- A proposed expansion Nordic Valley Ski Resort would bring condos, hotels and new chairlifts.
- A Utah Foundation report shows development would bring millions of dollars to Weber County.
- Warm temperatures and lack of snow kept Nordic Valley closed for much of the season.
Nordic Valley didn’t have a good winter. In fact, the small ski resort nestled in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah wasn’t open much this season due to unusually warm temperatures and lack of snow.
But the 58-year-old ski area has transformational plans on the horizon to become a four-season destination.
Starting in 2027, Clyde Capital Group is expected to invest $500 million to $1.4 billion in a massive village at the base of the ski hill including 56,000 square feet of commercial building space, 428 condo units, 159 chalets, 230 hotel rooms and 50 units of employee housing, according to a Utah Foundation report that evaluated the economic impact of the proposal.
The ambitious plan includes adding 12 chairlifts, two gondolas, as well as a variety of recreational activities such as a mountain coaster, zip line, ice skating rink and trails.
The Nordic Village project is contingent upon the resort securing federal rights-of-way and permits to expand the resort’s footprint, which is currently 512 acres on mostly undeveloped land. It could take at least six years to complete, the report says.
Nordic Valley opened in 1968, one of three ski areas in Weber County, along with Snowbasin Resort and Powder Mountain, both larger and more recognized. It has five chairlifts, a tubing park and hiking trails. It is well-known for its ski school, intermediate and advanced slopes and family friendly atmosphere.
In January 2024, a fire severely damaged the lodge including ticket office, restaurant and business offices, forcing the resort to close for the rest of that season.
Nordic Valley’s planned housing units are expected to accommodate about 450 residents but most are expected to be secondary residences. Its lodging could be a strong draw, particularly for out-of-state visitors. Nearby Pineview Reservoir attracts 750,000 people annually to boat, fish and swim, per the report.
Once the resort is expanded, Nordic Valley expects to hire 10 full-time employees and 200 seasonal employees.
How would Nordic Valley expansion impact the economy?
The Weber County Commission approved the expansion plan in 2024.
“Economic impact research helps policymakers and interested Utahns understand the interplay among the private sector, household economics, and public revenues,” said Shawn Teigen, Utah Foundation president. “The Nordic Valley project is a great example of this interaction, which shows a likely economic benefit to Weber County and the state with this resort expansion.”
The report estimates that the Nordic Village development would:
- Contribute $776 million to $977 million to the GDP, which translates into between $129 million and $162 million annually.
- Add between 1,096 and 1,327 jobs to the local economy during the construction phase and 29 and 42 full-time equivalent permanent jobs when completed.
- Generate $71 million to $87 million in annual household earnings during the construction phase, and between $1.6 million and $1.9 million ongoing.
- Contribute over $4 million annually in taxes for state and local governments during the six-year construction phase and $10 million to $12 million annually in taxes when complete, mostly from property taxes.
“For lack of a better estimate, estimates of ongoing economic impacts reflect the fact that 53% of skiers at Nordic Valley are expected to be from out of state, and 50% of those would not have skied in Utah if not for Nordic Valley’s expanded operations,” according to the report.
The report notes that the project is still in the planning stages and some details are subject to change. The study said its results might overstate or understate the actual economic impact of the project depending on the degree to which it changes.
The Clyde Companies, which includes Clyde Capital Group, sponsored the Utah Foundation report.