Solitude Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in the Big Cottonwood Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains, thirty miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah. With 66 trails,[1] 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) and 2,047 feet (624 m) vertical, Solitude is one of the smaller ski resorts near Salt Lake City, along with its neighbor Brighton. It is a family-oriented mountain, with a wider range of beginner and intermediate slopes than other nearby ski resorts; 50% of its slopes are graded "beginner" or "intermediate," the highest such ratio in the Salt Lake City area. Solitude was one of the first major US resorts to adopt an RFID lift ticket system, allowing lift lines to move more efficiently. It was followed by Alta Ski Area in 2007. Solitude is adjacent to Brighton Ski Resort near the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Solitude and Brighton offer a common "Solbright Pass" which provides access to both resorts for a nominal surcharge.[2]
Most of Solitude's trails descend from a ridge (Eagle Ridge trail) which runs parallel with The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway as it rises up the center of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Two lifts—quad chairs Powder Horn II and Eagle Express—run to the top of Eagle Ridge, while quads Apex Express and Moonbeam Express feed the intermediate and beginner terrain (respectively) immediately below it. The back of Eagle Ridge drops into Honeycomb Canyon, a long valley with most of the resort's bowl skiing. Honeycomb Canyon is primarily accessed by the Summit Express lift, which runs behind Eagle Ridge to the mountain's summit; return access from the bottom of Honeycomb Canyon is also available via the Honeycomb Return quad. The Summit Express lift also provides access to adjacent Brighton Ski Resort. Two more lifts, Link double and Sunrise triple, provide dedicated skiing areas for beginners.
Historyedit
Solitude was first developed for skiing by Moab, Utah, uraniumtycoon Robert M. Barrett. Barrett decided to start his own ski resort after being denied the use of the restrooms at Alta, which were reserved for Alta guests only.[3] He started construction at Solitude in 1956, having bought all the land in Big Cottonwood Canyon, the next canyon over from Alta.[4] The resort opened for business one year later,[3] and passed through ownership changes until it was acquired by a business group led by Gary DeSeelhorst in 1977.[5] DeSeelhorst became the resort's sole owner in 1986[5] and implemented an aggressive renovation project, including the 1989 construction of Utah's first express quad chairlift, Eagle Express.[3] Accommodations upgrades in this period included the construction of the Creekside lodge in 1995.[3]
On October 3, 2014, Deer Valley Resort announced that they had entered into an agreement to buy Solitude from the DeSeelhorst family and took over operation of the resort on May 1, 2015.[6] During the summer of 2015 under the new leadership of Deer Valley Resort, Doppelmayr constructed a new high speed detachable quad to replace the existing Summit double chairlift, with a new alignment. The new Summit Express lift, combined with a new access trail from the top of the Apex Express lift, decreases the travel time to Honeycomb Canyon.[7]
In August 2017, parent resort Deer Valley was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company.[8] Solitude continued to be owned by the former Deer Valley ownership for one more season until it was announced on June 20, 2018 that Solitude had agreed to be sold to Alterra.[9]
Solitude was the first resort in Utah to implement basic parking fees. Visitors were charged as much as $20 per day to park beginning November 23, 2019.[11]
Solitude Nordic Centeredit
Solitude Resort also operates a nordic center. The Solitude Nordic Center, nestled between the Solitude and Brighton ski areas, offers a variety of nordic sport opportunities, including snowshoeing, skate and classic cross-country skiing. The site's 13 cross-country skiing trails cover twelve miles (almost 20 km) evenly divided between "easiest" and "moderately difficult", including a long loop of two miles (3 km). Six snowshoe trails cover six miles (ten kilometers). Instruction and training workshops are offered.
^. www.skisolitude.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
^ abcdGrass, Ray (2005-02-10). "Ski resort of the week: Solitude". Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Retrieved 2009-02-05 – via findarticles.com.
^. www.skisolitude.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
^ abHorowitz, Alan (1991-12-01). "Moguls behind the moguls: Utah's ski resort owners". www.allbusiness.com. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
^. blog.deervalley.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-03.
^. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
^"Deer Valley Resort to be Acquired by Newly Formed Resort Company and Joined with Intrawest, Mammoth Resorts, and Squaw Valley Ski Holdings | The Official Blog of Deer Valley Resort". blog.deervalley.com. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
^"ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY TO ACQUIRE SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN UTAH". Alterra Mountain Co. June 20, 2018.
^"Venues". FIS World Championships February 1–10, 2019 snowboard | freestyle freeski. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
^"Looking for a parking spot at Solitude this winter? Here's why it'll cost you". www.ksl.com. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solitude Mountain Resort.
Solitude Mountain Resort Official Site
April 11, 2024
solitude, mountain, resort, resort, located, cottonwood, canyon, wasatch, mountains, thirty, miles, southeast, salt, lake, city, utah, with, trails, acres, feet, vertical, solitude, smaller, resorts, near, salt, lake, city, along, with, neighbor, brighton, fam. Solitude Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in the Big Cottonwood Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains thirty miles southeast of Salt Lake City Utah With 66 trails 1 1 200 acres 4 9 km2 and 2 047 feet 624 m vertical Solitude is one of the smaller ski resorts near Salt Lake City along with its neighbor Brighton It is a family oriented mountain with a wider range of beginner and intermediate slopes than other nearby ski resorts 50 of its slopes are graded beginner or intermediate the highest such ratio in the Salt Lake City area Solitude was one of the first major US resorts to adopt an RFID lift ticket system allowing lift lines to move more efficiently It was followed by Alta Ski Area in 2007 Solitude is adjacent to Brighton Ski Resort near the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon Solitude and Brighton offer a common Solbright Pass which provides access to both resorts for a nominal surcharge 2 Solitude Mountain ResortSolitude s lower terrain in 2006Solitude Mountain ResortLocation in UtahShow map of UtahSolitude Mountain ResortSolitude Mountain Resort the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationBrighton Utah United StatesNearest major citySalt Lake City UtahCoordinates40 36 54 5 N 111 35 20 1 W 40 615139 N 111 588917 W 40 615139 111 588917StatusOperatingOwnerAlterra Mountain CompanyVertical2 494 ft 760 m Top elevation10 488 ft 3 197 m Base elevation7 988 ft 2 435 m Skiable area1 200 acres 4 9 km2 Trails80Longest run3 5 miles 5 6 km Honeycomb TrailLift system8 1 high speed six pack 3 high speed quads 2 fixed grip quads 1 triple 1 doubleSnowfall500 inches 1 300 cm SnowmakingYesNight skiingNoWebsiteSki Solitude com Contents 1 The Mountain 2 History 3 Solitude Nordic Center 4 Facts and figures 5 Chairlifts 6 References 7 External linksThe Mountain editMost of Solitude s trails descend from a ridge Eagle Ridge trail which runs parallel with The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway as it rises up the center of Big Cottonwood Canyon Two lifts quad chairs Powder Horn II and Eagle Express run to the top of Eagle Ridge while quads Apex Express and Moonbeam Express feed the intermediate and beginner terrain respectively immediately below it The back of Eagle Ridge drops into Honeycomb Canyon a long valley with most of the resort s bowl skiing Honeycomb Canyon is primarily accessed by the Summit Express lift which runs behind Eagle Ridge to the mountain s summit return access from the bottom of Honeycomb Canyon is also available via the Honeycomb Return quad The Summit Express lift also provides access to adjacent Brighton Ski Resort Two more lifts Link double and Sunrise triple provide dedicated skiing areas for beginners History editSolitude was first developed for skiing by Moab Utah uranium tycoon Robert M Barrett Barrett decided to start his own ski resort after being denied the use of the restrooms at Alta which were reserved for Alta guests only 3 He started construction at Solitude in 1956 having bought all the land in Big Cottonwood Canyon the next canyon over from Alta 4 The resort opened for business one year later 3 and passed through ownership changes until it was acquired by a business group led by Gary DeSeelhorst in 1977 5 DeSeelhorst became the resort s sole owner in 1986 5 and implemented an aggressive renovation project including the 1989 construction of Utah s first express quad chairlift Eagle Express 3 Accommodations upgrades in this period included the construction of the Creekside lodge in 1995 3 On October 3 2014 Deer Valley Resort announced that they had entered into an agreement to buy Solitude from the DeSeelhorst family and took over operation of the resort on May 1 2015 6 During the summer of 2015 under the new leadership of Deer Valley Resort Doppelmayr constructed a new high speed detachable quad to replace the existing Summit double chairlift with a new alignment The new Summit Express lift combined with a new access trail from the top of the Apex Express lift decreases the travel time to Honeycomb Canyon 7 In August 2017 parent resort Deer Valley was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company 8 Solitude continued to be owned by the former Deer Valley ownership for one more season until it was announced on June 20 2018 that Solitude had agreed to be sold to Alterra 9 Solitude is the host for the snowboardcross and ski cross events for the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2019 10 Solitude was the first resort in Utah to implement basic parking fees Visitors were charged as much as 20 per day to park beginning November 23 2019 11 Solitude Nordic Center editSolitude Resort also operates a nordic center The Solitude Nordic Center nestled between the Solitude and Brighton ski areas offers a variety of nordic sport opportunities including snowshoeing skate and classic cross country skiing The site s 13 cross country skiing trails cover twelve miles almost 20 km evenly divided between easiest and moderately difficult including a long loop of two miles 3 km Six snowshoe trails cover six miles ten kilometers Instruction and training workshops are offered Facts and figures editBase elevation 7 988 feet 2 435 m Summit elevation 10 035 feet 3 059 m Vertical rise 2 047 feet 624 m Total skiable area 1 200 acres 4 9 km2 Lifts 8 chairlifts 1 high speed six pack 3 high speed quad 2 fixed grip quad 1 triple 1 double Runs Beginner 10 Green Circle Intermediate 40 Blue Square more difficult Advanced Expert 50 Black Diamond most difficult Named a Top 20 Family Ski Resort for two consecutive years 2007 2008 12 Chairlifts editMoonbeam Express Apex Express Eagle Express Summit Express Powderhorn II Chair Honeycomb Return Chair Link Chair Sunrise ChairReferences edit Welcome to Solitude s Online community Archived from the original on 2008 10 22 Day Tickets Winter Salt Lake City Utah Ski Resort www skisolitude com Archived from the original on January 1 2009 Retrieved 2009 01 26 a b c d Grass Ray 2005 02 10 Ski resort of the week Solitude Deseret News Salt Lake City Retrieved 2009 02 05 via findarticles com History Salt Lake City Utah Ski Resort www skisolitude com Archived from the original on July 25 2008 Retrieved 2009 02 05 a b Horowitz Alan 1991 12 01 Moguls behind the moguls Utah s ski resort owners www allbusiness com Retrieved 2009 02 05 Deer Valley Resort s Purchase of Solitude Mountain Resort Official The Official Blog of Deer Valley Resort blog deervalley com Archived from the original on 2015 05 03 New Summit Quad New Run More on Tap as Deer Valley Officially Takes over Solitude Operations Ski Report Ski Weather Snow Conditions Worldwide SnoNews Archived from the original on 2015 12 08 Retrieved 2015 12 03 Deer Valley Resort to be Acquired by Newly Formed Resort Company and Joined with Intrawest Mammoth Resorts and Squaw Valley Ski Holdings The Official Blog of Deer Valley Resort blog deervalley com Retrieved 2017 08 21 ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY TO ACQUIRE SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN UTAH Alterra Mountain Co June 20 2018 Venues FIS World Championships February 1 10 2019 snowboard freestyle freeski Retrieved 2018 08 29 Looking for a parking spot at Solitude this winter Here s why it ll cost you www ksl com Retrieved 2019 09 20 http www familyskiresorts net Archived 2009 03 14 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solitude Mountain Resort Solitude Mountain Resort Official Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Solitude Mountain Resort amp oldid 1202349690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
