FRISCO — Arapahoe Basin Ski Area announced Friday morning that it would partner with Alterra Mountain Co. and join the Ikon Pass starting this winter.

The news comes more than five months after A-Basin ended its more than 20-year partnership with Vail Resorts on Feb. 18 citing overcrowding in its parking lots, facilities and restaurants.

“We think we’re ready to go this on our own,” A-Basin chief operating officer Alan Henceroth said in February, and spokeswoman Katherine Fuller said in March that A-Basin was “discussing opportunities with several resorts and resort groups.”

In an email blast announcing the news Friday, Henceroth said the new pass partnership would provide more “elbow room” than in previous seasons.

“I think everyone that has been skiing here for the last several years has realized how busy we’ve become, and we really wanted to address that,” Henceroth said on the phone Friday.

Asked how joining another pass product would help with crowding, Henceroth said the scale of Ikon is nowhere near the scale of Epic.

“We are very confident this is going to address the crowding issues we’ve been talking about for a while,” he said.

Henceroth said the Ikon Pass partnership also will help reduce crowds because the passes offer a limited number of days with blackout periods.

Ikon passholders will have seven days at A-Basin with no blackout dates, and Ikon Base passholders will get five days with blackout dates over the holidays.

“We’re committed to getting quite a few less people here over those busy periods,” he said.

Also in the Friday email blast, Henceroth said he personally skis at many of the Ikon Pass resorts — including Alta and Snowbird in Utah, Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California — and that their brands are “in sync” with A-Basin.

“We really think when we look at the Ikon partners … we think those are resorts whose brand is really in sync with our brand, and people who like to ski A-Basin will like to ski those places, too,” Henceroth said.

“For us, it’s really about maintaining the culture and the vibe” of A-Basin, he said.

The news means Summit County, Colorado is now split with Breckenridge Ski Resort and Keystone Resort on the Epic Pass and A-Basin and Copper Mountain Resort on Ikon.

The news also puts the pass war tally even in Colorado, with six resorts on each pass:

• Ikon Pass: A-Basin, Aspen Snowmass, Copper, Eldora Mountain Resort, Steamboat Resort and Winter Park Resort
• Epic Pass: Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Keystone, Telluride and Vail

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Over 100 winners were announced Monday night as Park City’s business community celebrated the best of each industry for The Park Record’s Park City’s Best awards. The seventh annual contest received over 30,000 online votes from readers.

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Each week, The Park Record asks residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. Next week, the mayors of Park City, Heber City and Midway will hold a town hall focused on climate change and air quality Wednesday, July 31. The meeting, organized by the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, will be an opportunity for cities across the Wasatch Back to collaborate on environmental policies in a public setting.

Before the local officials meet, we wanted to know your thoughts on how resort communities like Park City should approach environmental policy. Comment with your own answer below, or consider sending a letter to the editor.

Lincoln Pan, Oakley
“One thing would be controlling the waste that so many people generate. The town grows so much with new people every day or every week everybody comes through and isn’t thinking about it. But one thing that Park City has been doing is having recycling everywhere on the mountain. And we have public transportation that is electric.”

Neha Vyas, Pinebrook
“I love the fact that we do have the buses that are clean technology. We have the opportunity to play a positive role in doing stuff like that. I think it would be great and I’m curious what will come out of that meeting. It’s a great step towards doing something.”

Jon Hall, Silver Creek
“The pace of development is ridiculous. I’ve lived here for 28 years. We’re overdeveloping. I think that every (city) is working in their little cubby hole. Work together to develop this area. It’s going to be a rough thing when there are 100,000 people living here. Work together better to plan, but it seems like it’s already gone.”

Dana White, Kimball Junction
“Park City is really doing a good job with all the busing and the biking and more of that would be even better. They absolutely should be providing the easiest way for tourists and locals to get around.”

Quotations have been edited for clarity and length.

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Each week, The Park Record asks residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. This week, the United States and the broader space community are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, which brought American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the lunar surface for the first time in history.

Fifty years after that first landing, the Trump administration and NASA want to return to the moon by 2024. We wanted to know if this goal was worthwhile, or if the program funds should be used for something else. Comment with your own answer below, or consider sending a letter to the editor.

Dody Watkinson, Angel Fire, New Mexico
“Our space program needs to be developed, obviously. (I’m not sure) what they’ll find on the moon, they say there’s water there now. I think it should be private enterprise and if they want to explore it, go for it.”

Annie Bowman, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
“I think we should continue onto Mars because we’re going to need to colonize some place if we don’t save this planet. It seemed impossible in 1960, and they did it (in 1969).”

Patrick Weaver, Pinole, California
“Historically, anything that puts scientists to work, progress comes. The busier you can keep scientists, the more attractive you can make science to young people, and the better off the nation is.”

Lucia Ferrazzoli, Old Town
“Yeah, it’d be cool if they returned to the moon. That’s only out of curiosity. I don’t know enough about the research or the money or everything involved. I say go further (to Mars), why not.”

Shelane Nunnery, Hideout
“Not really. I feel like no because we’ve done it. I’d like to see them head to new frontiers. The universe is so vast I would love to see them keep exploring. Is there more to discover (on the moon)? I don’t know.”

Quotations have been edited for clarity and length.

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This weekend, the Sundance summer film series comes to Coalville with a screening of “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” which was an official selection of January’s Sundance Film Festival. Musician Scotty McCreery also comes to the DeJoria Center, and a Hops Hike hosted by the Summit Land Conservancy takes place Sunday morning.

For a full list of special events and weekly community events, visit our online calendar.

Plant Night at DeJoria Center
Thursday, July 18, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
DeJoria Center, 970 N. State Rd. 32, Kamas
Tickets $25
Green thumb or not, this class is for you!
Lexi Payan is the Founder and Creative Mind behind Lexi Bren Designs. She is a multi-disciplinary maker with an extensive history of creative projects and pursuits. Learn how to create and keep a healthy terrarium. Supplies included are a 6″ glass bowl, sand, rocks/pebbles, moss, soil, plants, decorative accessories, gloves, “Home Care Tips”, and a bag for easy transport.

A Chorus Line
July 18-21. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows 8 p.m., Sundays 6 p.m.
The Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St.
Thursday tickets $29-$45; Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets $35-$55
Winner of 9 Tony Awards has captivated audiences for decades with its real, raw emotion and honesty, as well as it’s remarkable score including “What I Did For Love,” “One”, “The Music and the Mirror”, “I Can Do That” and “I Hope I Get It”. Celebrate the unsung heroes of American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers.

Sundance Film Screening: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Friday, July 19,  7:30 p.m.
Ledges Event Center, 202 Park Rd., Coalville
Free
Young William Kamkwamba lives with his family in rural Malawi. When famine strikes the village, William has to drop out of school when his father (Chiwetel Ejiofor) can no longer afford the fees. Determined, William sneaks into the school library to research—and soon conspires to build a windmill pump to irrigate the land. Park of Sundance’s free summer film series.

Scotty McCreery
Friday, July 19, 8 p.m.
DeJoria Center, 970 N. State Rd. 32, Kamas
Tickets $35 – $125
With his third album, the young star takes a huge creative step forward. He co-wrote all 11 songs on Seasons Change, working with some of the finest songwriters in Nashville to express a wide range of emotions and musical styles. And after a lengthy legal struggle that kept him on the sidelines for several years, McCreery placed a bold bet with his career that has paid off with a new label and a reinvigorated attitude.

Hops Hike with KUHL on the Historic Rail Trail
Sunday, July 21, 9:30 a.m.
Prospector Park, 2500 Wyatt Earp Wy.
Free
Come join Summit Land Conservancy and KUHL Park City as they explore the Rail Trail in search of wild hops! KUHL will be providing a surprise treat for all participants. We’ll learn about the history of the Rail Trail, identify native and invasive plants, and enjoy the beautiful Rail Trail and neighboring single-track trails.

Strong Parent and Strong Kids
Monday, July 22, 12 – 1:30 p.m.
PC MARC, 1200 Little Kate Rd.
Free
Join us at lunchtime and learn effective ways to relate to your young children and encourage cooperative behavior. This is a free 7-week workshop. Free childcare available per availability. Please RSVP by emailing Alejandra at alejandral@valleycares.com or leave a message at (435) 575-1213.

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Each week, The Park Record asks For the Record, encouraging residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. This week, the public comment period has closed for a proposed expansion of S.R. 248 by the Utah Department of Transportation. The road-making authority envisions expanding the entryway to five lanes, which garnered responses from the city, the county and residents about the proposed project.

We wanted to know what the public’s thoughts are regarding the proposed expansion, and more broadly, what the underlying issues are when it comes to transportation in Park City. Comment with your own answer below, or consider sending a letter to the editor.

Diane Harrell, Park Meadows
“Tell everyone to quit buying (homes) here. I wish I had a solution with the influx of people and more traffic, but (expansion) has to be done. I’ve been here 30 years, like so many people I hate to see the (town) explode, but we have to take care of it.”

Julie Cooper, Park Meadows
“It’s complicated. The traffic is horrible right now, but I think outing more cars on the road is a mistake as well. I think I’d like to see carpool options and try and keep cars off the road as best we can. I know it’s bad, but I really don’t know what the answer is.”

Sam Chulick, Old Town
“This town’s infrastructure wasn’t built for the growth we’re dealing with. The roads were never big enough or planned to be expanded big enough to support the amount of growth. When we get those huge rushes of incredibly large crowds, I think even with an extra lane, you’re still going to have issues. It’s kind of a losing battle.”

Jet Reed, Prospector
“It’s July and (I’ve seen) so much traffic for like three weeks straight. I think (lane expansion) would be close to the solution, I don’t know. An extra lane allows more cars to go, it seems like a good idea.”

Quotations have been edited for clarity and length.

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This weekend provides multiple opportunities to beat the heat with arts and music, as the Summit County Arts Showcase takes place Friday night and Saturday in Oakley. Sundance Insititute begins its first free summer film screening and McPolin Farm resumes tours for the summer.

For a full list of special events and weekly community events, visit our online calendar.

Jenny Lewis – Deer Valley Concert Series
Thursday, July 11, 7 p.m.
Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, 2250 Deer Valley Dr. S.
Tickets $42 – $68
Since releasing 2014’s critically acclaimed The Voyager — which NPR likened to “California sunshine glinting off the Pacific Ocean, steeped in the West Coast pop sounds of the 1970s” — Jenny Lewis has been plotting her highly anticipated return. 

A Chorus Line
July 11-13 and 18-21; Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows 8 p.m.; Sundays 6 p.m.
The Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St.
Thursday tickets $29-$45; Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets $35-$55
Winner of 9 Tony Awards has captivated audiences for decades with its real, raw emotion and honesty, as well as it’s remarkable score including “What I Did For Love,” “One”, “The Music and the Mirror”, “I Can Do That” and “I Hope I Get It”. Celebrate the unsung heroes of American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers.

Barn and Farmhouse tours
Friday, July 12,  4 & 6:30 p.m.
McPolin Farm, 3000 Hwy. 224
Tickets $5
Tours are led by volunteer docents and take you on a journey through the history of the Farm from homesteading, dairy farming, to open space. Free shuttle service from the PC MARC at 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. as there is no parking at the Farm. No dogs allowed. Children are welcome; however, tours are tailored toward an adult audience. Please plan to be standing or walking for the tour, and wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes as surfaces are uneven.

Summit County Arts Showcase
Friday, July 12, 5 – 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Red Barn, 4300 N. S.R. 32 in Oakley
Free
An annual juried summer art showcase in Oakley to build support for local artists and cultivate collectors who live on the Eastern side of Summit County. New this year is the addition of food trucks and live music.

Sundance free summer screening – Top End Wedding
Friday, July 12, 6 p.m.
The Ray Theatre, 1768 Park Ave
Free
Lauren and Ned are engaged. They are in love. And they have just 10 days to find Lauren’s mother (who has gone AWOL somewhere in Australia’s remote far north), reunite her parents, and pull off their dream wedding. Park of Sundance’s free summer film series.

Summer Slide
Saturday, July 13, 1 – 3 p.m.
Park City Library, 1255 Park Ave.
Free
Kids get to slip and slide, make huge bubbles, enjoy a water balloon fight, and get creative while parents can learn about the dreaded “summer slide.”

Park City Library Author visits
Monday, July 15, 4 p.m.
Trailside Park Upper Field, 5715 Trailside Dr.
$20 per tent
Joan Tabb, author of the new book, “Building Blocks for the New Retirement,” presents an interactive and informative talk about the current retirement paradigm. She shows us how to channel our vitality, skills and interests to create a more meaningful stage of life she calls ReVitalment.

The post What to do in Park City this weekend: arts showcase, free films and barn tours appeared first on Park Record.

Each week, The Park Record asks For the Record, encouraging residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. Recently, the Park City Planning Commission considered a new private space along Main Street. There has long been debate about the business mix along the shopping, dining and entertainment strip.

We asked Parkites and frequent visitors what their vision for the future of Main Street would be. Comment with your own answer below, or consider sending a letter to the editor.

Jon Cochis, Salt Lake City
I’m always on board with more bars. I’m a bartender, but I just feel like the commercialization of the street takes away from the coolness. I like to see local people at local shops.

John Boland, Park Meadows
I think I’d prefer it much the way it is, accessible to everybody, cool art galleries and shops and restaurants. That’s what draws in our winter guests from out of town and I wish it would remain much the same.

Maureen Rishi, Thaynes Canyon
Maybe make parking more accessible. I know there is the big parking garage there but the prices (rose) and I know they’re trying to inspire people to take the bus and mass transit. I think one of the biggest draws about Park City is the feel of the downtown so I would like to see it not change very much.

Tim Leary, Salt Lake City
I’d say the one thing I would like to be different is more outdoor-like seating. I love how they all have rooftops but if everyone could have a rooftop that’d be sweet, or even the patios they have out front. I don’t think there should be parking on it, because you should be able to walk up and down the middle of the street.

Brian Cook, Prospector
The idea of clubs is fine, but for me the main thing for me is getting rid of cars. When they had the Olympics and it was walking-only, I think that would transform Main Street to more like other ski town areas where it’s more friendly and people can walk down the middle of the road. That’s what I’m looking for.

Jessica Vandermayden, Canyons Village
Less Gorsuch and more quirky ski bum shops. It’s lacking that local feeling of Park City community. It’s become a hollow tourist town. I grew up in Park City so that’s how it was when I was younger and now that’s not a thing anymore. So in 10 years, I would like to see Main Street get more local shops and more fun skier places.

The post For the Record: What do you want Main Street to look like in 10 years? appeared first on Park Record.

Wetting your whistle

You can get anything you want to drink in Park City, including a dizzying array of locally crafted beer, wines, and spirits. Still, rules might be a bit different than you’re used to if you’re visiting from out of state. Here are a few things you might keep in mind:

Drinking age

Like everywhere else, Utah’s legal drinking age is 21.

DUI Limit

Utah’s legal limit to drive is the strictest in the nation at a 0.05% blood alcohol level and penalties are severe, so call a cab.

Beer

Utah beer will differ in strength whether it’s purchased in a Utah state liquor store, or commercial outlet. Grocery and convenience stores stock beer at less than 4 percent by volume (or 3.2 percent by weight), though recent legislation means that limit will rise to 5 percent ABV in November. Anything stronger must be purchased from an establishment with a full liquor license, or state-run store. Also, beer served out of a tap will always adhere to this standard, while beers served in containers such as cans and bottles are full-strength.

Bars and restaurants

Licensed restaurants, bars, and taverns do serve alcohol, although some may only sell beer. You may be seated at a restaurant with a menu and order a drink with your food. If you don’t want food, then go to a bar instead.

Liquor Stores

Aside from a restaurant, bar, or other facility with a liquor license, the only place to purchase wine, liquor or full-strength liquor is from a state-operated liquor store, or at the source at High West Distillery, 703 Park Avenue. Some hotels and lodges do have a limited selection for sale as well. The state stores are not open Sundays or on holidays.

Park City Farmer’s Market

Park City Mountain Resort Silver King parking lot, Wednesdays 12 – 5 p.m.

The Park City’s Farmer’s Market is the perfect place to pick up what you need for dinner, if it makes it that far – you will be tempted to snack on all of the goodness offered here. If you come hungry, you won’t leave that way. With over 80 vendors, you can load up on artisanal breads, strudels, and wood-fired pizzas; salsas, chutneys, and mustards. Stop for a sample, and you’ll end up eating the whole tamale, grilled brat, or steamed corn.

Take a bite out of a golden, sun-warmed Elberta peach, and wipe the juice off your chin; they’re juicy, messy, and delicious. There’s jam, cheese, jerky and popcorn. The jalapeño goat cheese will heat you up, and an ice-cold smoothie will cool you off. Take home some fire-roasted chilis, tomatillos, and onions, or some rhubarb, cherries, or apricots.

It’s all fresh and local. The produce is healthy, and definitely hasn’t been on a shipping tanker. Now, in the market’s 17th season, you’ll also enjoy the crafts and art and live music. The market is rain or shine, heavy on the shine, and there’s plenty of free parking. It’s good, healthy fun on a Wednesday afternoon.

For more information visit ParkCityFarmersMarket.com

For more stories from this edition, visit the Adventure Guide special section.

The post Eat! The 101 on eating and drinking in Park City appeared first on Park Record.

This story is found in the summer 2019 edition of Park City Adventure Guide.

For some reason, food tastes better outdoors. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the scenery, or the company. Begin your day with a hearty breakfast on the patio, pause for a light lunch on the deck, or end a sumptuous dinner under the stars in Park City. The air is dry, the temperatures cool and the morning light is crisp. Clouds rise in white columns leaving wildflowers and rainbows behind before they light up with the sunset.

Fortunately, it seems like nearly every restaurant, café, and bistro is taking advantage of the season as they offer outdoor dining. It just feels right.

Main Street

Many restaurants on Main Street have patio seating, from Vinto at the bottom to the Wasatch Brew Pub at the top of the street. Café Terigo’s shaded patio midway up is cool and quiet and charming, and a favorite restaurant for many. On a hot day try out their salmon salad and a cold drink. Riverhorse has a 2nd floor deck, as do others, with a great view of Main Street, and the high mountain ridges. Their macada-mia-encrusted halibut is a signature dish. And then there’s the top deck at the No Name Saloon, the comfy benches in front of Java Cow or the sparkling terraces and magical gardens at Grappa.

Main Street Dining Decks

You can’t walk down Main Street without noticing the dining decks. It’s satellite seating in the middle of the action. It’s a place to see, and be seen, and have a fine meal. These decks add close to 2,000 additional square feet of dining space on Main, and since 2010 they have been a popular place to talk, drink, and eat. The decks seem to be everyone’s preference, says one waiter. You’ll find decks in front of Bandit’s, The Eating Establishment, Main Street Pizza Noodle, 501 on Main, Shabu, Flanagan’s and others.

Beyond Main Street

Off Main, there are some other great patios. Silver Star Cafe, nestled up against the mountains, has a perfect view in the evening, along with unique dishes. For a cold one and an appetizer, head to the roof at Boneyard Saloon, where you’ll be on top of the world. Windy Ridge Café is a hidden gem with a quiet, cool patio that seats at least 80. It’s certified pooch-friendly. A local’s favorite is the Deer Valley Grocery Café, whose deck sits at lakes’ edge where you can watch the ducks, stand-up paddleboarders, and fishermen.

On the mountain

Dining higher means dining cooler, and outdoor seating at the St. Regis is a perfect place to watch the sun go down and the town’s lights come up. Or head even higher to the Stein Eriksen deck for an exquisite, and comfortable, dinner. The Royal Street Café at Deer Valley Resort presents a perfect lunch; perfect for hungry bikers and hikers fresh off the mountain. At Park City Mountain, you can sip a signature margarita at Baja Cantina on the patio, or spend some time at Drafts Sports Pub at the Canyons Village for some killer nachos and a huge beer selection.

To the North

Maxwell’s East Coast Eatery is a favorite outdoor dining spot at Newpark in Kimball Junction. Enjoy an authentic pie as you take in the free tunes from the Newpark Amphitheater every Thursday evening. Billy Blanco’s, in Quarry Village, is an automotive junkie’s dream, with collector’s cars, great tacos, and an outdoor patio, again with live music.

For more stories from this edition, visit the Adventure Guide special section.

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