Grand Targhee announces over $20 million in on and off Mountain projects

This past winter brought many challenges and operational changes due to COVID. Despite all departments, employees, outlets, and operations being impacted, total visits were up 17% over the record winter of 2017/18. Compared to 2017/18 paid skier visits (day tickets) were down by 17%, and season pass visits were up by 35%. Of total visits, 36% were paid skier visits, 48% were season pass visits, 7% were Mountain Collective visits, and 8% were all other ticket types. Due to the efforts of many dedicated employees and the support of our guests and partners during challenging times, Grand Targhee is fortunate to be able to announce these projects.   

Along with a partner, Grand Targhee purchased three acres of land in Driggs, and is currently building 16 employee housing units. Each of these units has six bedrooms for a total of 96 rooms, all with individual walk-in closet space and a private bathroom.  The location of these units offers convenient access to town, shuttle stops, and local amenities. Eight of the units are scheduled for completion by June 2021, and the remaining eight units are to be completed by August 2021. 

Grand Targhee began construction on the new Mountain Operations facility in the summer of 2020. The new facility, when complete, will be over 13,000 square feet and includes nine work bays, ten mountain operations offices, a 10,000lbs overhead crane, a 5,000lbs jib crane, a snowcat/bus maintenance lift, an auto maintenance lift, and state-of-the-art oil, fluid, and fuel station and dispenser. There will be an oil, water, and contaminants separator with a washing station that will use recycled water to wash vehicles. The building will be complete with LED lighting, hydronic heating, and an exhaust containment system that will filter exhaust to clean air when the team works on the machines. 

Grand Targhee is beginning construction of the Peaked Lift this summer with a scheduled opening for the 2022/23 winter season. The resort will begin the installation of a Doppelmayr D-Line detachable six-passenger chair lift with the installation of the tower and terminal foundations, power supply/communications trenching and installation being the major projects this summer. Over $1 million of work is scheduled for this summer. Cat skiing will be offered in this area for the last time during the upcoming 2021/22 winter. Over the summer of 2022, the towers and terminals will be installed, along with all other work related to opening this terrain to the public for the 2022/23 winter. The Peaked Lift will transport up to 2,000 people per hour, and gain 1,815 vertical feet in just over five minutes. The Peaked area offers amazing views of the Tetons with access to over 600 acres of intermediate to advanced trails. This Peaked Lift will have a maintenance bay where 100% of the chairs can be stored at night, keeping them free from rime ice and allowing improved maintenance conditions. The heavier six passenger carriers of this lift will improve its ability to operate in windy conditions. New carriers will be added to the Sacajawea Lift during the summer of 2022 to bring the uphill capacity to 2,000 guests per hour.

Grand Targhee plans to add a new parking lot this summer which will increase capacity by 32%. The lower lot will be expanded to the south, and there will be a new flow throughout all lots and defined shuttle stops with regular service.  

 

The remodel on the Teewinot Lodge lobby and rooms is set to begin this spring, beginning with replacing all the windows, mattresses, and drapes. The next phase will continue next fall, with one wing at a time receiving new furniture, bathrooms, soundproofing, carpeting, and heating/air conditioning units. The renovations will be completed for the start of the 2022/23 winter season.

 

For more information on Grand Targhee Resort, please visit www.GrandTarghee.com