Enjoying the “greatest snow on Earth” in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains is getting a bit pricey these days. Even at some of the economical resorts, a day on the slopes can set you back a few hundred bucks per person. As the bigger ski resorts continue to refine their amenities and expand their onsite lodging, they’ve become some of the most expensive destinations in the whole country.
As ski season is quickly becoming exclusive to Utah’s wealthier patrons and out-of-state tourists, most state residents are missing out on the opportunity to pass Utah’s skiing legacy on to the next generation. This is one of the reasons that the Snowland Foundation formed last year. This nonprofit based in Central Utah has secured state and private funding to purchase and revitalize the Snowland Resort near Fairview. On top of the improvement efforts, lift tickets at Snowland will only be $20 this season.
Kevin Christensen from the Sanpete County Travel and Tourism Office is one of the board members of the Snowland Foundation, and he took a moment to discuss the ongoing project. “The whole purpose is to bring back the ski resort and make it affordable,” he said.
Snowland Resort first opened in 1967 thanks to the Jerry Nelson family. At just over 100 acres and featuring 12 named runs, it’s a small spot that earned a reputation as a friendly neighborhood ski resort. In 1980, Snowland closed to public operation, and Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant secured a special use permit to use it for its outdoor recreation classes.
Local skiers also kept hitting the slopes over the years. Highway 31 curves up the mountain, so skiers would hire shuttles to drive them to the top of the run and then pick them up when they finished. “That’s how all this got started,” Christensen said.
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Brett Lange, Chief Development Officer at Thanksgiving Point had a cabin in Fairview Lakes, and he was concerned for the safety of the skiers, many of whom were teens and kids. Lange worked with former Sandy City Councilman Chris McCandless to found the Snowland Foundation in 2025.
As a nonprofit organization, Snowland Foundation forged a partnership with Wasatch Academy, Snow College, and the Manti-La Sal National Forest. With the support of elected officials and community members, Snowland officially reopened last winter.
Since then, Snowland has begun construction on a new surface lift that will hopefully be finished by this year’s ski season. “We want lots of snow this winter but we don’t want it just yet,” Christensen said.
On top of the new lift, future plans include expanding the parking from its existing 80 stalls to 180 stalls by next year. “Next summer we will build a new lodge and we’ve got two yurts that are going to go in,” Christensen said.
A labor of love for an affordable Utah ski resort
Since Snowland Resort is operated by a nonprofit, it’s shaping up to be the perfect place for rookie skiers or locals after a more casual alpine experience. Given the resort’s success and the support it’s garnered from the state and the community, it’s surprising that Utah doesn’t have more resorts like Snowland. “It will always be a community hill,” Christensend said. “But it’s a place where kids can learn to ski, teenagers can have lots of fun, and families can come enjoy the outdoors.”
For those intimidated or disillusioned by Utah’s current ski culture, a place like Snowland serves an important purpose. Its economical price tag and casual environment feels a bit more welcoming than the Park City resorts.
“You’re not going there because it’s a five-star hotel,” Christensen said. “You’re going there just to be out in the mountains getting some sunshine, smelling the trees, and having a little fun.”
The Snowland Foundation will continue to work on the resort for the next few years, because its members see the value of investing in the community. “It will take us probably two or three more years to get the resort to what we want it to be, but it’s been moving pretty fast,” Christensen said.
Skiing is of course big business for Utah’s tourism industry, but given our state’s access to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, it should also be for the locals. “It’s a labor of love from people who just want to give back to the community,” Christensen said. “People always talk about kids and cellphones, and we need to have ways for our kids to get out and do things.”
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