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Oquirrhs ski resort proposed
Ski-industry watchers like prospect of a first-ever resort on west side
By Jeremiah Stettler
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 10/03/2007 01:33:49 AM MDT
Step aside, Alta and Snowbird. A west-side ski resort is coming.
In the rolling canyons southwest of Magna, Kennecott plans to tap the greatest snow on Earth to create the Oquirrh Mountains' first ski resort.
While the copper company and land developer has set no timetable for the project, officials say the snow conditions and slopes are promising for Deer Valley-like terrain just seven miles west of Highway 111 in a region known as Soldier Flats.
It's not a matter of if, says Jim Schulte, Kennecott's vice president of long-range planning, but when.
"It's certainly skiable terrain," Schulte said, "and a lot of it."
Salt Lake County leaders stood at the site of the proposed resort Tuesday - during a tour of Kennecott's wider west-bench development plans - and gazed up at north-facing peaks streaked with crimson leaves and fresh patches of snow.
From a base elevation of 6,200 feet, the Oquirrh resort would rise to 9,350 feet. By comparison, Snowbird soars from 7,760 feet to 11,000 feet, and Park City goes from 6,900 feet to 10,000 feet.
One crest at Kennecott's planned resort overlooks the "Little Valley" flats, where the company plans to build more than 10,000 homes as a secluded mountain community above Magna.
The resort is part of Kennecott's grander vision for the west bench. South Jordan's Daybreak was just the beginning. The company plans to develop 41,000 acres of hillside neighborhoods and businesses. That's enough to cover the valley's east side from 1100 North to 14600 South, stretching from 900 East to the east bench.
What excites ski-industry watchers is the prospect of a first-ever resort on the Salt Lake Valley's sprawling west side.
"They could easily do it," said Nathan Rafferty, president and chief executive officer of Ski Utah, a marketing association representing Utah's ski and snowboard industry. "I don't know that it's the kind of resort that would compete with the Snowbirds, Altas and Deer Valleys of the world, but it would be something that would benefit Salt Lake."
Rafferty said the resort, by attracting west-siders, probably would complement, rather than compete, with the rugged and revered Wasatch ski areas. But Kennecott officials hope for a bigger hurrah and its location should help - at least with tourists.
"It's the closest ski resort to an international airport in the world," Schulte said, noting that it would rise just 18 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Kennecott continues to study snow depths at the proposed Oquirrh Mountain resort, which probably would include two ski areas in Soldier Flats - one visible from Little Valley, the other secluded to the south.
While Schulte wouldn't go into details about the snow depths, he said the early measurements appear "pretty attractive."
Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson joined her colleagues Tuesday for lunch in the rocky basin below the proposed resort. She marveled at the terrain.
"You would create a niche," Wilson told her Kennecott guides, "that we don't have."
jstettler@sltrib.com
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Oquirrhs ski resort proposed
Started by Skiing#1, Oct 03 2007 06:37 AM
3 replies to this topic
#3
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Posted 03 October 2007 - 02:53 PM
It wouldn't be the most incredible resort, but it would be fun to ski, with a few steeps off of Nelson Peak. However, the north (the low) end of the resort looks a lot like a slush pond--probably hills scattered with sagebrush and scrub-oak.
Oquirrh.JPG (255.93K)
Number of downloads: 49
NRCS has been collecting snotel data all over the state for years. Their Dry fork site at 7093' elevation a few miles south of the proposed resort gets 34.9" or precip annually--not bad for Utah.
For comparison, here are some other annual precipitation numbers:
Rocky Basin Settlement (southern Oquirrhs), at 8900': 41.8"
Thaynes Canyon (Park City), at 9230': 36.9"
Snowbird, at 9640': 67.4"
Brighton, at 8750': 43.9"
Ben Lomond Peak (near Snowbasin), at 8000': 63.9" (wettest in the state)
Little Bear (near Powder Mountain), at 6544': 36.5"
Elevation is a major variable in local precipitation, as well as Lake Effect. Sites subject to Lake Effect receive about 75% of their precipitation between October and May, whereas sites not subject to Lake Effect receive about 65% of their annual total during the same period. The Oquirrhs are subject to most Lake Effect storms.
As for the Oquirrhs? Not bad--it's no Alta, but its comparable to the PC resorts.
It's in the planning stages. The way the whole Daybreak development is going, it may be well over a decade before they decide to put the plan into action. I don't think this part of the development is high on the priority list. Still, approval should be easy; it's all on private Kennecott land.
Oquirrh.JPG (255.93K)
Number of downloads: 49
NRCS has been collecting snotel data all over the state for years. Their Dry fork site at 7093' elevation a few miles south of the proposed resort gets 34.9" or precip annually--not bad for Utah.
For comparison, here are some other annual precipitation numbers:
Rocky Basin Settlement (southern Oquirrhs), at 8900': 41.8"
Thaynes Canyon (Park City), at 9230': 36.9"
Snowbird, at 9640': 67.4"
Brighton, at 8750': 43.9"
Ben Lomond Peak (near Snowbasin), at 8000': 63.9" (wettest in the state)
Little Bear (near Powder Mountain), at 6544': 36.5"
Elevation is a major variable in local precipitation, as well as Lake Effect. Sites subject to Lake Effect receive about 75% of their precipitation between October and May, whereas sites not subject to Lake Effect receive about 65% of their annual total during the same period. The Oquirrhs are subject to most Lake Effect storms.
As for the Oquirrhs? Not bad--it's no Alta, but its comparable to the PC resorts.
It's in the planning stages. The way the whole Daybreak development is going, it may be well over a decade before they decide to put the plan into action. I don't think this part of the development is high on the priority list. Still, approval should be easy; it's all on private Kennecott land.
#4
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 02:23 PM
http://www.ksl.com/?...148&sid=7659910
Studies still in the works for Oquirrh ski resort
August 24th, 2009 @ 1:10pm
By Mary Richards
KENNECOTT -- Two years ago Kennecott talked about building ski trails in the Oquirrh mountains, but not much has been said about it publicly since then. Still, Kennecott land president Don Whyte is hopeful.
"It would be way too early to make a go or no go decision because we just don't have enough information yet. But I'm enthused that the initial studies show it's something we should spend more effort in looking at," he said.
Whyte says they've studied snow data for three years and it's promising. But the real estate market is bad right now, and they have to still study what to do about the copper mine.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
Studies still in the works for Oquirrh ski resort
August 24th, 2009 @ 1:10pm
By Mary Richards
KENNECOTT -- Two years ago Kennecott talked about building ski trails in the Oquirrh mountains, but not much has been said about it publicly since then. Still, Kennecott land president Don Whyte is hopeful.
"It would be way too early to make a go or no go decision because we just don't have enough information yet. But I'm enthused that the initial studies show it's something we should spend more effort in looking at," he said.
Whyte says they've studied snow data for three years and it's promising. But the real estate market is bad right now, and they have to still study what to do about the copper mine.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
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