How to Make Thanksgiving a Teachable Moment in Park City

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Home Buying in Park City, Home Selling in Park City, Park City Lifestyle.


Thanksgiving is what you make it. Turn it into a stuff-your-face-fest. Make it about family. Live for the afternoon football games on a weekday or celebrate a day off of work. Yet another way to interpret the holiday is to focus on gratitude. If you’re feeling thankful this year, this is a great time to show it. And I don’t just mean by writing a check.

This year, make the expression of thanks an event and a lesson (if you have kids or a willing adult in your life!). I’ve rounded up a few ways to seize Thanksgiving as an opportunity to instill gratitude, service, and community-building into your family’s repertoire (alongside mashed potatoes and gravy, of course).

Photo by Nuzzles & Co.

1. Volunteer to walk dogs or play with cats at Nuzzles & Co.

As the adorable puppies and kittens await loving homes at Nuzzles & Co., bring a little joy to their lives! I promise, they’ll introduce just as much (if not more) happiness into your lives. Hello, puppy snuggles. You’ll also get a little fresh air and light exercise to balance all the feasting. And who knows? You might fall in love with a pooch like six-month-old Bashful (pictured above) and take him home. To start, fill out a form with your availability and interests. My daughters, aged 7 and 10, have loved this opportunity.

2. Add a homeless or refugee child to your Xmas gift list.

Every year, Catholic Community Services hosts Gift of the Drummer, pairing volunteers with homeless or refugee children to ensure everyone feels the holiday love. You can adopt just one kid or several. If you’re a Black Friday shopper, you can stock up on gifts for your adoptive gift recipient then, and spend the weekend making cards and wrapping with your family.

3. Bake a pie for a fireman or paramedic.

While many of us expect a long weekend off work over holidays, emergency workers can’t go out of service just because it’s Thanksgiving. Many of our local firemen and paramedics/EMTs work long shifts, and some volunteer, to boot. Show your gratitude with some sweets or other baked goods. You can swing by any of the seven Park City Fire Department Stations. Chances are good that you get to climb into the fire truck. Lila still remembers us doing this as a child and hey – firemen are nice eye candy for us moms, too. Everyone wins.

4. Create “necessity kits” and drop off at a homeless shelter.

Food, money, and clothing are often the first things that come to mind when we think about what a homeless person might need. But what about the necessities we depend upon, from chapstick and toothbrushes, to thick socks? Round up a bunch of travel-size items and assemble kits in Ziploc bags, then deliver to a homeless shelter. You might reach out first to your shelter of choice to ensure they can accept the items in question and confirm the best way to deliver your goods.

5. Call your favorite nonprofit and ask what it needs.

Dollars, man hours, a phone call to an influential someone, a sprinter van … you never know what your go-to nonprofit organization in Park City could use until you ask. While some might just need cash, others might ask for random items or in-kind expertise for their clients or upcoming events. Instead of assuming, just call, tell the staff how much you appreciate their work, then ask what you can do to help. Looking for a list of local nonprofits to jog your memory? The Live PC Give PC database is a great place to start.

Business Spotlight: Park City Brewery

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Homeowner Info, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


(Photo Credit: Park City Brewery)

Park City Brewery is a place-based brewery if there ever was one. Its branding takes cues from the boldly hued outdoor brands that so many of us depend upon for our adventures in Park City. Its lineup includes higher octane brews (looking at you, Imperial Pilsner) for rowdy mountain nights, as well as four session beers for when you want an après beverage, but don’t want to end up passed out by 8pm. Park City Brewery also exclusively sells its beer in cans, which is perfect for an area that doesn’t offer curbside glass pickup and loves to bring beers on-the-go.

But this brewery’s most obvious tribute to place? Its name. Park City, plain and simple. Since Park City Brewery appeared on the scene in 2015, they’ve been expanding their beer and non-beer offerings alike, as well as popping up on more and more local taps. We chatted with Hud Knight—who co-founded the brewery with Jeff Petway and brothers Scott and Jeremy Ray—to learn more about the business’ story and future.

Choose Park City: How did the Park City Brewery team get into the beer biz?

Hud Knight: Jeff, Scott, and myself were in the ski and outdoor industry. I was the general manager of Backcountry.com. Scott and Jeff worked for me as buyers there. The joke is we traded gear for beer. We decided that there was a hole in the market. There were only 13 brewers in Utah at that time, and with the expansion of population—and the alcohol-consuming population, shall we say—we thought there was an opportunity. We trademarked Park City in association with beer. With the Park City name, there’s a lot of value in terms of brand equity. Park City is so well known—it’s a local brand with national reach.

Beers in their natural environment (Photo Credit: Park City Brewery)

You’re an all-can situation. Why did you decide to forego bottles?

Obviously, there’s the recyclability factor. Glass is not as easily picked up. It’s also a better container. It has a better seal and doesn’t have the UV breakdown. All the big companies now are coming out with cans. There’s also the selfish factor. We’re all outdoors guys, so cans make sense for us to take on a river trip or in a backpack.

We’re also staying true to our outdoor heritage from a branding perspective with our cans. Whether it’s Arc’teryx or Patagonia, we borrowed colors and design from those guys. You can see that with our branding: a bird, clean, simple.

Have you faced any challenges brewing and pouring in Utah?

To be honest, it’s really not been that bad. We’ve had no problems at all. We’ve had really good relations with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

A rowdy evening at the tap room (Photo Credit: Park City Brewery)

You frequently host events at the tap room. Any exciting new one-off or recurring happenings you want to share?

We generally have a mixed bag of trivia and live music. We’re also planning to move to a bigger facility in the next year or two. The new facility will be off Highway 40. Right now, demand is exceeding what we can produce. We will be expanding in the future.

Are you brewing up any new beers or seasonals that we should know about?

We just did an Oktoberfest predominantly to serve at Oktoberfest and at a couple of key accounts. We’ll be doing more seasonal stuff. At this point, we won’t package much more until we’re at the new facility. It’s a lot easier to do draft.

Essential PC Brewery accessories (Photo Credit: Park City Brewery)

What’s your go-to beer from the brewery?

We all have to agree that the American Pale Ale is one of the best. Jeremy came out with it last year. It’s 5.7% and a traditional-style pale ale. It has really good drinkability, and is not overpowering in terms of hops. We feel it’s a beer for everybody. The light and drinkable blonde is also one of the top-sellers in Park City, as well as by volume.

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you can take advantage of a special promo that I partnered with Park City Brewery to offer this November. Not a subscriber? Contact me and I’ll be happy to send you the promo code.

The Latest on Mayflower Mountain Resort by Deer Valley

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Park City Lifestyle, Park City Real Estate Updates.


mayflower

It was about a year ago when we first learned that New York City-based Extell development firm snatched up 2,300 acres alongside Deer Valley Resort. This covetable land lies on the Deer Valley Resort side of Highway 40, just off the Mayflower exit.

Now that 12 months have somehow ticked by, we’ve got a little more intel on what exactly is slated for this acreage. For one, we know its name: Mayflower Mountain Resort. We also know that it’s massive—Mayflower is slated to be the largest development in Wasatch County’s history. Here are a few vitals now available about this development in works.

Mayflower Residential

More Deer Valley Resort devotees will now be able to call the resort’s curtain home. The project expects to develop nearly 1,498 residential units. We all know that housing the people that actually live and work in Park City is a challenge, and Mayflower will do its part to address it. It has designated 95,000 square feet as workforce housing. That’s a small percentage of the total project acreage, but efficient design can go a long way. The future Mayflower residents will also enjoy a 68,000-square-foot recreation center slated for the area, as well as pedestrian-friendly planning that will hopefully make it easy for those frequenting the area to get around carless. And if they don’t, some 3,471 parking spots are part of the deal.

Mayflower Commercial

We know the most about the lodging aspects of Mayflower Mountain Resort’s commercial plans. The developer anticipates over 400 hotel units distributed across a five-star hotel and a four-star hotel. The lodging development will also include a huge conference center, making it a draw for corporate groups and events. In addition to lodging, 250,000 square feet of commercial space will also be available. Could this be the future home of Park City’s next hot restaurant? Only time will tell.

Mayflower Skiing

If you build it, they will come, right? Only if there’s skiing to be had—and there will be. Mayflower Mountain Resort is planning 900 acres of ski terrain to be added to Deer Valley, accessed via six new lifts. This will be the first improvement implemented, starting within the year. Après skiing will take place on a ski beach. An ice skating rink is also in the works.

The upshot: this project is well thought-out, promising to be a recreationally, culturally, and economically vibrant addition to Deer Valley Resort. The downside: development could take between two and four decades. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

5 Nonprofits to Support for Live PC Give PC 2018

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Homeowner Info, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


It’s almost my favorite time of year again. No, I’m not talking about Thanksgiving, Opening Day at Deer Valley, or Christmas (although these are all close runners’ up). I mean Live PC Give PC, the day when Park City comes together to show our nonprofits some love. How much love? Over two million dollars worth (in 2017, anyway).

This year, I know that we can and will raise even more. Now in its eighth year, Live PC Give PC is an altruistic force in Park City. Become a part of it by marking your calendars for November 9, 2018 and giving. To whom? There are over 100 nonprofits you can support, but I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites below.

I want to add that this was not an easy post to put together. With so many worthy causes to support, it’s hard to pick favorites. That said, here are five of many wonderful ways to give for Live PC Give PC 2018.

Summit Land Conservancy

In a painting, white space is just as important as the subject itself. The same is true for land. We must balance development with nature, not only for the benefit of our views and our real estate values, but to maintain our recreational backyard. Open space means more places to hike, run, bike, romp with our dogs, and be one with nature. Summit Land Conservancy is the local guardian of open space. Help them balance the developments arising across Summit County with open space campaigns, like Osguthorpe Farm.

Peace House Thrive Campaign

Image by Peace House

Peace House

When adults and children come under threat of domestic violence in Park City, Peace House is where they turn. There’s more reason now than ever to contribute to this invaluable cause. The Thrive Campaign is this nonprofit’s initiative to create a campus to serve as the hub for its services. The campus will include a safe emergency shelter, a dozen transitional housing units, a childcare center, a communal gathering place, and an outdoor courtyard. Construction is underway for this project, but the Peace House needs help raising funds to make their dream sanctuary come true. This is where you come in.

Park City recycling center

Photo Credit: Recycle Utah

Recycle Utah

Don’t let its name fool you. Recycle Utah does way more than recycle our stuff. They’re also green evangelists, empowering Park City residents and businesses alike to live more planet-friendly lives through education and consulting. Plus, without Recycle Utah, what would we do with all those glass wine bottles? And did you know they operate a thrift store out of their Woodbine Way Recycling Center, too? If you want to learn more about Recycle Utah’s story, check out my recent post about them on my blog. Congratulations to Mary Closser, my client and Recycle Utah’s Education Director, who was recently named Educator of the Year by Utah Society for Environmental Education.

Habitat for Humanity

Photo by Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity

As a real estate agent, I’m deeply invested in helping people find not only houses, but homes. Since 1995, the Summit and Wasatch County chapter of Habitat for Humanity has been helping local families afford housing in Park City. They also help low-income homeowners implement much-needed repairs by issuing loans with 0% interest rates. Swinging hammers is a big part of Habitat’s mission, but so are educational workshops that empower locals to become responsible homeowners. And we can’t forget Restore, which feeds two birds with one scone. They accept donations of furnishings, appliances, finishes, and more that might otherwise end up in the landfill, then resell these products at affordable prices. A Live PC Give PC donation to Habitat for Humanity is a fine way to help make Park City financially accessible to the people who work and play here.

Park City Community Foundation

This is the gift that keeps on giving. Park City Community Foundation is the incredible force behind Live PC Give PC. Since they pioneered this annual day of giving seven years ago, they’ve motivated over 5,000 locals to raise nearly $8 million dollars in donations to over 100 nonprofits. These are staggering figures. And Live PC Give PC is just one of several programs the PC Community Foundation runs to help support our nonprofit community. From grants to community initiatives, they are the 24/7/365 fairy godmother of good in the Wasatch Back. Support them on November 9 to help them keep up the good work. The minimum online donation is $5 and the goal this year is to surpass 4,500 unique donors for the one day of giving. Evangelize to, challenge, or strong arm your influencers, young and old, to help PCCF succeed.

You may be getting a call from me…

Photographer Kyle Jenkins on Chasing Foliage, Moose, and More Park City Classics

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


Once upon a time, Kyle Jenkins was a photographer at Summit Sotheby’s International Realty. But after half a decade of photographing real estate, his camera was drawn to subjects other than the finest homes in the Park City area. The wildlife, the desert, and the river otters (for real) called.

Since I’m featuring one of Kyle’s psychedelic panoramas on my homepage this season, I thought I’d see what he’s been up to and also get his tips on how to capture your own epic foliage photographs this fall. Here’s the latest on the talented Kyle Jenkins.

Post-Sotheby’s photographic pursuits: Over the past year, I have been expanding my career further into commercial photography for ad campaigns and have increased my contributions to the Outdoor Project, an online resource for people searching for nearby adventures. Along with countless adventures in Utah, they have also sent me to Sun Valley, Idaho and Jackson Hole. It’s just a part-time gig, but for someone like me, it doesn’t get much better than that.

moose

All-time favorite subject: Without a doubt, wild animals. There is nothing that makes me more hyper-aware than when I come across a bear or a large moose along the trail. Getting my technical settings correct and composing the shot while staying safe is the most exciting aspect of my career. My favorite recent encounter involved a family of river otters in Grand Teton National Park. While a little skittish, they seemed just as interested in me as I was in them.

Tips for photographing foliage: Most of us only have smart phones to use, so make sure to under-expose or darken your photos before taking them. You can do that on an iPhone by dragging your finger downwards on the yellow line next to the yellow focusing box. Most people don’t know about this feature, but it comes in handy here because the colors often look washed out. The same concept applies even if you have a large camera—don’t make it too bright, otherwise the colors will lose their drama.

park city foliage

Favorite Park City fall destinations: Iron Canyon in Park City isn’t normally very crowded and has blankets of stunning yellow aspens along the trail—not to mention the view from the top. Mill D North in Big Cottonwood Canyon sits right across from Donut Falls, but doesn’t get nearly the number of people. Pine Hollow Loop has very little traffic in American Fork Canyon and has stunning views.

Best way to take autumn glamour shots: I love getting people surrounded by color when shooting family photos in autumn. Look for pockets of hanging maple branches covered in red, or hunt down a grove of aspen that are extra tight and colorful. While pointing up towards the trees is a great idea for landscape photos, it’s not very flattering for portraits. If you want to mix it up, get higher than your subjects and show off the all the colors that have fallen onto the ground.

nighttime arch

Top mud-season getaway: Once the fall colors are gone and the trails get muddy in northern Utah, I always head down to the deserts in the southern part of the state. The colors start to make their way down to the Cottonwood trees along the Virgin River that runs though Zion. My wife and I love the lesser known Yant Flat just north of St. George, and it’s also the perfect temperature to go stand-up paddling at Sand Hollow Reservoir just outside of town.

Dream photography trip: I have always wanted to spend a week at Ankgor Wat in Cambodia. I am not really interested in spending too much time at the main buildings and temples because of the large crowds, but I would love to explore the overgrown jungles. It would be an amazing journey back in time to see the un-restored structures and how the jungle has covered them up over time.

You can check out more of Kyle’s work on his website.

Live October in Park City to the Fullest

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


Foliage excursions, Halloween happenings, harvest celebrations—take your pick! October is our last hurrah before the official holiday season and there’s so much to do in Park City. I already highlighted a few things happening—like Harvest Fest and a shot ski competition—this month in my fall events round-up. But here are some other ongoing and one-time activities worth checking out in October in Park City.

Hocus Pocus in the Woods – October 5

Horror movies are meant to be watched in the forest, right? Along with this outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus will be fire pits, food trucks, a costume contest, games, and more. This screening will take place at the Rivers Edge Festival Grounds. Bundle up, pack a blanket and snacks, and head to Heber with the family for this spooky event.

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Wagon Rides – October 5-30

The Halloween family fun doesn’t end with Hocus Pocus. A horse-drawn wagon ride through Soldier Hollow is just a 30-minute drive away in Midway this month. As you ride, your guide will relay the classic Washington Irving tale of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Paired with dinner in Midway, this ride would make for a great unconventional date night. It’s also fit for families with adventurous kids—keep in mind, the later the ride, the darker the skies, the scarier the vibes. Tickets are $25 per person, but deals are available for groups and families.

Women’s Adventure Film Tour – October 11

Where my ladies at? On Thursday, October 11, hopefully the women of Park City will be at the Jim Santy Auditorium at the Old Town Library for the screening of this femme fatale outdoor fest. This annual touring film fest features two-and-a-half hours of women crushing trails, waves, slopes, and rock alike. Don’t worry, this theater serves wine, beer, popcorn, and usually some other tempting treats to keep you fueled up for all the stoke.

The Art and Science of Arachnids – through December 9

If spiders don’t totally give you the heebie-jeebies and you actually find them fascinating, then head to Swaner Eco-Center this fall for this exploration of all things arachnid. Or, do as the exhibit suggests and “turn your fear into fascination.” From spider-themed activities to over 100 real, live spiders on display, you’re bound to learn a lot about the eight-legged creatures weaving webs in your home as I write (unless it’s a Sotheby’s-listed home, in which case, I’m sure it’s spider-free!). The exhibit will run through December 9 and is accessible Wednesday through Sunday from 10am-4pm.

Warren Miller’s Face of Winter – October 27

There are two kinds of skiers in Park City. There are the folks who love skiing, but also love their seasons and summer sports. Then there are the diehard skiers who start the countdown to Opening Day approximately a day after the chairlifts stop running. If you consider yourself among the latter category, you probably already know about Warren Miller’s newest ski flick, Face of Winter. If you’re in the former category, you may or may not be ready to watch several hours of skiing. The film will screen on October 27 (at 6 and 9pm) at the Eccles Center Theater. Fuel your pre-game jitters.

Photo Credit: Howl-o-Ween

Howl-O-Ween! – October 31

Every year, “Bark” City and its beloved pups head to Main Street in Old Town to show off their costumes, procure candy from local businesses, and take lots of adorable photos #dogsofinstagram. I already featured this annual tradition in my fall events round-up, but this list of October events would be glaringly incomplete without Howl-O-Ween! See you and your pup there.

5 Real Estate Podcasts Worth a Listen

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Uncategorized.


Guess what’s right around the corner? The opportunity to make a new year’s resolution! For many of us in the real estate business or industry, that might mean growing our business or our portfolio. Where to begin? Get 2019 off to a hot start by listening to a real estate podcast or two. The great thing about a real estate podcast is that you can learn at times when you wouldn’t normally be able to do so. Whether you’re waiting for your flight in a terminal, taking a hike, or commuting to work, here are a few podcasts worth listening to.

Bigger Pockets Podcast

1. BiggerPockets Podcast

Best for: Real estate investors (actual or potential), but informative for agents looking to sell investment properties as well
New episodes: Weekly
Available on: iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Google Play, and YouTube
The gist: Interested in getting into investment real estate? Start here. Hosts Brandon Turner and David Greene interview different real estate investors and entrepreneurs in each episode. This could easily be a radio borefest, but it’s anything but. Conversation is lively and authentic. And the hosts and guests don’t just talk about their wins. They also get real about their mistakes, which you can learn from, too. Enhance your listening experience with co-branded books, guides, and more.
Listen: BiggerPockets Podcast

Agent Caffeine

2. Agent Caffeine

Best for: Tech-savvy real estate agents
New episodes: Weekly on Tuesdays at 7pm MST
Available on: iTunes and Stitcher
The gist: Obviously, real estate agents need coffee, especially for those early A.M. property tours. But we also need inspiration to fuel us, and this is what former realtor Kelly Mitchell dishes out in Agent Caffeine. Here you’ll find real estate trends, strategies, and new tech from folks in the biz. Recent episodes have covered everything from the HomeSnap app to lead generation.
Listen: Agent Caffeine Podcast

Tim & Julie Harris podcast

3. Tim & Julie Harris Podcast

Best for: Real estate agents on a lifelong quest for perfection (er, the first step is to admit you have a problem)
New episodes: Daily (!)
Available on: iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, BlogTalkRadio, and more outlets
The gist: Do the names Tim and Julie Harris ring a bell? After this real estate power couple sold 100 homes in a year, they graduated to becoming coaches to other agents. They maintain a great online resource and now also oversee a daily podcast. This is great for those who don’t really want to subscribe and look forward to new episodes every week, but would rather search for podcasts by topic of interest when they have the time. T & J categorize all podcasts into topics like Business Planning, Lead Generation, Mindset & Motivation, and Top Producers. Get on top of your game and check it out.
Listen: Tim & Julie Harris Podcast

hgtv and me podcast

4. HGTV & ME

Best for: People who watch HGTV or are interested in HGTV things (house hunting, fixer uppers, DIYing, etc.)
New episodes: About twice a month
Available on: iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and more
The gist: Real estate with a sense of humor? Yes, please. This new podcast, to be clear, is not offered by HGTV, but HGTV fan/writer/podcast pro Rebecca Lavoie. Sometimes, she talks about HGTV shows (Property Bros.: love ’em or hate ’em?), while in other episodes she investigates trends like tiny houses. This is fun passive listening that can easily be digested in spurts during short drives between open houses.
Listen: HGTV & ME Podcast

5. Lifetime CashFlow through Real Estate Investing

Best for: Real estate investors (and agents who want to help buyers interested in investments)
New episodes: Weekly
Available on: iTunes and YouTube
The gist: Imagine someone wrote a textbook about investing in real estate, then parsed it out into 267-and-counting podcast episodes. This podcast is a wealth of knowledge, with the specific things you’ll learn listed in each podcast’s description. A little “house hacking” here, a little property value-adding 101 there. Host Rod Khleif, a real estate investor himself, also picks fascinating interviewees, like a Syrian immigrant who became a real estate whiz with 6,000 holdings.
Listen: Lifetime CashFlow Podcast

Park City Season Pass Guide: Winter 2018-2019

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


While we’re lucky to have so many places to ski here in Utah, the sheer number of season pass options can sometimes be a little paralyzing. Do you abide the maxim, “Variety is the spice of life” and go for a collective pass? Do you pledge your loyalty to your favorite mountain? Do you go for the budget option? If you’re overwhelmed by choice (or if you just need updates about what’s available this year), read on. Here’s my annual season pass guide for Winter 2018-2019.

Single Mountain Passes

Deer Valley Season Passes

If you know me, you know that Deer Valley is my jam. Whether it’s winter or summer, you can find me there skiing, hiking with the family, or aprés-ing (is that a verb? It should be).

Deer Valley

Stoke level: high.

Opening Day: 12/8
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: 10/15
Full Season Pass Price: $2,365 going up to $2,766 on 11/1
Benefit highlights: 2 tickets each to Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, and Brighton; an Ikon Base Pass (if purchased by 12/13); a summer season pass
Discounted Rates: Available for couples, students, teens, children, seniors, and military
Local Hook-ups: Check out some locals’ only deals here
Another Pass Option: Midweek Season Pass (excludes weekends/holidays): starting at $1,235
Buy Now

Park City

Runs for days (Photo Credit: Park City Mountain)

Epic Pass

The Epic Pass unlocks the largest resort in the United States. So if you’re the type of rider/skier who prizes quantity and never wants to get bored, this pass may be for you.

Opening Day: November 21
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: 10/7
Epic Pass: $929 with no restrictions and access to a whopping 65 other resorts, including Vail, Telluride, Crested Butte (that’s a new one!), and many more Vail-owned resorts, plus international resorts from Canada and Japan to the Alps.
Epic Local Pass: $689 with restricted use during major holidays (discounted tickets available during these blackout dates) and access to 27 Vail-owned resorts
Park City Youth Pass: $369-$439 for unlimited access to Park City—no restrictions but also only half-price tickets available at select Vail-owned resorts
Discounted Rates: Available for kids, students, seniors, and military
Other Pass Options: The Epic 7-Day, 4-Day and and Park City 4-Pack offer Park City season pass options for those who only plan to ski a handful of days this season
Buy Now

Snowbird Season Passes

snowbird season passes

Nothing like a tram ride on a bluebird day (Photo Credit: Snowbird)

For lovers of extreme terrain, Snowbird is more than worth the trip up Little Cottonwood Canyon. It also stays open later than many area resorts and has an uber cool tram.

Opening Day: November 23
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: 9/14
Summit Pass: This is the main full season pass option for Snowbird and Snowbird only. It starts at $1,099 and has no restrictions
Benefit highlights: 2 tickets each to Alta, Solitude, and Deer Valley; 50% off Mountain Collective tickets; one free night of lodging; discounted friends; and family tickets
Discounted Rates: Available for seniors and kids
Other Pass Options: A combo Alta-Bird pass, a Value Pass, and a shareable 10-pack
Buy Now

Alta

Photo Credit: Alta

Alta Season Passes

Beware: skiers’ only! For some skiers, this makes Alta a dream. For others who have family and close shred pals who ride, that makes Alta a nightmare (well, maybe not quite that dramatic). Either way, the scene is subdued, the powder is deep, and backcountry access is plentiful.

Opening Date: November 23
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: 11/4
Unlimited Adult Season Pass: $1,o99 with no restrictions
Discounted Rates: Available for young adults, kids, seniors, military, and medical residents
Other Pass Options: A Mid-Week Pass, a Family Season Pass (a great deal!), and Alta-Bird combo passes
Buy Now

Sundance Resort Season Passes

Sundance season passes

Sundance founder Robert Redford shredding the gnar (Photo Credit: Sundance)

Sundance: not just a film festival. It’s also a picturesque resort just a few miles past Heber. Summer or winter, Sundance makes for a great place to play outdoors and enjoy a staycation. If this sounds up your alley, consider a season pass.

Opening Date: December 8
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: 10/31
Adult Unlimited Pass: $595
Benefits: Complimentary passes to Silverton Mountain in CO, 3 day passes to Brian Head Resort, discounted tickets, discounts on gear rentals, free access to nordic trails, summer lift pass
Discounted Rates: Available for youth, college students, and seniors
Other Pass Options: A Midweek Pass, VIP pass (for line cutting and other discounts), a Corporate Pass, and Night Skiing Only Pass
Buy Now

Multi-Resort Season Passes

Mountain Collective Pass

Mountain Collective pass

If your goal is to ski as many resorts as possible this winter, than the Collective may be for you. For under $500, you can ski two days at 17 different resorts. That’s over a month’s worth of skiing and a heck of a lot of variety. Keep it local at Alta, Snowbird, and Snowbasin. Journey north to Big Sky in Montana and Sun Valley in Idaho. And journey even further north to Banff! Mountain Collective is also family-friendly, offering the same situation for kids for just $99.

Opening Date: Varies
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: No pricing deadline, but there are only a limited number of passes available.
Mountain Collective Pass: $449 (the only pass in this list that has decreased this year)
Benefits: Discounted lift tickets at participating resorts and lodging discounts
Discounted Rates: Available for dids ($99)
Buy Now

Ikon pass

Ikon, as in Iconic (Photo Credit: Ikon Pass)

Ikon Pass

If “Will Travel for Skiing” is your winter motto, then Ikon is a new alternative to the Mountain Collective. Offered by Alterra Mountain Co. (owner of several resorts including, most recently, Deer Valley, this “curated” pass experience rounds up 36 of the best of the best from the Rocky Mountain West and Vermont, to Canada, Australia, and Japan. In Utah, the Ikon goods are at Deer Valley, Solitude, Alta, Snowbird, and Brighton.

Opening Date: Varies
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: None
Ikon Pass: $999
Benefits: Discounts on friends and family tickets, food, and beverage; Ikon Pass holders also get first dibs on booking CMH heli-skiing trips, which tend to sell out fast.
Discounted Rates: Available for kids, students, and military
Other Pass Options: Ikon Base Pass is a more affordable option at $699, but some restrictions/blackout dates apply
Buy Now

Here are a couple more unconventional passes worth considering:

  • Yeti Pass: A ticket to every resort in Utah for those who truly want to ski Utah!
  • The Gold Pass: For the ballers out there, this pass entitles the holder (or whoever she or he decides to share it with) to 50 days of skiing at every Utah resort except Park City.

Other Utah Season Pass Options

Solitude season pass

A ski patroller and avy dog at Solitude (Photo Credit: Solitude)

Curious about more season pass options? There are many more places to ski our state’s signature Greatest Snow on Earth. Below I’ve included links to season pass info for all the other ski resorts in Utah—and there are oh, so many …

Wherever you decide to ski or board this winter, enjoy your season and let me know if you’re tempted to look at some mountain properties that will feed your need for world-class powder in the Wasatch.

Must-Do Fall Events in Park City

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


From the cool mornings to the bouquets of orange, yellow, and red decorating our mountains, it’s clear that fall has arrived in the Wasatch. There’s so much to be excited about this time of year in Park City. It’s time to take in the foliage. Score our last hurrahs by foot and by bike on summer trails. It’s time to celebrate Halloween, consume pumpkin everything, and enroll in your favorite ski conditioning class. And, of course, it’s also time to express our gratitude. I’ve rounded up some of the best events in the Park City area to tick most of these autumn activities off your list. Here are the must-do fall events in Park City for 2018.

Red Bull 400 – September 15

The Utah Olympic Park (UOP) in Kimball Junction is an all-seasons sort of place. Indeed, for the UOP, there’s no off season. The now annual Red Bull 400 event proves it. The uber-athletic, the daring, and the Red Bull-fueled will race up the venue’s 400-meter ski jump. If you count yourself among those groups, enter the challenge. If not, you might still want to head up to UOP to observe the insanity. Not a bad place to take in sights of foliage in Park City either. My Olympian friend and client Liz Stephen won the battle in 2015.

Autumn Aloft – September 15-16

On lucky mornings in summer, I catch sight of a colorful hot air balloon floating against an alpine backdrop. There’s something about this vision that sets my mind at ease. Maybe it’s the serenity of an artful object drifting through an already beautiful setting. Or the magic of a giant balloon up in the sky. Now, imagine dozens of these balloons taking flight all at once. That’s Autumn Aloft. This annual hot air balloon festival is enchanting to children and a prime photo opportunity for the camera-inclined.

Tour de Suds – September 16

For some, this annual Skullcandy-sponsored race is a grueling mountain bike race. For others, it’s an opportunity to give your Halloween costume a trial run on wheels. And for racers of all stripes and spectators alike, Tour de Suds is a rockin’ party in the woods. Riders will climb nearly 3,000 feet from City Park in Old Town up to Guardsman Pass, then descend back down. This is when the suds part comes in, served up by Red Rock Brewery, alongside awards and a costume contest.

Snowbird Oktoberfest

Photo Credit: Snowbird

Oktoberfest at Snowbird

Speaking of suds, an annual pilgrimage (or three) to Little Cottonwood Canyon for Oktoberfest is an autumn essential. It’s the best time and place of the year to drink one of 50 local brews out of giant beer steins while listening to German folk music. But Snowbird’s Oktoberfest isn’t only for beer fiends or those with proud German heritage. The beer-averse can partake in the wine garden or throw back shots of Jager. And the kids will go crazy for giant pretzels and apple strudel.

Park City’s Longest Shotski – October 13

If you want to make drunk history (again), show up on Main Street to take a synchronized shot this fall. Park City has been claiming and reclaiming the title of longest shot ski from Breckenridge for three years now and the time has come once more to take what’s ours, Park City. So whether it’s the spirit of this friendly competition or actual spirits that move you, get your ticket now and join 1,274 others in knocking one back on the afternoon of Saturday, October 13.

Photo Credit: Howl-o-Ween

Howl-O-Ween! – October 31

If there’s one thing everyone in Park City can agree on, it’s that we love our pups. So dress up your beloved dog and head to Old Town this Halloween to show him or her off in this annual parade. You may find me there with our fast-growing puppy Callie. Little children and treat-hungry dogs alike will be invited to trick-or-treat their way up and down Main Street. Adults will be invited to steal their children’s candy (as usual) and snap photos galore.

Park City Ski Swap – November 2-4

The ski swap is not a casual affair. It’s not an, “Oh, maybe I’ll swing by and see what they’ve got” situation. This is a make-a-game-plan-a-week-ahead-and-line-up-two-hours-before-doors-open-then-shop-til-you-drop type of thing. Why partake in the intensity? Because there are indeed incredible deals to be had on skis, snowboards, helmets, goggles, jackets, and everything else you need to shred this winter. And it’s kind of fun to be reminded of just how ski-crazy this town really is. Need a slightly-used downhill suit for a costume? This is the place for you. If you think you’ve got what it takes, I do recommend showing up to Basin Rec a couple hours early with camp chairs, snacks, beverages, and patience. Make an evening out of it! If you really want to go but are the claustrophobic type, settle for smaller inventory and show up later on day two or three to avoid the chaos.

My family and I participating in the Live PC Give PC Float in the 2016 Miner’s Day Parade

8th Annual Live PC Give PC – November 9

I feel strongly that the heartbeat of Park City is our thriving nonprofit community, filled with people committed to making a difference. The annual Live PC Give PC event is the ultimate chance to support that community. This day of giving drums up funds for over 100 local organizations. Last year, over $2,000,000 was raised in a 24-hour period. This year’s goal is 4500+ individual donors, so whatever you can contribute will make a difference; the minimum donation is $5.00. While this is more of a virtual event, be sure to mark your calendar and identify the causes you hope to support this year. You can check out some of the local nonprofits I’ve highlighted in the past here.

My Bio Video

Posted by Christine Grenney
Filed under Great reasons to buy real estate in Park City, Home Buying in Park City, Home Selling in Park City, Park City Lifestyle, Uncategorized.


This bio video has been a long time in the making, but it was more than worth the wait. Future clients will get a sense of everything from my passion for real estate and my family life, to my pillow karate-chopping prowess, which helps make a bedroom or living room that much more photogenic for a photo shoot. A big thank you to the incredible Summit Sotheby’s International Realty marketing team for their hard work from conception and filming to the editing room.

 


Call Christine 435-640-4238

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