PROVO CANYON — In a deal several years in the making, Robert Redford announced Friday that he has agreed to sell Sundance Mountain Resort to Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners.
Additionally, the Redford family has entered into a partnership with Utah Open Lands to put more than 300 acres of wild lands at the base of Mount Timpanogos into permanent protection.
“As stewards of this unique place, it has always been my vision that the Sundance Mountain Resort would be a place where art, nature and recreation come together to make the world a better place — now and in the future,” Redford said in a prepared statement.
“Change is inevitable, and for several years, my family and I have been thinking about a transition to new ownership for the resort. We knew that at the right time, and with the right people, we could make the transition. Broadreach and Cedar share our values and interest in maintaining the resort’s unique character, while honoring its history, community and natural beauty. This makes them well-suited to ensure that future generations can continue to find solace and inspiration here.”
Redford founded the resort in 1969, which he named after the film character that made him a fan favorite — “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The resort’s soon-to-be new owners have plans to upgrade aspects of the resort, but with an eye to retaining its “authenticity.”
“In 1969, Robert Redford had a courageous vision to create a haven for discovery and new ideas, immersed in a rich cultural history honoring individuality and creativity,” said Philip (Flip) Maritz, managing director of Broadreach Capital Partners.
“We are deeply honored to assume stewardship of this magical resort and its unique programming and are committed to maintaining the balance between responsible development and land preservation that the Redford family has passionately cultivated. We intend to thoughtfully enhance this experience and continue the Redford commitment to guests, staff, the Sundance Institute and community, and most importantly, the natural environment itself.”
This deal doesn’t include or impact Redford’s other assets and projects bearing the same name, including the Sundance Institute, the Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Catalog, Sundance TV or the Redford Center, according to a press release. The resort will continue to host workshops and events organized by those entities, and it will serve as one of the locations for the annual Sundance Film Festival.
It was recently announced that the Sundance Film Festival, schedule for Jan. 28- Feb. 3, would be a mostly virtual event next year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets go on sale online on Jan. 7, 2021, according to the festival’s website.
The amount of the sale was not released.