Deer Valley Resort's 32nd chairlift is scheduled to open in December 2026, adding 200 skiable acres and seven new runs to a resort that has more than doubled in size over the past two years, according to the resort's summer 2026 press kit.

The Hail Peak Express will push Deer Valley to 209 runs across 4,500 skiable acres for the 2026/27 season and expand snowmaking coverage to 932 acres, up from 886 acres in 2025/26. The resort's vertical drop grows from 3,040 feet to 3,120 feet, with the lowest elevation dropping from 6,530 feet to 6,450 feet.

Deer Valley has added 11 new chairlifts since December 2024, according to the press kit. The resort calls the buildout "the largest expansion in ski industry history," though it has not published comparative data to support that claim.

Jobs projection

The press kit projects the expansion will create 2,000 additional jobs, though the resort does not specify a timeline or whether the figure includes seasonal and construction positions alongside permanent roles. Deer Valley employs nearly 4,000 staff members, according to the same document.

Recruiting manager Meg Wandishin told the Park Record in December 2025 that the resort had hired "a couple hundred more people than last year" heading into the 2025/26 season. Park City's seasonal workforce draws heavily from international workers, including more than 1,200 J-1 visa participants from the Southern Hemisphere each winter.

Two new lodges under construction

Beyond the lift, two permanent day lodges are under construction and targeted for the 2027/28 season: Park Peak Lodge and a permanent Deer Valley East Village Lodge. A temporary East Village Lodge structure is already operating with a rental shop, ski storage, ticketing, and the East Village Restaurant.

A skier shuttle connects 1,200 parking spaces at Deer Valley East Village to the lodge and lifts at no charge.

The adjacent East Village development will also include a 132-key Waldorf Astoria hotel with 105 branded residences, with construction underway since May 2025 and opening expected in 2028, according to a January 28, 2026, announcement on Hospitality Net.

What's next

The Hail Peak Express opening in December 2026, conditions permitting, marks the next milestone. Park Peak Lodge and the permanent East Village Lodge are targeted for the 2027/28 season, though no specific opening month has been announced. Deer Valley remains a ski-only resort and a member of the Ikon Pass family.

Since its founding in 1981, the resort has invested nearly $300 million in capital improvements, growing from five chairlifts and 35 runs to 32 lifts and 209 runs.