101/http://www.connpost.com/jimshay/ci_7904120 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 }}</ref> Since its opening in 1981, snowboarding has never been allowed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Deer Valley stands by its snowboarder ban as it takes over new Utah ski resort |url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2023/08/31/why-is-deer-valley-ski-only-do/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Climate and terrain==
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Deer Valley has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=256624&cityname=Deer+Valley%2C+Utah%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Deer Valley]</ref>

Terrain Aspects: North 45%, South 2%, East 45%, West 8%.<ref>{{cite web|last1=ZRankings|first1=Best Ski Resorts in North America|title=ZRankings Terrain/Topological Survey – Deer Valley|url=https://zrankings.com/resort/show?id=47-deer-valley-resort|website=ZRankings Best Ski Resorts – Deer Valley|publisher=ZRankings}}</ref>

==Chairlifts==
{|class= "wikitable"
! Name
! Year opened
! Manufacturer
! Lift type
! Length
! Location
|-
| Aurora
| 2024
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Quad]]
| 199m
| Keetley Point
|-
| Burns Express
| 2022
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 311m
| Bald Eagle Mountain
|-
| Carpenter Express
| 1996
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1474m
| Bald Eagle Mountain
|-
| Crown Point
| 1990
| [[Yan Lift|Yan]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Triple]]
| 425m
| Bald Eagle Mountain
|- 
| East Village Express Gondola
| 2025
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Gondola lift|Ten-Person Gondola]]  
| 4766m
| Park Peak
|-
| Empire Express
| 1998
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1471m
| Empire Canyon
|-
| Galena Express
| 2025
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1430m
| Keetley Point
|-
| Homestake Express
| 2018
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 521m
| Bald Eagle Mountain
|-
| Hoodoo Express
| 2024
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 321m
| Keetley Point
|-
| Jordanelle Express Gondola
| 1998
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Gondola lift|Four-Person Gondola]]
| 1576m
| Little Baldy Peak
|-
| Judge
| 2004
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Triple]]
| 212m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|-
| Keetley Express
| 2024
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Six-Pack]]
| 2034m
| Keetley Point
|-
| Lady Morgan Express
| 2007
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 835m
| Lady Morgan Peak
|-
| Mayflower
| 1984
| [[Yan Lift|Yan]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Triple]]
| 1065m
| Bald Mountain
|-
| Mountaineer Express
| 2012
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 904m
| Little Baldy Peak
|- 
| Neptune Express
| 2025 
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1056m
| Pioche Point
|-
| Northside Express
| 1993
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1138m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|-
| Pinyon Express
| 2025
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Six-Pack]]
| 928m
| Park Peak
|- 
| Pioche Express
| 2025
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1402m
| Pioche Point
|-
| Quincy Express
| 2001
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1263m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|-
| Red Cloud
| 1990
| [[Yan Lift|Yan]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Triple]]
| 783m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|- 
| Revelator Express
| 2025
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1219m
| Park Peak
|-
| Ruby Express
| 2002
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 727m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|-
| Silver Lake Express
| 1999
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 2015m
| Bald Eagle Mountain
|-
| Silver Strike Express
| 2004
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1559m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|-
| Snowflake
| 1993
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|CTEC]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Double]]
| 334m
| Bald Eagle Mountain
|-
| Sterling Express
| 2006
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1428m
| Bald Mountain
|-
| Sultan Express
| 2005
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1522m
| Bald Mountain
|-
| Viking
| 1990
| [[Yan Lift|Yan]]
| [[Chairlift|Fixed-Grip Triple]]
| 181m
| Flagstaff Mountain
|-
| Vulcan Express
| 2025
| [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1698m
| Big Dutch Peak
|-
| Wasatch Express
| 1996
| [[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Garaventa CTEC]]
| [[Detachable chairlift|Detachable Quad]]
| 1280m
| Bald Mountain
|}

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Deer Valley}}
* [http://www.deervalley.com/ Deer Valley] – Official website
* [http://www.pacificrimalliance.org/F.PublicAffairs/SkiHistory/historyResorts/DeerValley.html Deer Valley] – A brief history

{{2002 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues alpine skiing}}
{{Olympic venues freestyle skiing}}
{{Ski areas and resorts in Utah}}

[[Category:Alterra Mountain Company]]
[[Category:Venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic alpine skiing venues]]
[[Category:Olympic freestyle skiing venues]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Utah]]
[[Category:Culture of Utah]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1981]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Summit County, Utah]]
[[Category:Works Progress Administration in Utah]]
[[Category:Wasatch Range]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Utah]]