Snowbird history

Although the resort failed to meet the November deadline, due to avalanches and tram failure, Snowbird did open its doors in early January 1972 and has become a popular, year-round resort.

In June of 1974, after many years of dedication to the project, Johnson was ready for a well-deserved rest and wanted to spend more time with his family.

Everest (in 1985 at the age of 55). With Bass’s capital, Snowbird opened two years later, but the costs were staggering, exceeding proposed estimates by millions of dollars.

In 1986, after three years of construction and renovation, an enlarged Cliff Lodge opened its doors to the public.

Since 1988, Snowbird has continued to expand.

Disclaimer: Information on this site was converted from a hard cover book published by University of Utah Press in 1994.

Known for its deep powder snow, Snowbird made a conscious effort to expand its beginner and intermediate terrain with the installation of the Baby Thunder Chairlift in 1995.

The ongoing quest to improve received a major boost in April of 1999 when a crew of nine people composed of Garaventa/CTEC and Snowbird employees began the task of hauling the lower terminal of the high-speed Mineral Basin Express chairlift to the base of the coveted powder bowl.

1 ski resort in North America in 2008.

Beginning with the construction of The Summit in December of 2015, an expansion of the Creekside Day Lodge, renovations to The Cliff Lodge and expanded snowmaking, Snowbird's commitment to improving the resort has continued.

Ted Johnson, the one-time California beachcomber who founded Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort that elevated Utah’s winter sports image to world-class status, died January 29, 2018, in Santa Barbara, California.

Our newest dining establishment SeventyOne, located in The Cliff Lodge and completed in 2019, brings to the table a throwback to our early roots and a sophisticated, '70s twist on comfort food and contemporary American fare.