ALTA, Wyo. — Grand Targhee Resort is gearing up for another winter and this season will come with some major upgrades to the guest experience.
The most exciting news is that the brand-new Colter Lift on Peaked Mountain is on track to open this winter. The lift will transport up to 2,000 people per hour, gain 1,815 vertical feet in just over five minutes and provide 30% more skiing and riding with the addition of the new terrain on Peaked Mountain.
Grand Targhee is known for high elevation deep powder skiing and riding and an uncrowded experience in the magical Tetons of western Wyoming. “We put the skier and rider experience at the forefront of everything we do. We talk about having very few crowds or lift lines, and that special Targhee vibe. This expansion, adding 30% more terrain, allows us to keep and enhance that experience,” said Geordie Gillett, Grand Targhee Resort’s general manager.
Runs off the Colter Lift include:
- Rendezvous (Blue)
- Jack Straw (Blue)
- Poudrerie (Blue)
- Pierre’s Hole (Black)
- Beaver Dick’s (Black)
- Silver Jae (Black) – named for Jaelin Kauf, our hometown Olympic silvermedalist
- Eleanor (Black) – named for Eleanor Davis, the first woman to climb the GrandTeton in 1923.
- Tanglefoot (Black)
- Rolling Thunder (Blue) – named for one of the peaks in the Tetons, but it’s also agreat description of the terrain, as it rolls along and offers beautiful views of theTetons.
- Paintbrush (Blue)
- Ermine (Blue)
Bobcat (Double Black), Reliable (Double Black), Otter Dog (Double Black) and Cornice Interruptus (Double Black) off the north face of Peaked will also now be accessible when conditions allow from the Colter Lift. These runs were previously only accessible by hiking when open.
The Colter Lift is the first expansion at Grand Targhee Resort since the addition of Sacajawea in 2001, which added 500 acres of terrain. The new lift is named after explorer John Colter. Known as a fearless mountain man, he was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition and is believed to have explored the Greater Yellowstone area extensively.
In addition to adding terrain, the resort is also investing in a new online platform to improve the visitor experience. In mid-October, Grand Targhee will unveil a brand-new website and booking platform making information easier to find and online bookings easier to complete.
Starting on Oct. 17th all Grand Targhee’s winter products will be available for online booking. This includes lift tickets, ski school and rentals. Lodging and season pass purchases are currently being accepted online or via our reservations call center.
This internal upgrade includes investing in RFID cards rather than using paper tickets. The Targhee Card is Grand Targhee’s daily lift access RFID card. When guests purchase their Targhee Card in advance, they can get to the lifts faster since it is no longer necessary to wait in line to get lift tickets. The resort will have three pick-up boxes in the Plaza and one pick-up box at lodging check in. Pick-up boxes operate like vending machines, where scanning the confirmation QR code initiates the printing and distribution of a Targhee Card. Targhee Cards are reloadable online, so once guests have purchased their Targhee Card, they’re able to continue to reuse it for seasons to come.
Season passes will also be upgraded to RFID cards, but still need to be picked up at the Activity Center or shipped to guests, if elected during the checkout process. However, with this new technology, guests will no longer need to take their pass out of their jackets to scan.
Half of the slopeside Teewinot Lodge underwent a major renovation this summer. Starting this winter, Teewinot Premier Rooms will be available. These freshly appointed new rooms will offer options for two queen beds or one king bed and handsome new furnishings that add comfort to a stay while maintaining the personality of Targhee. The lobby also underwent a major renovation, updating the layout to provide a comfortable common space with cozy couches so guests can relax and spend time with friends alongside the large stone fireplace. The other half of the lodge will be renovated next summer with the second phase completed for the 23/24 winter season.
The completion of the Colter Lift, the new website and tech improvements and the Teewinot Lodge renovation are the last elements of over $30 million of investments at the resort over the last two years. From discovering Grand Targhee online, to booking a trip, to enjoying diversified terrain from peak to peak, every improvement Grand Targhee implements puts the guest experience first.
Grand Targhee’s winter opening day is Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, conditions permitting.
For more information on Grand Targhee Resort, please visit GrandTarghee.com.
