Why Deer Valley 2.0 might be the ski industry’s sequel of the decade

The gondola doors slide shut at the new East Village base of Deer Valley, and within seconds we're lifted high above the mountainside. We silently take in a birds-eye view of the varied—and rapidly evolving—landscape that surrounds the Utah ski resort, from the sparkling shoreline of the Jordanelle Reservoir to the dark spine of the Wasatch mountain range. Below us, newly cut trails appear in the forest like pale ribbons. Some are dotted with skiers—others, with construction trucks.

Soon, we'll unload at Park Peak, the 9,350-foot centerpiece of Deer Valley's massive terrain expansion, which is set to double its skiable acreage by next year. This year, the ski resort opened up more than 80 trails, which are now linked to the rest of the resort by the East Village gondola. “After nearly 20 winters here, it’s like watching a little sprout grow into a tree,” one gondola operator tells me as he loads my skis. “And we get front-row seats every day.”

Skiing the newly-expanded terrain at Deer Valley Resort, Utah

When complete, Deer Valley will encompass roughly 4,300 skiable acres, including over 200 runs and more than 30 lifts—making it one of the largest modern ski resort expansions in US history. And you get a clear sense of how dramatically the resort’s map has shifted from the vantage point of the gondola cabins to the freshly cut runs fanning out below Park Peak. My own first run from Snow Park, the mountain's main base area, to East Village lasts long enough that I pause midway simply to orient myself.

Perched alongside US Route 40 in Heber Valley, the East Village base is planning to open 9 hotels, 42 shops, and extensive amenities including 32 restaurants and the largest "ski beach" in North America. Over the next three years, several new hotel properties including Canopy by Hilton at Deer Valley, Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences, and Waldorf Astoria Deer Valley Resort are slated to open, adding over 800 hotel rooms and nearly 1,700 residential units for guests.

Development in motion at Deer Valley's East Village terrain

A glimpse of the new East Village Gondola, setting a new base area for the iconic resort

Though well underway, construction is far from complete, so the best way for travelers to experience the new terrain is with a first-track mentality. It's not a sparkly finished product just yet, but skiing this side of the mountain, mid-metamorphosis, gives you a similar rush to being the first one out on the slopes.

Nothing embodies this more than the daily rope drops at the East Village Gondola mid-station, where up to six freshly groomed runs are opened to a crowd of hootin' and hollerin' skiers. Called the "Corduroy Lunch Club,” it's one of the best new experiences on the mountain, according to frequent Deer Valley skier and fellow Condé Nast Traveler editor Hannah Towey, who joined in on a recent family trip to the resort.

"Dropping in on a new run we'd never skied before and carving fresh tracks together was so sweet," she recalls. “My family has skied nearly everything on this mountain, so it was the thrill of a brand new run that we kept talking about for the rest of the trip.”

The sprawling and wide terrain of Deer Valley Resort, in Park City

Long-time visitors like Towey will be glad to know that while the East Village is mid-transformation, the rest of Deer Valley remains familiar. You can still expect meticulously groomed runs, excellent crowd management, and the resort’s signature skier-only experience. Even as the resort scales to thousands of new acres, staff remain highly visible across all terrain—nearly everywhere you look, you'll find ski patrol or mountain hosts appearing as guardian angels in their signature green jackets.

Still, what Deer Valley is best known for is its fresh corduroy—and from the chairlift, it felt like every conversation either drifted to this year’s new East Village development or circled back to the lack of snow. On average, Utah gets roughly 300 inches of snowfall per year; this season delivered closer to 160 inches, one of the lowest totals in 25 years.

It's increasingly unpredictable winters like this one that has led Deer Valley to invest heavily in snowmaking. The expansion adds over 1,200 new snow guns, 350,000 feet of new pipe, three new pump houses, and a 10-million-gallon snowmaking pond to the resort, making it “one of the largest and most modern snowmaking systems in North America," Brett Hawksford, the resort’s senior snowmaking senior manager, said in a conversation with Visit Utah.

“Here at Deer Valley, we are known for our grooming, and snowmaking is in the background of that,” he added. “Without the snowmaking, the grooming won’t be able to do as good a job."

Chasing more snow in the Wasatch Range of Heber Valley, a quick drive from the new entrance

If anything, this winter underlined how important it is for ski resorts to pad their core snow‑dependent offerings with year‑round amenities and activities that take visitors beyond the slopes. Local outfitters like Wasatch Excursions offer guided snowmobile tours, private group adventures, and guided off‑trail rides—all experiences that can supplement lift‑based skiing. And at nearby hotels, like the Pendry Park City or St. Regis Deer Valley, guest can sign up for guided astronomy outings, winter hikes with experts, or snowmobile trips at higher elevations that promise more consistent snow. And there's always nearby Park City, whose bustling downtown scene is under a 10-minute drive away from Snow Park Lodge.

Sundown in Heber Valley, where snow laden clouds roll over the Wasatch Mountain Range and bordering horse pastures.

The resort's horizontal growth is also bringing world-class skiing to “the front door of another, rather cool, side of town,” according to 31-year Utah resident and 11-year Heber Valley local Jessica Turner, of Heber Valley's Tourism and Economic Development Office. “The East Village expansion places an entrance in Wasatch County, Heber Valley—the northern anchor of Deer Valley’s new reach,” she explains.

In turn, what was once the edge of Deer Valley’s skiable terrain will now act as a hinge—opening up a whole new world of opportunity in Heber Valley, a 200‑square‑mile region dotted with small ranches, farms, and gentle-sloped swaths of open land. Thanks to its location near US Route 40, staying in the East Village makes it easier than ever for travelers to access the valley as well as downtown Salt Lake City, all while helping alleviate traffic from Park City and offering more convenient airport access.

“Realistically, this valley was never going to stay a secret for long,” says Turner. “And the level of access here is just so unbelievable—it really is.”

As more developers turn their eyes to the valley, Turner says the goal is to balance growth with preservation. “We are really aware of trying to preserve the charm of Heber Valley—once people visit here, they fall in love with the hyper-local culture and the people of this valley," she says. "Maintaining that identity is a core priority.”

In Heber City, just downhill from East Village, mixed-use projects like The Slope (debuting in early April 2026) will add residential units, retail, dining, and recreational opportunities for residents and travelers. “They are also building some affordable housing directly across the street from the East Village," Turner says. "It’s not a sexy side of the story by any means, but man, is it just so important.”

Overlooking the slopes at Deer Valley from the St. Regis Deer Valley Resort

A peak-facing suite at Montage Deer Valley is perfect for cozying up post-run.

Where to stay & lodging to look forward to

For an ultra-convenient, family-friendly getaway, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley offers slope-side access with full resort amenities. Montage Deer Valley, atop Empire Pass, connects to the new terrain; guests can ski with olympians Ashley Caldwell and Trace Worthington. St. Regis Deer Valley is for fabulous access, après, and North America’s only ski-resort funicular, plus ski valets and 24-hour butler service. If you’re combining Deer Valley with a Park City Mountain trip, a Pendry Park City stay is never a bad idea. Hotel Thaynes, recently acquired by Marriott as a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is another convenient option tucked between the two mountains.

One of the earlier openings among the upcoming slew of new hotels and resorts? The Canopy by Hilton at Deer Valley is scheduled to open in Summer 2026. Located in the East Village, it will be the brand's first ski-destination hotel in Utah, offering 180 rooms, direct ski-in, ski-out access, and a rooftop lounge.

All in the East Village, the (highly-anticipated) Waldorf Astoria Deer Valley Resort and Residences is scheduled to open in 2028. This luxury ski-in, ski-out property began construction in May 2025—and if you go in the next few months, you’ll likely be able to catch it mid-development. The Four Seasons Resort and Residences is also projected to open in 2028. This swanky ski-in, ski-out property is part of the village’s major expansion, featuring a hotel, private residences, a wellness center, and a private ski club.