Park Record file photo
As Woodward Park City entered the 2020-21 winter season, it did so like other ski areas, under the shadow of COVID-19. With time to prepare and with lessons learned from the summer season, though, the resort’s leadership says the season is off to a smooth start.
A major new addition to Woodward Park City comes in the form of new General Manager Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson.
Gunnarson took the reins at the action-sports and ski resort in September after joining parent company Powdr’s leadership team in 2018. Gunnarson has an ideal resume for the job. A former professional snowboarder and the founder and former president of Snow Park Technologies, Gunnarson spent time in Big Bear, California, as well as Lake Tahoe before moving to Park City, and he served previously as terrain park sub-committee chairman for the National Ski Areas Association.
Park Record file photo
It’s a common sight for those lucky enough to get a spot on the hill at Park City area ski resorts: people in lift lines without masks, or with a nose hanging out, often standing within 6 feet of each other.
Skiing and snowboarding can offer a brief reprieve from the pandemic, an outdoor activity that feels different and safer than many aspects of everyday life.
But officials say the coronavirus can still spread even in the most beautiful settings, and the same mask-wearing and social distancing rules remain in effect at resorts as everywhere else: Guests must wear a mask over their nose and mouth and maintain 6 feet of distance from people who live in different households.
There’s a reason so many people move here from elsewhere and thousands of people visit each winter: Park City is a snow lover’s paradise. As those familiar with everything our town offers this time of year can attest, you do not need to leave Summit County’s borders for an unforgettable ski vacation or adventure.
But those who have the itch to explore will discover winter magic outside of Park City, too. Here are a few destinations
worth checking out.
Midway
Just a short drive from Park City to the south sits the charming town of Midway, which was founded by Swiss families in the 1800s and still bears the markings of its origins in Swiss-styled architecture. One of the most popular attractions is the Ice Castles, featuring massive man-made ice towers and caverns it’s a great way to spend a winter’s evening with the family. Nearby is a large outdoor ice skating rink that operates throughout the winter, and Midway also has many inviting restaurants
Woodward Tahoe – California, USA
Square improves the guest experience across retail, dining, and other ski mountain venues, and makes commerce easy for customers and staff alike. For example, at food halls on-mountain, many resorts are using self-serve ordering through Square Online to enable order-ahead, pickup, and in-seat delivery. Customers simply scan a QR code from their own mobile devices to purchase lunch to refuel midday or a round of après-ski drinks, while staying socially distant from employees and other guests. This summer, guests at Lee Canyon’s Bighorn Grill used Square Online Store to buy food and alcohol for taking up the chairlift to enjoy while hiking or playing disc golf.