A judge is due to rule in June on plans by Vail Resorts to take over Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) against the stated wishes of its operator, Powdr Corp.
If successful Vail’s move would give it control two of the three adjacent ski areas at Park City. The attempt is related to a dispute over land on which much of PCMR is based. The land is owned by the Talkisker Corporation but has been leased to PCMR by Talisker and its predecessors for 50 years.
Tallisker also owns the neighbouring ski area to PCMR, Canyons, but has leased Canyons and the land under PCMR to Vail Resorts who have now publically stated that the aim of their legal action against PCMR is to oust them from the mountain and take over the land.
Vail’s case has several strands but is essentially based on a dispute over whether PCMR renewed its lease on time and if not, whether it is therefore in breach of its terms and conditions. Vail believes it is and initially issued PCMR with an eviction notice during the ski season.
In a public letter last month, Powdr’s operator said his company had offered to buy the land PCMR skis on for more than market value but that Talisker instead sought a rent that would “quickly put [PCMR] out of business,” and also that the base facilities (which are owned by PCMR outright and not on Talisker/Vail resorts controlled land) be turned over to Talisker for free at the end of any new lease term.
Those base buildings and land are an issue for Vail Resorts if they do succeed in ousting PCMR from the slopes where they have operated for more than 50 years as they are where PCMR guests currently access the 2002 Winter Olympic host resort from downtown Park City.
Both companies have said that if they win the creation of a connection between the two areas is likely, in the case of Vail winning, as part of their ownership of the two neighbouring areas, if Powdr win, if they can successfully negotiate an inter-connect with Vail.
Park City and Canyons combined ski area is more than 7,000 acres, which would make the area the largest in the US and second largest in North America after Whistler Blackcomb.
