Arizona Snowbowl outlines plan for expansion, facility updates

PHOENIX — Fresh off the longest ski season in its 80-year history, Arizona Snowbowl is planning to expand and upgrade facilities.

Plans include increasing capacity by 600 people, an option for night skiing and additional non-winter recreational activities, according to a press release.

Snowbowl said the earliest implementation of the proposed projects would occur in 2021.

Snowbowl’s management group, Mountain Capital Partners, plans to increase space for guest services, make room for additional parking and add a small medical clinic for the winter.

“It’s not uncommon for guests to experience long food lines, a lack of seating in the lodges and insufficient restrooms,” J.R. Murray, Snowbowl’s general manager, said in the release. “We, too, want our guests to go home with fond memories of their time on the mountain.

“In order to achieve this, we are planning for a capacity of 4,500 people to provide a great experience on even the busiest holidays.”

Snowbowl is also hoping building additional facilities for skiers will help mitigate mountain traffic, especially in the evening.

The resort said it plans to work with the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition to incorporate acceptable lighting fixtures for evening skiing on lower elevation slopes during weekends and holidays.

A winter tubing facility was also proposed on Snowbowl’s lower, western slope.

“By offering limited night skiing on 1% of the mountain’s skiable acreage, we’ll be able to provide additional outdoor recreation opportunities for local youth and groups,” Murray said in the release. “This will also help to disperse crowds and traffic, as skiers stay later on the mountain.”

Snowbowl also wants to add non-winter recreational activities such as mountain biking, an alpine slide, zip-line tours and outdoor concerts.

“Currently, the scenic chairlift operates from May to mid-October, which is very popular, and we’re seeing a positive response to the additional activities like summer tubing and a bungee trampoline that were added last year, but guests arrive expecting more,” Murray said.

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