Perhaps looking to sweeten the skiing and snowboarding experience after a somewhat painful past season, Park City Mountain plans to bring back a free treat this year.
Complimentary Orange Bubble Bite donuts made with orange, rosemary and honey will be available at Canyons Village after a day on the slopes, according to a resort press release. Apparently named after the Orange Bubble Express lift, the sugary snack made its debut last December.
The first opportunity to taste the donuts could be Nov. 21, the day Vail Resorts, the ski area’s owner, has targeted to kick off the 2025-26 season.
What’s new at Park City Mountain?
Park City is also set to debut the Sunrise Gondola, which replaces the Sunrise limited-access lift with a high-speed 10-person gondola for faster, more reliable access from Canyons Village to the Red Pine Lodge area.
“This season is one of the most exciting yet at Park City Mountain,” Deidra Walsh, Park City Mountain vice president and COO, said in a statement.
“We’re thrilled to debut the brand-new Sunrise Gondola at Canyons Village, making access to the resort’s boundless slopes faster and easier than ever. Guests will also discover a completely reimagined learning zone at Red Pine Lodge, designed to ignite a lifelong love of skiing and riding.”
In addition to the Orange Bubble Bites, she said the resort has a lineup of on-mountain and base area events and a refreshed Summit House Lodge.
“These investments, big and small, are all about delivering an unforgettable season for our guests while celebrating what makes Park City Mountain such a special place where everyone belongs,” Walsh said.
Park City Mountain’s longstanding image as a premier ski and snowboard destination in the United States took a hit last year.
The resort endured a 13-day ski patroller strike that disrupted operations and angered skiers and snowboarders. Vail and the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association ultimately settled the contract dispute over wages and benefits. The company later apologized and provided credits toward 2025-26 passes for pass holders who skied or snowboarded between Dec. 27, 2024, and Jan. 8, 2025.
When will Vail ski and snowboard areas in the West open?
Park City Mountain was on a list of targeted winter opening dates for the upcoming season Vail announced for resorts in the North American Rocky Mountains and the West. The dates are subject to change based on weather and conditions.
Colorado
- Keystone — mid-October (pending early season conditions)
- Breckenridge — Nov. 7
- Vail Mountain — Nov. 14
- Beaver Creek — Nov. 26
- Crested Butte — Nov. 26
California
- Heavenly — Nov. 21
- Northstar — Nov. 21
- Kirkwood — Dec. 5
Utah
- Park City Mountain — Nov. 21
Washington
- Stevens Pass — Dec. 5
British Columbia
- Whistler Blackcomb — Nov. 21
Many Utah resorts have yet to announce their projected opening days.
Brian Head in southern Utah announced it intends to start spinning the lifts Nov. 7, aiming to be the first in the state. It also hopes to stay open until May 10, 2026, conditions permitting, to break its record 181 skier days set last season.
The resort has made a point of being the first to open in Utah the past few years. Even a Nov. 7 opening won’t be its earliest. That came in the 2023-24 season when the lifts began running Nov. 4.