Alterra Mountain Company has launched a sweeping investment program exceeding $400 million to enhance guest experiences, bolster employee benefits, and strengthen community ties across its mountain destinations. This substantial funding will support the next phase of expansion at Deer Valley Resort in Utah, deliver upgrades at multiple ski areas, and roll out new programs aimed at improving seasonal workforce housing, wages, and training.
At the center of the initiative is the ongoing “Expanded Excellence” terrain growth at Deer Valley Resort. Last season ushered in the Deer Valley East Village, complete with a six-person bubble chairlift, twenty new runs, and skier amenities including a rental shop, complimentary storage, and ticketing facilities.
A newly opened Grand Hyatt Deer Valley adds more than four hundred lodge rooms, several dining venues, and seamless lift access. In the coming winter, Deer Valley will nearly double its skiable acreage by adding 3,700 acres of new terrain, a ten-passenger gondola, six additional lifts, and close to eighty more ski runs. After completion, this expansion will position Deer Valley among the largest North American resorts while preserving the personalized service for which it is known.
Beyond Utah, Alterra is investing in on-mountain improvements at resorts throughout its portfolio. Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia will debut a modernized skier services center spanning eighteen thousand square feet, featuring expanded dining space, event areas, and a heated outdoor deck. Stratton in Vermont, Palisades Tahoe in California, and Steamboat in Colorado will each open premium lounges designed to create intimate gathering spots with elevated food and beverage offerings. In British Columbia, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing will upgrade guest cabins with new kitchens, bathrooms, and furnishings, enhancing the backcountry lodging experience. At Mammoth Mountain’s Village in California, the Westin Monache hotel will unveil a refreshed lobby, updated restaurant and bar, and an on-site coffee shop and marketplace to serve skiers and riders better.
Crystal Mountain in Washington will replace its nearly forty-year-old Rainier Express lift with a high-capacity detachable quad, increasing uphill capacity by roughly fifty percent and improving access to the resort’s most popular terrain. Snowmaking at Winter Park Resort in Colorado is also receiving major upgrades through a two-year overhaul of its entire infrastructure, reducing energy use by half and supporting earlier openings and more reliable early-season snow coverage. In addition, nearly three million dollars will enhance lift performance at Stratton, Sugarbush, Crystal Mountain, and Steamboat by modernizing aging equipment and optimizing ride efficiency.
Recognizing the vital link between employee well-being and guest satisfaction, Alterra is directing part of its investment toward workforce support and development. More than 2,000 seasonal professionals in critical roles, such as lift maintenance and ski patrol, have received improved wages, benefits, and hands-on training. Partnerships with Colorado Mountain College will expand lift mechanic certification programs, while the Responder Alliance initiative continues to offer advanced training for ski patrol teams. For the first time, seasonal workers in the United States will have access to an affordable health care plan covering over fourteen thousand employees.
Leadership development programs have been rolled out across the company to cultivate high-potential talent. These offerings focus on building emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and practical communication skills, ensuring that managers and supervisors are equipped to guide teams in high-pressure mountain environments.
Housing remains a top priority for Alterra, which understands that reliable and affordable lodging is essential for attracting and retaining skilled seasonal staff. The company has committed to renovating existing employee housing to improve living conditions for more than eight hundred team members in six mountain communities. Plans are also underway to add over two hundred new beds through acquisitions and lease agreements, as well as to develop new on-site housing projects at Deer Valley, Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, Stratton, and Crystal Mountain.
This broad capital program reflects Alterra Mountain Company’s holistic approach to destination management—one that views guest amenities, employee support, and community relationships as interconnected. By aligning major resort expansions with targeted improvements in services, technology, and workforce development, the company aims to set a new standard for mountain hospitality and operational excellence. Communities surrounding each resort will benefit from upgraded facilities, job growth, and expanded tourism infrastructure, while guests and employees will experience lasting enhancements in comfort, convenience, and career opportunities.
KEY QUOTES:
“The comprehensive investments we are putting into our destinations, including the exceptional Deer Valley East expansion, are a testament to our longstanding commitment to providing our guests and employees with industry-leading mountain experiences. We remain focused on making transformative improvements that will suit the needs of our guests and employees and allow us to deliver a premium experience for all.”
Jared Smith, President & CEO, Alterra Mountain Company
