When life as we know it ground to a screeching halt in March, few of us imagined it would extend well into fall. But with cases of coronavirus at all-time highs, the restrictions that have pushed many businesses to reconfigure their day-to-day operations do not appear to be lessening any time soon.
Though each state seems to be handling the pandemic in widely varying ways, Governor Herbert and the Utah Department of Health have placed our state squarely in the middle of restrictive and wide open, with businesses and service providers continuing to find creative methods for managing that middle ground while staying open and profitable.
Photo credit: Deer Valley Resort
Locally, within a few months of the onset of the pandemic, hotels began to welcome guests back, with stringent and well-stated sanitization protocols in place. The ski areas have announced their reopening plans (phew!), but live performances have not yet resumed at the beloved Egyptian Theatre or Eccles Center.
Photo credit: Beau Collective
Workouts moved outside for many, but most facilities and providers also adopted policies allowing for reduced class sizes and implemented reservation systems to ensure they followed the requirements the health department put in place.
And while many businesses were able to take advantage of Park City’s minimal average summertime rainfall by moving to the outdoors to accommodate social distancing requirements, with workers wearing masks, and customers covering their faces until seated, the industry will need to pivot once again to adjust to indoor eating now that the first snow has fallen.
Park City Peaks Hotel got creative this summer by building a fence in their side “yard” to allow for expanded outdoor seating for their Versante restaurant guests. They brought in Park Silly Market vendors and entertainers, and allowed dogs to join their owners in the vast seating area. According to the hotel’s General Manager, they’ll be flexing their creativity even more this winter by enclosing their outdoor deck to provide additional seating, and providing an outdoor ice rink with tents and space heaters to keep guests engaged.
For Melvin’s Public House in Heber City, Owner Melissa Laird says they’re also crafting creative ways to maximize outdoor space, even as the cold weather sets in.
Photo credit: Melvin’s Public House
“Melvin’s Public House will have overflow outdoor dining this winter under a heated tent on the patio,” Laird explained. “Two big-screen televisions ensure you won’t miss any of the action on Sunday, and if you’re a Bills/Packers/Vikings fan, we’ll even turn off the heaters to make you feel more at home! Utah state currently mandates mask usage while entering, exiting and moving around inside the restaurant, and we are happy to supply one if you forgot yours.”
Other Parkites shared with me their concerns about moving activities indoors, with many stating they still hadn’t eaten out. Those individuals said they’ll support local restaurants in the same manner we all did when the shutdown first happened in March, through curbside pick-up and generous tips to the staff.
Whatever winter brings, I know my fellow Parkites will preserve and employ creative ways of servicing guests and doing all they can to keep their staff employed. The concern for our neighbors is just one of many reasons people Choose Park City over similar resort towns across the U.S. If you’re interested in making Park City your home, please reach out to me at 435-640-4238, and we’ll work together to make the dream of living in the mountains a reality (you can also visit my website by clicking here).
Each passing year brings new residents to Park City, whether for a few weeks, months or as permanent residents. In the wake of COVID-19, the influx of visitors and new residents seems to be greater than normal, so I’ve decided to put together the following tips for those new to town from residents who’ve been here awhile …
Be a Good Neighbor
Overwhelmingly, locals pride themselves on being neighborly, though the form that takes varies from one Parkite to another. The following list of ways to be neighborly is a great start in helping to keep Park City as friendly as the way it was when each of us happened upon this gem of a town:
Photo credit: Basin Recreation
Drive kindly – is it necessary to honk if it’s not an emergency?
Bike responsibly – learn the official ways bikers and motorists share the road
Keep dogs leashed in on-leash areas, and pick up after your furry friend! (There are plentiful off-leash areas and that info can be found here)
Wave, or say “hi” back, when someone does it towards you
Be patient, especially with visitors who don’t know their way around yet (we were all there once)
Don’t idle your car – Park City is an “idle free” city, and the actual ordinance can be found here for clarification on the dos and donts
Being a good neighbor also extends to the local wildlife. We know a moose sighting can be unsettling the first time, but it’s typically not a reason to call local law enforcement, and you’ll get used to (and come to anticipate) seeing these majestic creatures mercilessly munching on your delicious landscaping.
Learn the Local History
Photo credit: Park City Museum/Photograph from the John Spendlove Collection
One of the best ways to discover the roots of our mining town is to visit the Park City Museum, located at 528 Main Street, and featuring three floors of historical exhibits providing a glimpse into the life of a Parkite, beginning with the town’s founding in 1868. Follow their Facebook page for fascinating tidbits about Park City’s at-times scintillating history. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, and is following COVID-19 protocols, so be sure to call 435-649-7457, ext. 136, in advance of visiting to make a reservation.
Stay Informed
Photo credit: The Park Record
One of the best ways to get to know what’s happening locally is to follow local news sources, KPCW (91.9 FM on your radio or online) and The Park Record, which are both helpful in learning about local issues and events. Area law enforcement agencies also help keep residents up-to-speed on things like road closures and traffic situations, so consider following the Facebook pages of Summit County Sheriff, Park City Police, Wasatch County Sheriff or Heber City Police.
Facebook communities provide firsthand insight into everything from parenting to finding someone to blow out your sprinklers (something you DON’T want to forget to do each fall), so check out Future Park City, Moms of Park City, Ask Park City, or sign up for your community’s Nextdoor feed.
Shop Local
Photo credit: Park City Municipal Corporation
The pandemic has been particularly hard on locally-owned businesses without the backing of a national or international corporation to help keep them afloat, so there’s been a movement since COVID hit in March to do all we can to assist area small businesses in keeping their doors open. Many are participating in the Shop in Utah campaign, funded by the CARES Act and providing incentives for patrons, such as half-off and Buy-One/Get-One offers. The Park City Chamber of Commerce | Convention & Visitor’s Bureau has also put together a list of items made locally, such as Red Bicycle Breadworks (their addictive stick bread with olive oil and sea salt is available freshly baked at 10:30 a.m. each morning in The Market, and sells out daily) and Old Town Cellars (which has a bar & lounge located at 408 Main Street where you can purchase their wines to-go, even on Sundays!).
Get Involved
A great way to meet new friends and support the 100+ nonprofits throughout the Summit and Wasatch counties is to volunteer. A list of nonprofits is available at Utah Nonprofits Association’s Member Directory, which offers the option to sort by city. Once the pandemic is over, offer to volunteer at your child’s school, as most schools are not permitting parent volunteers to help adhere to COVID mitigation efforts. In the meantime, you can provide support to each school’s parent organization.
Lean How to Handle Roundabouts
Photo credit: Summit County
Few traffic developments have caused more local conversation than roundabouts, though their existence in other countries is common, and for those of us who’ve sat for what seems like days, waiting to make a left turn onto a busy street, they’re a godsend. As our roundabouts are multilane, it important to remember to yield to both lanes of traffic before merging into the roundabout and proceeding to your exit. Be sure to keep an eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists, and be sure to use your turn signal before you exit.
Know Your Local and State Government Representatives
In Wasatch and Summit counties, the cities have city councils (and a mayor), counties have county councils (and usually a County Manager), which means residents within a municipal (city) boundary are represented by both city and county officials, but those in unincorporated areas (outside of municipal boundaries) are only represented by their county elected officials. For example, folks in the Park City zip code of 84098 are not within city limits (84060 zip codes are), and cannot vote for the Park City mayor or City Council members. Utah’s Legislature is made up of Representatives and Senators, the state has just four U.S. Representatives to Congress, and – of course – just two U.S. Senators. You can learn more about the elected officials who represent you based on where you live by plugging your address into this handy online tool.
Understand the Liquor Laws
Photo credit: High West Distillery
Once you’ve learned how to navigate Utah’s liquor laws, you’ll likely see they’re not so crazy and other parts of the country want to make them out to be. Yes, wine and liquor cannot be purchased in grocery or convenience stores, and the three Utah Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (UDABC) stores in Park City (one in Wasatch County) are closed on Sundays and holidays, but you can also purchase alcohol in “package stores,” including High West Distillery, Alpine Distillery, Wasatch Brew Pub, Old Town Cellars, in the Westgate Hotel at Park City Mountain’s Canyons Village and the Food Town grocery store in Kamas. Some restaurants have certain liquor licenses that only allow guests 21 and older to enter, so call ahead before bringing your brood. And a new law passed by the legislature this past session will allow you to have wine subscriptions delivered directly to the UDABC store for you to pick up (but they still cannot be shipped directly to your residence).
Take Care of Yourself
Even though we boast 300+ days a year of sunshine, the cold weather and shortened days can still have an adverse effect for some people, so consider investing in a light therapy box, or planning a trip to Southern Utah (or other warmer locale) at least once during the winter.
It’s also important to hydrate throughout the day, since our high-desert climate is exceptionally arid in the wintertime. Keeping yourself active in the winter can also improve your mood while helping to keep you conditioned for skiing, snowshoeing, or even shoveling the driveway – check out the list of places to workout indoors here.
Utilize Public Transit
Photo credit: Park City Municipal Corporation
Few things are more frustrating than sitting in traffic, so become familiar with Park City Transit’s free bus system, serviced by conveniently-located park-and-rides.
Get Ready for Winter
As evidenced by our mid-October snowfall, it’s never too early to invest in a good set of snow tires, and having a vehicle available with 4-wheel or all-wheel drive is a plus! Contract with a snow removal company, or invest in a snowblower, and review a few YouTube videos on how to drive in the snow to get ready for the season.
If there’s something you’d like to know about, but it didn’t make it on my list, feel free to reach out to me at 435-640-4238, and I’ll do what I can to help you feel more at home in your NEW home. You can also learn more about available properties and the Park City lifestyle by visiting my website here, where you’ll soon learn why so many people Choose Park City to spend their time and make new memories.
As we move toward the upcoming ski season and holiday breaks, the extent of winter travel is still uncertain, with airline passenger travel in the U.S. still at 68% below what it was a year ago. Folks who are particularly COVID-conscious might avoid air travel, which means annual trips to places too far to drive will be off the table for now.
Photo credit: Visit Park City
That’s why we’re so very lucky to live in a state that millions of tourists visit in a typical year, with national parks within driving distance and world-class accommodations and dining in our literal backyards. I’ve put together the following staycation suggestions to help quell your wanderlust while facing down the upcoming atypical ski and holiday season.
Book Locally
Without question, our local hotels and restaurants can use some support following a summer void of major, tourist-drawing events. Booking a hotel staycation is a way to support the locals whose livelihoods rely on conferences and overnight visitors.
A wintertime staycation offers the perfect opportunity to engage in one of the ubiquitously Park City wintertime activities, while supporting local outfitters whose bookings might be down this year. Make this year the time you try dogsledding, snowmobiling, bobsledding or taking a sleighride to dinner. Take a break from the slopes but still get your heart pumping with cross country-skiing, or snowshoeing in the breathtaking high Uintas above Kamas.
A Night of City Life
A quick trip down Parley’s Canyon offers the energy of a trip to the city without the hassle of hours of travel. A weekend at the Grand America serves up luxe accommodations, highlighted by a posh afternoon of high tea or indulgent spa treatments. During the holidays, their decorated windows take guests on a trip around the world, and TRAX trains stopping right out front that whisk you through the free-fare zone to nearby City Creek Center for shopping and enjoying the lights at Temple Square.
Southern Hotspots
Photo credit: Moab Area Travel Council
Wintertime amid the red rocks of Southern Utah can be truly magical, with the deserts even dusted with snow at times. Fold in the benefit of off-season lodging prices and smaller crowds, and a trip to the National Parks could be just the thing to kick away the wintertime blues. The Utah Office of Tourism refers to it as, “The Season Less Traveled,” and lays out a few different itineraries that can range from five to seven days, and are filled with hoodoos, arches and even some skiing or boarding at Brian Head Resort.
Whether it’s staying home, or staying nearby, this is the perfect time to try a staycation while safely supporting our local economy. If you’re thinking of making Park City your first or second home, call Christine at 435-640-4238, or visit her website here, and you’ll quickly see why so many people Choose Park City to hunker down in a new place.
Without question, this year has been a rough one for nonprofits throughout Summit County, with COVID-19 significantly affecting fundraising and event revenues – even impacting the ability to maintain day-to-day operations for some. That’s why this success of this year’s Live PC Give PC on November 6th is even more critical than in years past.
Live PC Give PC – Park City’s day of giving – is coordinated by the amazing Park City Community Foundation, which showed its agility earlier this year by creating a Community Response Fund to best support those organizations that could directly help individuals impacted by COVID-19. So it’s no surprise that their goal for this year’s Live PC Give PC is to help the nonprofit community stabilize and recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19.
Photo credit: Park City Community Foundation
Over the past nine Live PC Give PC events, more than 5,000 donors raised $12.7 million for the 100+ nonprofits that make Park City and the surround communities one of the best places to live in the United States. Last year alone, $2.4-million was raised in just 24 hours, and I think we’re all hoping they’ll surpass that record in 2020.
Like most events this year, Live PC Give PC will look a little different in that the traditional end-of-day in-person celebration will not be held. Instead, they’re scheduling events that promote social distancing, including a community parade, promoting donation stations and livestreaming at livepcgivepc.org.
In honor of their 10th anniversary, I’ve highlighted 10 nonprofits worthy of your consideration due to the extraordinary challenges they’re facing as a result of COVID (though I encourage you to check out all of the participating nonprofits to find those that best match your giving priorities):
EATS (Eat Awesome Things at School) is a nonprofit founded in 2013 following community concerns over healthy school lunch options, and works in each of the schools to help local kids develop lifelong healthy eating habits, in addition to having access to fresh, nutritious and appealing food. For this year’s Live PC Give PC, I’ll be gifting a matching grant to EATS as a closing gift to some of my valued, repeat clients who own a sustainable farm out of state, as their continued support of me as a realtor also supports our local community, and I’m happy to be able to “pay it forward” in a way that speaks to their passion to health and sustainability.
When COVID hit the Wasatch Back, one of the first organizations to provide immediate relief to our community was the Christian Center of Park City. Whether through its food pantries in Park City and Heber, its mental health counseling services, or the Back2School Basics program providing hundreds of local school kids with brand new clothing and school supplies, CCPC has tirelessly risen to meet the needs of the community. As our friends and neighbors continue to work to get back on their feet, CCPC has shown how it can adapt its services and strategically utilize the support it receives from each of us!
I think many theatre-going hearts broke a little when The Egyptian Theatre announced in August that it would need to temporarily cease operations and furlough employees to conserve funds while it figures out how to navigate without revenues from live performances during COVID. You’d be hard-pressed to find a single Parkite or regular visitor to Park City who has not enjoyed an evening of theatre or music, or even a Sundance film, in the cozy confines of the historic building. I’m rooting for The Egyptian to open its doors soon, and know now is the time for the community to galvanize its support of the storied institution!
I wrote about Bright Futures in my May 2020 post about the Park City Education Foundation and discovered the students supported by this program – which helps low-income, first-generation college students from 10th grade through college graduation – are facing tougher than usual circumstances because so many with part-time jobs were out of work following the coronavirus shut down in March. Many Bright Futures students are also breadwinners for their families, and with parents out of work, their contributions went to household expenses instead of saving for college costs. For that reason, it’s especially crucial now to help these local kids keep their college dreams alive.
One of the side effects of Coronavirus has been an uptick in animals being surrendered to shelters due to families suddenly finding themselves unable to afford food and medical care for their pets. A pet rescue and adoption organization, Nuzzles & Co. has expanded its efforts in response to COVID to help families affected by layoffs or reduced hours keep their pets by providing food and supplies via drive-through “pop-up pet pantries” in Salt Lake, Utah, Weber and Summit counties. There’s a reason Park City’s been referred to as “Bark City” for years, and organizations like Nuzzles & Co. have been helping our communities furry friends for many years, and I support the efforts wholeheartedly!
Park City Film is another organization adversely affected by having to pivot away from in-person activities, and has shown its agility in providing COVID-compliant opportunities through its Virtual Cinema and Twilight Drive-Ins at the Utah Olympic Park. Until they can once again occupy the Jim Santy Auditorium at the Park City Library for their regular Friday-Sunday screenings, I encourage all cinephiles to support our community’s longtime independent cinema source.
Park City’s domestic violence shelter has served families for more than 25 years, but Coronavirus has placed an additional strain on their resources, as violence is being considered the “co-pandemic” of COVID-19. Peace House has responded to the current needs of our community by moving beyond its doors and traditional outreach into the world of virtual education through Zoom presentations each Tuesday. Helping the mission of Peace House in an average year is a no-brainer, but in the current Age of COVID, it’s an especially important time for support.
Many of my clients chose to move their families to Park City to give their children a chance to participate in the myriad of outdoor activities readily available. Youth Sports Alliance helps introduce kids to these activities via its after-school Get Out &+ Play and ACTiV8 in Summit and Wasatch Counties, while also supporting seven competitive winter sports teams through need-based support of coaching, travel and equipment costs. They also make sure their programs are available to all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, by providing program scholarships. I support YSA’s mission to engage kids in our community in healthy ways, and am excited to see them continue to grow from their original elementary programs, to include programs for middle and junior high students, as well!
The Lucky Project works with individuals with disabilities to provide job training, social activities and community partnerships. The statistics are disheartening when you learn that, while one in five adults has a disability, fully 80% of disabled adults are unemployed. Join me in helping the Lucky Project assist these valuable members of our local community through programs like Lucky Ones Coffee, located in the Park City Library, in addition to their training and support services!
Throughout the pandemic, the Kimball Art Center has been helping the community “Creatively Quarantine” by providing online classes and virtual exhibitions, but the decades-old arts institution was dealt a significant financial blow when the annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival was canceled due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Funding for the Kimball is more critical than ever, as the arts center looks to build their future home in Park City’s Arts and Culture District and I encourage you to consider them as a candidate for your support.
Whatever you do to support our local nonprofits during Live PC Give PC or throughout the year, I know they are one of the many reasons increasing numbers of people Choose Park City for their future primary or second home over so many similar communities across the U.S.!
Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visiting her website by clicking here to learn more about all of the nonprofits near and dear to her heart!
I think it’s finally safe to say that Fall is upon us in Park City. After a long, hot, and very busy summer, town feels a little bit quieter these days. Don’t get me wrong, people are still in town and coming to visit, but after what felt an absolute whirlwind and arguably Park City’s busiest summer we’ve ever seen, it feels good to be able to catch our breath. Coupled with markedly cooler temperatures and the need for a puffy jacket in the early morning hours, it almost feels like shoulder season again.
The Park City housing market seems like it is following suit in just the last week or two. While many properties are still selling, and selling quickly, the pace feels like it is leveling off slightly, and isn’t quite as rapid as the selling and firestorm firestorm of August and September 2020. We’ll break it all down below, including a specific look at land sales, and how prices and market activity have progressed as of late.
Park City Single Family Homes
It’s safe to say that the Park City housing market has recovered in a big way from the very short lived slowdown in the spring and early summer. Looking at the year to date from January 1st through September 30th 2020 for all single family home sales in Park City and the Snyderville Basin, the total number of active listings is surprisingly almost exactly the same as compared to the same time frame in 2019. However, the notable increases are in the increased number of new, pending, and closed listings.
New listings are up by 13% year over year, while properties under contract have increased by a whopping 49%. The number of sold homes is up by 25%, however I would expect that number to rise with how many properties have been going under contract. Nearly everyday when checking the hot sheets on the MLS, newly pending homes out number newly listed homes, thus continuing the decrease in available inventory for buyers. The average sale price is up by 12% year over year, and with price and number of units sold both increasing, the associated sales volume is up by 41%
Now that we have spoke on the overall single family market year to date, we will take a closer look at the month of September, and a break down of the different price segments in the market below.
Single family home sales, all price points, for September 2020 in the Park City area as compared to August 2020 and September 2019; courtesy PCBOR
Median sold price actually decreased slightly from August 2020 down 4.5%, but overall is up 20.9% from September 2019 April 2019 to a current price of $1,537,500
Average number of days on the market for September are 82, slightly down 8% from 89 days on market in August, and down 36.8% from 130 days on market in September 2019
Inventory is down 35.9% from August 2020, and is down a massive 57.2% from September 2019
The higher end market in Park City has been on fire this summer, and September was no exception
Median sold price increased 7.4% from August 2020 and is up 23.5% from September 2019 to a current median sold price of $3,037,500
Average number of days on market for September are 138, up 10.7% from 124 days on market in August, and down 37.3% from 220 days in September 2019
Inventory for September 2020 is 113, down 21% from August, and has decreased by 41.5% from September 2019
Park City Land for Sale
It’s no secret that homes have been selling quickly in and around Park City this summer, but how about land? These days it seems everyone wants to have more room to roam, so is the desire for more space equating to an increase in land sales and purchases? In a word, YES. In two words, BIG TIME. Remember, building more houses or condos is one thing, but you can’t build or create more land.
Just as we did with single family homes above, we will look at year to date (Jan 1st – Sept 30th) sales for all land in the Park City limits and Snyderville Basin area, and then add a little more color by touching on the different price brackets. One thing to keep in mind is that compared to homes and condos, the speed at which the land market moves tends to be a little bit slower.
Somewhat surprisingly, new listings for land are down by 27% year over year. Perhaps more people are sitting tight on the land they have, or are now making a move to build on it. Despite the decrease in new listings, the number of land parcels that are under contract and have sold has seen a massive uptick with increases of 116% and 85% respectively. The average sale price overall is up by 16%, while the demand for acreage specifically is evident by the average sale price increase of 66%
Land sales, all price points, for September 2020 in the Park City area as compared to August 2020 and September 2019; courtesy PCBOR
Median sold price actually decreased slightly from August 2020 down 1.9%, but overall is up 9.1% from September 2019 to a current sold price of $660,000 April 2019 to a current price of $1,537,500
Average number of days on the market for September 2020 are 425, up 91.6% and nearly doubling the 222 days on market in August 2020, and up a massive 651.8% from only 57 days on market in September 2019
Active inventory is currently 49 parcels, down 22.2% from August 2020, and is down 45.6% from 90 listings in September 2019
Just as with homes, the higher end land market in Park City has been on fire this summer, and the Colony is certainly contributing its fair share of home and land sales with less than 20 home sites remaining
Median sold price increased 19% from August 2020 and is up 41.2% from September 2019 to a current median sold price of $2,400,000
Average number of days on market for September 2020 are 538, down 28% from 747 days on market in August, but up from by 400.8% from September 2019
Inventory for September 2020 is 40, which is down 14.9% from August, and has decreased 49.4% from September 2019 which saw 79 such listings on market
Thanks for reading this months market update, and as always, reach out to us if you have questions on how these numbers will affect you and your situation. Whether you are a possible home buyer, potential home seller, or interested land investor, we can put the stats and our market knowledge to work for you no matter what your needs and interests are. Everyones situations are different, so knowing how to apply the data is integral to making wise real estate decisions.
As we transition from our Lost Summer into Fall, the continued uncertainly around COVID-19 and the impacts it has on our day-to-day continues more than six months after the pandemic made landfall in the United States.
What remains the same is the optimism all of my fellow powder hounds have in their absolute faith that we WILL have a ski season, even if it looks rather different than seasons past. When our banner snow year came to a screeching halt in March, it was hard to believe that this “new normal” would extend into fall and – now we know – winter.
But the ski areas have been working double-time to bounce back and intend to open, as planned, this winter, albeit with COVID-19 protocols in place. Which means it’s time to review the Season Pass products being offered, including extended purchase deadlines and enhanced pass protection options due to the pandemic.
I always begin my season pass overview with Deer Valley Resort, as it’s my “home” resort for myself and my family. Though there are runs and bowls to accommodate every level of skier (and never, ever snowboarders …), many folks enjoy simply cruising the resort’s famous corduroy blues on their way to world-famous turkey chili and chocolate chip cookies the size of a dinner plate. But it’s the customer service that helps DVR to stand apart from other Utah resorts, and this year should be no different, with the resort clearly articulating on their website as to how they are adhering to COVID-19 protocols to keep their guests and staff safe.
However, some activities continue to have dates that are “to be determined,” including the highly-anticipated FIS World Cup, but the ski season will open on Dec. 6, with a closing date of April 11, 2021. They’ve also posted their winter operational plans will be shared in mid-October.
As a gesture to folks who missed out on the final weeks of last year’s season, DVR is offering season pass holders a 20% discount on the renewal of a 2020-21 pass now through Oct. 14, which can be purchased at ikonpass.com. Deer Valley’s “Local’s Only” Passholders can use any remaining days from last season during the upcoming season, but those days will be forfeited at the end of the season. They are also offering “Adventure Assurance,” which means guests will be able to defer the use of their unused 2020-21 pass and exchange it for a credit toward the purchase price of a 2021-22 pass product. Also, if – god forbid – DVR must cease operations due to COVID-19, the passholder can apply a proportional credit toward the purchase of a 2021-22 season pass product.
Full season passes are outlined in the table below, with restrictions regarding the Ikon pass as noted:
PASS NAME
OCTOBER DEADLINE*
POST OCTOBER DEADLINE*
Adult (23-64 years)
$2,450
$2,850
Senior (65+ years)
$1,150
$1,300
Young Adult (13-22 years)
$1,500
$1,800
Child (5-12 years)
$680
$790
College Student**
$1,700
$1,865
Military Season Pass***
$1,700
$1,700
Tot Season Pass (4 and under)
$165
$190
*Pass rates do not include sales tax.
**College Student Season Pass: Available to full-time students as defined by school. Also available to Grade 4 Trade Schools. Verification through SheerID will be required before pass is issued. Apply discount in cart upon check-out.
***Military Season Pass: Passes are valid for active, reserve, honorably discharged and retired U.S. Military personnel, their spouse and dependents and are non-transferrable. A current, valid military photo ID for each pass holder must be presented at the time the pass is issued. Those who were honorably discharged should contact the Deer Valley Ticket Office at 435-645-6626 to purchase a Military Season Pass. Verification through SheerID will be required before pass is issued. Apply discount in cart upon check-out.
DVR also offers the Mid-Week Season Pass, which gets you on the mountain Monday through Friday (excluding 12/26/2020 – 1/2/2021) for just $1,395 before the October deadline, with the price increasing to $1,510 afterward.
While Deer Valley Resort’s been famous for limiting its skiers each day, resulting in certain high-volume days being “sold out,” Park City Mountain traditionally placed no restrictions on the number of skiers and boarders on its mountain, resulting in some days being more crowded than locals are accustomed to experiencing.
That shouldn’t be a problem this season, with the advent of Park City’s parent company – Vail Resorts – implementing a skier reservation system to help adhere to COVID-19 protocols. With a reservation window opening on Nov. 6, Epic Passholders will be able to view availability in real-time, and their passes will automatically be activated for whichever days they choose.
To ease into the new restrictions, Park City is offering exclusive early season access for passholders through Dec. 7, which means no individual lift tickets will be sold until Dec. 8, though Epic Day Pass holders will be admitted. Week-of reservations will also be available.
To accommodate for COVID-19 concerns, the resort is now including Epic Coverage at no-cost for all season pass holders, which provides protection across a range of qualifying personal events and qualifying resort closures. Click here for an overview of Epic Coverage.
Park City’s cornerstone pass product, the restricted Epic Local pass, includes some blackout dates, but costs just $749 for adults, $599 for teens (ages 13-18) and $389 for children (ages 5-23). Unrestricted full Epic Passes are $999 for ages 13 and older, or $509 for ages 5-12, and offer unlimited riding at Vail’s multitude of resorts. Introduced last season, the Epic 1-7 Day Pass provides a deep discount for guests who purchase their day passes early, and little ones through age four can receive a free season pass. One of the best deals is the Epic Military Pass, available to active duty and retired military who served at least 20 years, at a cost of just $189.
For skiers and snowboarders, alike, Snowbird is hallowed ground, where “Go Big or Go Home” should be the greeting at the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon. However, skiing purists (but – like Deer Valley Resort – never snowboarders) might prefer the Alta-Bird Pass, which offers a great value by allowing unlimited access to both Snowbird and legendary Alta, while the Ikon and Mountain Collective passes both provide access to additional ski areas beyond Little Cottonwood Canyon. For those looking to experience just Snowbird (and without blackout dates), check out the Summit Pass pricing below (info on Alta-only passes can be found here):
Summit Pass Type
2020-21 Pass Price
Summit Adult
$1,549
Summit Senior (65+)
$1,099
Summit Young Adult (19-25)
$1,099
Summit College/Medical Resident/Military
$1,099
Summit Teen (13-18)
$649
Summit Youth (7-12)
$449
Summit 6 & Under
$89
Summit 4-Pack
$3,099
Prices and benefits are valid through February 28, 2021.
New for the 2020-21 season is the Superior Pass, which offers unlimited access to Snowbird in addition to ski days at 35+ ski destinations with the included Ikon Base Pass .¹ Special benefits of the Superior Pass include a one-day Guided Mountain Experience at Snowbird, one free day at Woodward Park City, plus additional opportunities, depending on purchase date.
Superior Pass Type
20-21 Pass Price
Superior Adult
$1,849
Superior Senior (65+)
$1,479
Superior Young Adult (19-25)
$1,479
Superior College/Medical Resident/Military
$1,479
Superior Teen (13-18)
$919
Superior Youth (7-12)
$719
Superior 6 & Under
$289
Superior 4-Pack
$4,199
Prices and benefits are valid through February 28, 2021.
Like other resorts, Snowbird is offering pass protection for skiers for the upcoming season in the form of a Passholder Promise, which includes In-Season COVID-19 Coverage, an improved payment plan, extended pricing, pass refunds up until December 1 and a renewal credit for all 2019-20 season passholders.
One of the sweetest benefits of living (or just visiting) Utah is the Ski Utah 5th & 6th Grade Passport. At an all-in cost of just $45, 5th Graders can ski or ride three times at EACH of Utah’s resorts – which means a whopping 45 days on the mountain for just $45. The 6th Grade Passport is a little more modest with just one ticket at each mountain, but that’s still 15 days of skiing for just $45. (This year’s passes are not yet on sale, but if you visit the link above, you can share your info to be notified when they become available). Make it a ski season adventure-to-remember, and purchase the Ski Utah Yeti Pass for $649, and receive one ticket at each of Utah’s 15 resorts to accompany your little shredder to experience the Greatest Snow on Earth from every resort across the state!
Additional areas to consider in Northern Utah include the budget-friendly Brighton, easy-to-navigate Solitude, charming Sundance and the wide-open expanses of Snowbasin. A great rundown of all pass products, courtesy of Ski Utah, can be found here.
Whatever this year’s ski season holds, it will be memorable thanks to the unmatched mountain access, which is why so many people Choose Park City. Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visiting her website by clicking hereto learn more about the distinctions between each resort, and the many mountain properties providing easy access to each.
Depending on where you live or the industry in which you work, the pandemic has left its mark in widely varying ways across the globe. For Park City and all across the Wasatch Back, while real estate sales are booming, restaurants and independent retailers have felt the brunt of the crisis to the extent that some long-standing businesses have had to shut their doors for good.
Photo Credit Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
That’s why Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is dedicating $55-million of monies received from the federal CARES Act to support businesses that can demonstrate a revenue decline due to COVID-19 in ways that support sales by offering discounted products or services.
“Shop In Utah,” officially known as the “COVID-19 Impacted Businesses Grant Program,” was approved during the Utah State Legislature’s special session this past August, and provides grants to businesses who agree to offer a discount, coupon or other offer with an estimated value of at least 50% of the grant amount they’re receiving from the program.
Beau Collective
For those of us along the Wasatch Back, there are offers aplenty, ranging from food and lodging, to transportation and family fun. As a long-time Parkite, I encourage you to peruse the list every time you’re planning to leave the house, as support for our local businesses has never been more critical than it is right now!
A few highlights include BOGO (Buy One, Get One) offers at Davanza’s, Hugo Coffee, Love Your Pet Bakery, The Paint Mixer, Zoe’s Day Spa, Puravida on Main and Silver Star Café. You can burn off those COVID-19 pounds at the Beau Collective’s with 50% off memberships for first 100 customers, or engage your brainpower at Escape Room Park City with 50% off all goods and services.
Photo Credit Hugo Coffee
The list of participating businesses also provides a great guide for planning a weekend jaunt to other areas of the state, as there’s a variety of enticing offers to enhance your travels, such as Jeep rentals in Moab, to Lodging in Logan and pottery in St. George.
You can view the full Shop In Utah list of offers by clicking here, but I’ve compiled the following charts by Wasatch Back area to help you find local offers more readily:
Supporting our local businesses is another reason why people Choose Park City! Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visit her website by clicking here, to learn about the many ways our community is always there to support one another!
With so much of our lives put on hold over the past six months, projects and events that stayed on track despite the pandemic are an even greater cause for celebration when they come to fruition!
That was certainly the case with the Sept. 15 opening of the newly-constructed Salt Lake City International Airport terminal, concourse, and garage. Coolly dubbed “The New SLC,” the $4.1-billion investment reflects the importance of creating travel efficiencies for not only Utahns, but also the tourists and second-homeowners who are critical to the economic health of the state.
The Park City Chamber of Commerce | Convention & Visitors Bureau has long-boasted the uniqueness its location being just 35 minutes from airplane seat to chairlift ride, but COVID-19 has created an even greater need for Utah to offer a world-class airport for travelers, as more people are realizing they can work from anywhere, and – for many – their dream “anywhere” is in the mountains. With so many folks moving to the Wasatch Back to leave behind states where the pandemic and recent wildfires are proving to be devastating to local economies and lifestyles, the ability to easily commute between work and the Wasatch Mountains makes Park City an enviable – yet highly-accessible – home base.
So what’s changed? Well, the newly-efficient design was achieved by replacing the previous five concourses with a central terminal and two linear concourses – the North Concourse and the South Concourse – connected by a passenger tunnel. One concourse is now open, with the second slated to open on Oct. 27. Other efficiencies include placing the baggage claim on the same level as the parking garage entrance, and elevated roadways that allow for more streamlined passenger drop-off and pickup, plus more space for Uber and Lyft.
For rental property owners along the Wasatch Back, getting those much-needed room nights back on the books is another reason to welcome visitors in the style they expect when traveling to one of the top year-round destinations on the planet.
I asked Shawn Stinson, a 35-year Parkite who serves as Director of Communications & Media for Visit Salt Lake, to share the significance of such an enormous undertaking:
“Salt Lake, as well as the entire Wasatch Front and Back, has always rated one of the most accessible destinations in North America, and now it’s even more so with the opening of The New SLC,” Shawn explained. “Being the first hub airport built in the 21st Century, it is the world’s most modern, innovative and efficient airports in operation. Designed to accommodate 26 million passengers with the ability to expand if and when necessary, it represents a huge improvement from the old airport’s capacity and one that will undoubtedly enhance travel to and from Utah’s capital city for visitors and locals alike for decades to come.”
He further noted, “Each aspect of the new—not just remodeled—$4.1 billion airport is designed around travel efficiency, and will no doubt enhance the overall travel experience for those coming for work or play. Simply stated, The New SLC is a game-changer for the region’s travel industry, including our world-class resorts, Utah’s stunning National and State parks, and the ever-important meeting and convention segment of the visitor economy.”
One of the many things people are especially excited about are the dining and shopping options, which go from being merely convenient, to oh-so-critical when flights are delayed. Nancy Volmer, Director of Communications and Marketing for The New SLC explained it further:
“Today’s traveler expects airports to provide a quality selection of restaurants and shops,” she said. “They will find that at The New SLC Airport. The airport went through an extensive selection process to get the right combination of local, regional and national brands. Passengers will be excited with the variety of dynamic shops and restaurants. Plus, street pricing has been implemented for all concessions, which means passengers pay the same price that at off airport locations.”
Iconic local eateries and shops like Granato’s Gourmet Market, Hip & Humble and King’s English Bookshop are joined by national faves such as Shake Shack and Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen. You can view all of the offerings in the new terminal and concourse by clicking here.
With many of us hankering for a long-awaited getaway, a trip through The New SLC is certain to provide the much-needed gateway for those flying to, from and through Utah these days!
With increasingly convenient ways to get here, there are even more reasons why people Choose Park City. Take the first step in making Park City your new home base or getaway location by connecting with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or by visiting her website by clicking here.
Brendan Trieb here, Choose Park City’s Director of Business Ops and statistician. I’m not even sure what to say right now, so we are keeping this months market update short and sweet, both in the interest of time, and for the fact that sales are just completely off the charts, and that’s pretty much all you need to know.
Our brokerage’s new pending sales volume is averaging anywhere from 2x to 3.5x higher than the same period last summer. In the week of August 10th 2020, Summit Sotheby’s pended $191,488,657 in volume, which is more than the closed sales of the brokerage for the entire first YEAR that it was open. Sotheby’s isn’t the only one, top performing agents and brokerages in town are continuing to set new records, and then oftentimes surpassing those new benchmarks the following week.
In the last two months, the Park City MLS has seen a list price volume of $1,527,537,678 worth of properties under contract. Yes, you read that right, just over 1.5 BILLION dollars. In the same time period, a list price volume of $954,042,023 in sales has closed. Year over year for the last two months, Park City single family home sales volume has more than doubled, increasing by 126%. The sales price for those same properties is also up, by 33% compared to this time last year.
Condo sales are also no slouch, and if you ask any property manger in town, you will know that the demand for rentals and short term rental eligible properties has been staggering this summer, with no sign of slowing down. Park City condo sales volume year-over-year for the last two months is up by 38%, while the average sale price is up by 19%.
Multiple offers almost seem like the norm these days, and if the property has 3+ bedrooms and is under 1.5 million, it is as good as sold. Now more than ever, communication with other agents to be ahead of the curve with upcoming inventory is extremely important, as there is a large number of sales being completed before the home even makes it to market. Writing clean offers with realistic timelines is key, as is having a reliable network of vendors who can perform in a timely fashion to meet those deadlines.
In conclusion, it’s not easy to be a buyer right now, but you can still purchase property and find value if you’re diligent, well connected, and fully prepared before beginning to shop or write offers. I’m not sure there has ever been a better time to be a seller, as demand is off the charts, and homes are continuing to be sold faster than they are listed. If you’ve thought about selling or downsizing, this could be the perfect moment to cash in on your investment.
All along the Wasatch Back, residents and visitors enjoy many public amenities, from top-notch schools, to state-of-the-art recreation facilities and well-maintained roads.
But those amenities come at a cost, and for property owners in Summit and Wasatch counties, a preview of that bill arrives at the end of every summer in the form of their property tax notice.
Photo Credit: Basin Recreation
Compared to states with the highest property taxes, including New Jersey, Illinois and New Hampshire, Utah’s property taxes are relatively low, though they vary depending on whether a property is a primary or secondary residence. That’s when it’s important to pay attention to the notice to ensure your property is categorized properly.
Below, you’ll find two property tax notices from Summit County: One for a primary residence and one for a secondary residence. Secondary residences are taxed at the full assessed value, while primary residences are taxed at 55% of assessed value.
Photo Credit: Summit County Assessor’s OfficePhoto Credit: Summit County Assessor’s Office
There are two situations that allow your property to be categorized as a primary residence: You live in the property year-round, or you have rented your property to a single tenant year-round. Applications for primary residence are due by May 1st of each year, however, applications received after that date will be processed by your county’s board of equalization as an appeal. Applications received after the primary tax appeal deadline of Nov. 30 will be considered in the next calendar year. The window for appealing your primary residence status following receipt of your tax notice is Aug. 1 – Sept. 15. Visit the Summit County Assessor site by clicking here, or the Wasatch County Assessor site here, to learn more about residency exemptions. Depending on the value of your property, you could save thousands of dollars.
Another way to save money on property taxes is to appeal your assessed value. The assessed value of your property is determined by the assessor’s office based on the prevailing local real estate market conditions. If the local real estate market is strong – as it is in Summit and Wasatch Counties – then the assessed value of homes will increase accordingly.
If you think the amount on your notice is unreasonable, I can work with you to help determine whether the assessed value is fair. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, an estimated 30-60% of properties are over assessed, yet fewer than 5% of homeowners appeal their assessment. To do so, I recommend going through the following steps:
Ensure the Property Description is Accurate
Is the description showing too many bathrooms, or too much square footage? These types of errors can be corrected by a reappraisal of the property, or you could submit architectural drawings to the assessor’s office. If you don’t personally provide the most accurate information possible, the office won’t have the data necessary to make a fully-informed assessment.
Chat with Your Neighbors
Misery loves company, and if your bill seems high, your neighbors are likely having the same thoughts and concerns. If you’re part of a homeowner’s association (HOA), send a note to the HOA officers to see if an emergency meeting prior to the appeal deadline is warranted to help create a united front.
Hire an Appraiser
I have a list of appraisers I can recommend to you – ones I trust to provide an experienced and accurate appraisal. Or, if you’ve recently purchased your property and have a current appraisal that falls well below the county’s version, it’s likely the professional appraisal provided at the time of your transaction will be considered as valid.
Compare With “Like” Properties
I can help provide comparable properties to determine if your assessment is reasonable.
Prepare Your Appeal
You must file your appeal within 45 days of receiving your property tax notice. For Summit County, this can be accomplished by either submitting an electronic Board of Equalization Appeal Form via the county’s online portal, or downloading a PDF version to fill out and send to the Summit County Board of Equalization.
The Wasatch County primary residence exemption form can be found by clicking here.
You must include a copy of your property tax notice, along with any evidence, such as an appraisal, sales comparable to your property or MLS – Multiple Listing Services – data to support your appeal. Contact me if you would like help with this.
Decisions depend on the availability and workload of Board of Equalization Appeal Officers, and could take several weeks. Once a decision is reached, you can expect to receive a “Notice of Determination.” If your appeal is denied, you cannot appeal your final property tax bill when it is received in November.
To contact the Summit County Assessor’s Office, call 435-336-3257, or visit them at the county courthouse in Coalville, at 60 North Main Street. The Assessor can be emailed at [email protected].
For Wasatch County, call 435-654-3221, or visit them at 25 North Main Street in Heber.
If you have any questions or need help finding comparable properties to support your appeal, please reach out to me sooner than later. I’m happy to walk you through the art of how to appeal your property taxes anytime, but keep the deadline in mind!
There are many reasons people Choose Park City beyond continually-increasing home values. Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visiting her website by clicking hereto learn more about the many benefits to living in this amazing area.
