FAIRVIEW CANYON — The Snowland Recreation and Education Area reopened to the public Saturday, marking the return of a small, free ski hill in Fairview Canyon for the first time in more than four decades.
The nonprofit-run ski area opened its lone rope tow to skiers and snowboarders on Saturday, Jan. 17, with access limited through an online reservation system. Fifty lift tickets released for opening day were claimed within about an hour, though several hundred people still gathered at the site throughout the day.
“It’s great to see Snowland Ski Area open to the public again after being closed since 1980,” said Kevin Christensen, director of tourism for Sanpete County. “While this is a humble re-beginning, I’m excited about the improvements ahead and what this will mean for the youth of our community and local businesses.”
Snowland operates on 25 acres with four runs extending roughly 500 vertical feet. The hill does not have snowmaking and relies entirely on natural snowfall. The snow base measured about 18 inches on opening day.
The ski area was publicly operated from 1967 to 1980 before closing due to insurance costs and permitting challenges. Its revival is led by Snowland Foundation Inc., a nonprofit formed to provide a low-cost, accessible place for learning to ski and snowboard while improving safety in an area where informal sledding and roadside skiing has long posed concerns.
Brent Lange, chair of the Snowland Foundation board, said limiting attendance was necessary to prevent overcrowding at the small site.
Although lift tickets are free this season, reservations are required. Snowland increased its daily ticket cap to 70 following opening day.
The opening came after months of preparation and fund raising that included garnering approximately $1 million in state support and nearly $500,000 in matching funds.
The nonprofit has also been awarded a state grant totaling about $1.46 million for future improvements, including a planned T-bar lift that would span about 2,475 feet and connect the traditional drop-off points along State Route 31, where, in the past, vehicles have dropped off skiers so they could ski down the mountain.
Tubing and sledding are not allowed this winter, though Snowland plans to add tubing lanes and a conveyor lift as early as next season. Lange said the nonprofit expects to charge a modest fee for lift access once additional amenities are installed.
Snowland is scheduled to operate Saturdays and holidays through February.