LAS VEGAS — The owner of Park City Mountain Resort has asked the federal government for permission to enlarge a ski area near Las Vegas.
Utah-based Powdr Corp. has submitted plans to the U.S.. Forest Service for a big expansion of ski trails, chair lifts and lodge facilities on a mountain about 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas, a federal official said Tuesday.
The proposals announced by the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort would remake the Mount Charleston ski area from a modest 70 acres with 11 trails and four lifts into a sprawling 500-acre facility with 50 trails served by 10 lifts.
Stephanie Phillips, a forest supervisor with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, said the company has approval to begin some improvements immediately. But she said any plans that would disturb forest area or result in permanent facilities will require National Environmental Policy Act review.
Approvals for some elements of the 12-year, $35 million plan could take several years, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported this week.
A company statement released Monday outlines ambitious plans that include more parking, increased snowmaking and improved guest facilities that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.
Resort President and General Manager Kevin Stickelman said in the statement that snowmaking has been increased since last summer, with a nearly fourfold increase in the capacity of a snowmaking pond to 7.5 million gallons of water.
With heavy snowfall last winter, the pond is full, Stickelman said.
By opening day, he promised a new home for an expanded youth ski school and beginner programs, additional base lodge outdoor seating, and more secure ski and snowboard storage.
"Immediately, we're tackling the installation of electricity on top of Chair 1, which will run five additional high-efficiency snowmaking guns," he said. "This means that on opening day we will be positioned to create top-to-bottom powder on every run. It's exciting, and yet is only the start of the area's transformation."
Phillips said more extensive plans would trigger NEPA assessments that could take up to 18 months to complete.
The resort sits at 8,510 feet above sea level on an 11,918-foot mountain that is usually snow-capped in winter and visible from the Las Vegas Strip.
The ski area opened in 1963 and operates under a federal special-use permit. It attracts southern Nevada snow sports enthusiasts who might otherwise head to larger resorts in Southern California or Utah.
Powdr acquired the Las Vegas facility in 2003, adding it to holdings that also include Park City; Killington, Vt.; Mount Bachelor, Ore.; and Copper Mountain, Colo.