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“Relay (Powder Mountain)” by Gerard and Kelly at Powder Mountain
First opening its doors in 1972, Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah has long been hailed as an iconic destination for winter sports enthusiasts in search of that glorious powder. Among its numerous accolades, this massive resort boasts the most skiable acreage of any resort in the United States. It showcases a diverse range of terrains, receives an astonishing 360 inches of snow annually, and offers an impressive 167 ski trails.
Last year, however, Powder Mountain found itself mired in a staggering $100 million debt crisis and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. That’s when Reed Hastings, the co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, stepped in. His mission? To breathe new life into the alpine resort both culturally and financially. As a majority owner, Hastings took the first steps by paying off part of the debt, installing four new chairlifts, initiating plans for a new lodge, and transforming the resort into a semi-private entity.
But the latest move by Hastings is truly the most intriguing yet. By 2026, Powder Mountain will transform into an open-air, skiable art museum that will be open year-round. This art park will allow both skiers and hikers to wander through its large-scale sculptures and land art. During the warmer months, entry to the outdoor museum will be free. However, during peak ski season, art lovers will have to purchase a season pass or a daily lift ticket to visit.
“At Powder, we strive for every experience to be intentional, and the integration of art into the mountain is a manifestation of that careful consideration,” said Hastings. “Our goal is to transform Powder into a multi-season destination that seamlessly blends recreation, art, and meaningful connections for our entire community.”
A handful of commissioned art pieces will be on display during the upcoming 2024/2025 ski season ahead of the museum’s grand opening in 2026. Among the first to be showcased are a sound exhibit by Scottish musician Susan Philipsz titled “We’ll All Go Together” and a colorful tunnel that covers a ski lift belt by the Gerard and Kelly duo named “Relay (Powder Mountain).”
“We’ll All Go Together” sound exhibit by Susan Philipsz
| Photo courtesy of Powder Mountain
Work is also underway on a walk-in light installation by James Turrell, rock engravings by Jenny Holzer, and an American West-inspired immersive experience by Paul McCarthy.
These changes to Powder Mountain by Hastings have received a mixed response. Redditors comment that while some of the updates, such as the new high-speed lifts, are great, the transition to a semi-private resort means “they are restricting public access to Mary’s and Village lifts, allowing only those with real estate on the mountain to enjoy a private ski area,” as well as “closing public access to Raintree, some of the best skiing spots on the mountain.” Essentially, skiers will no longer have access to their favorite runs. These privatization actions, along with the increase in season passes, have left longtime Powder Mountain skiers disappointed.
At this point, it’s a matter of waiting to see if these bold moves will pay off for Powder Mountain. But we’d be lying if we didn’t say a skiable museum doesn’t sound incredibly cool to us.