The owner of Snowbasin ski resort plans to purchase a resort in northern Arizona.
Sinclair Oil Corp., owned by Earl Holding, plans to buy Fairfield Snowbowl, a winter and summer resort 13 miles north of Flagstaff, from Fairfield Communities Inc. of Little Rock, Ark.Holding also owns Snowbasin and Sun Valley Co. in Idaho.
The purchase will not change plans for the development of a four-season resort at the Weber County resort, said Chris Peterson, a spokesman for Snowbasin.
"It doesn't diminish our intent for Snowbasin," Peterson said.
Snowbowl is on 7,770 acres of Forest Service property on the western slopes of the San Francisco Peaks in Coconino County.
Norm Johnson, a Flagstaff real estate broker and former Snowbowl owner, said there is no space for future development at the resort.
"Snowbowl will always be a day facility," he said. Ski slopes are surrounded by wilderness area, Johnson said.
Several years ago, owners attempted to expand the skiing area and construct new ski lifts, but were thwarted by opposition from environmentalists and Indians.
There are two triple and two double chair lifts and two lodges on the mountain.
By purchasing the Arizona resort, Johnson said, Holding has access to more than 1 million skiers in the Phoenix area. Aligning Snowbowl with resorts in Utah and Idaho gives it strong marketing potential, he said.
Peterson would not discuss details of the purchase, but said, "It's proceeding and should close on time."
Holding's company will take over the resort Sept. 1, he said.
Holding's plans to purchase Snowbowl come amid a controversial land exchange between Snowbasin and the Forest Service.
Snowbasin wants 1,320 acres of land to develop a four-season destination resort. The Forest Service approved only 220 acres for trade. After an appeal by Snowbasin, Regional Forester Stan Tixier set aside the original decision and will make a new recommendation Sept. 4.