Resorts

A Mountaintop Approach to Building a Ski Town

By: Brandi Hammon

Photography By: Paul Bundy and Brian Nicholson

For years Ogden Valley sat undiscovered or perhaps simply undervalued. With three ski resorts surrounding Pineview Reservoir, real estate values are substantially lower than other ski towns in America, until now. Powder Mountain has quietly been selling out the only ski-in-ski-out properties available between the three ski resorts. Finished ski properties are averaging $800-950 per square foot. For perspective, that is 4 times the price of a new townhome on the valley floor. Numbers like this have never been seen in Ogden Valley but are par for the course in Park City, Vail, and Aspen.

The route to Powder Mountain’s prices has

$319,000 | 2 BED | 2 BATH | 1,270 FT²  | .08 AC | MLS# 1535460

** SOLD **

Lakeside Condo at 6486 E Hwy 39 #21 in Huntsville

A masterful mountain escape awaits you on the waterfront, surrounded by panoramic views of the surrounding Ogden Valley. With Snowbasin Resort a short seven miles away, this Lakeside Resort condo conveniently caters to the avid outdoor adventurer. Once off the mountain, the private hot tub, deluxe master suite and fully remodeled living area envelope you in comfort. Access to four-seasons worth of fun is at your fingertips with Pineview Reservoir and the surrounding trail networks providing the lion’s share in the summer, and the three world-class ski resorts in the winter.

The condo features rustic inspired decor and

El Doce at Pow Mow

They say good things come it threes, but whoever made up that saying hasn’t been to Powder Mountain Resort on a mountain bike. Up here, good things come it twelves. 

This year, the inaugural El Doce at Pow Mow premier mountain biking event claims 12 hours of amazing riding for you or a team, with about 1200 feet of ascent, and about 12 miles per lap. (See a patter here?) This race will be run on some of the most beautiful trails you’ll ever set your nobbies on.

El Doce, or twelve in Spanish, takes place on trails designed by the Intermountain Mountain Biking Association and offers views of the Ogden Valley and mountain peaks all around that are truly “bonita.” 

The event gives riders the chance to ride slices of every

Snowbasin, Powder Mountain & Nordic Valley - what future development can be expected from our local 3

SNOWBASIN

Snowbasin, its majestic mountains create not only the backdrop for Ogden Valley, but act as a sanctuary for wildlife and likely the largest factor of growth for the area. Snowbasin is a sleeping development giant with over 4,800 units spanning Weber and Morgan counties, and the funding to execute. With final approvals delivered in both counties, land transfers complete, and water acquired, it is a matter of time before ground is broken, although no one knows exactly when.

Snowbasin’s master plan is done in typical Holding style with over 80% of the land left for open space honoring nature and the existing beauty. Snowbasin owns some

Summit Proposal to Develop Powder Mountain

Open House February 13 2013, Wolf Creek Pineview Lodge

All things change; it is how the change will happen that is the question. Last week the Summit Series, the buyer of Powder Mountain Resort, held a town hall meeting to discuss an application with Weber County for the first phase of their intended development project.

There were two loud cheers that I couldn't hold back. The first was the announcement the lawsuit for "Powderville" had officially been withdrawn. Although this happened in November, few of the locals are aware this ended the potential risk of having unlimited development at the resort. Where does that leave the development potential? At 2800 units. Summit made it clear they have no

So I have not read the book, Bargaining for Eden, as of yet, but Scott Trimble has written a story of the struggles over land and it is focused on the land swap between Earl Holding and Forest Service for Snowbasin. I will make more comments once I have read it but from what I have read in reviews and been told so far, the book appears to be a balanced view of preservation of land and open space versus development the rights to do such.

Here is a very important point, conservation easements and who holds them is critical. I am not sure if this is actually addressed or not in the book, but had a third party (non-political) possessed a conservation easement, the land could have not been developed.

Just a note, anything can be developed with a change in