Snow King Mountain
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2022) |
| Snow King Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Snow King Mountain in March 2024 | |
  Jackson Location in the United States  Jackson Location in Wyoming | |
| Location | Jackson, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 43°28′19″N 110°45′40″W / 43.472°N 110.761°W |
| Status | Active |
| Vertical | 1,571 ft (479 m) |
| Top elevation | 7,808 ft (2,380 m) |
| Base elevation | 6,237 ft (1,901 m) |
| Skiable area | 400 acres (1.6 km2) |
| Trails | 35 |
| Longest run | 0.9 miles (1.4 km) |
| Lift system | 3 chairlifts 1 rope tow 1 gondola 3 Magic carpet lifts |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Snowfall | 500 in (1,270 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 150 acres (0.6 km2) |
| Website | www |
Snow King Mountain is a summer and winter resort in the western United States, in Jackson, Wyoming. The mountain is Jackson's original 1936 ski hill, located on the southeast edge of the city,[1] and was the first ski area in Wyoming.[2] Locals sometimes refer to Snow King as "The Town Hill," and it offers skiing, hiking, an alpine slide, and a planetarium.
History
[edit]In 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps created a switch-back horse and hiking trail to the top of the mountain and the trail became one of Snow King's first skiing racecourses. The Jackson Hole Ski Club was established in 1937, and two years later lift-served skiing began on Wyoming's first ski area with the addition of a 4,000-foot (1,220 m) rope tow. While previously named Kelly's Hill or the town hill, it was officially named Snow King in 1938.[3] The first chairlift was installed in 1946, a converted ore tram from Salida, Colorado that utilized single-chairs instead of ore cars. In the 1950s, the single-chairs were replaced with double chairs.[4]
In 1978, The Rafferty double was constructed on the east slopes of the resort near the Snow King Hotel.[5] A double chairlift was installed in 1981 and known as the Summit lift.[6]
In the summer of 2014, after almost 35 years of service, the Rafferty Double chair was removed and replaced by a Doppelmayr quad chairlift going four hundred feet higher than the prior lift.[7] The Summit lift was uninstalled in 2021 and replaced by a gondola lift.[6] Manufactured by Leitner-Poma, each gondola car can ferry eight passengers from the base of the mountain to the summit.[8]
In 2025, the hotel at the base of the mountain, Snow King Resort, was sold to Castle Peak Holdings for an undisclosed amount, purportedly around $84 million USD. There are plans to renovate the hotel and potentially expand the hotel by adding more wings to the building.[9]
Attractions
[edit]
Outside of the skiing, Snow King features several other attractions. The gondola is open year round, operating as a ski lift in the winter and a scenic transport in the summer months. In 2015, the Cowboy Coaster, a 1,660 feet (510 m) alpine coaster opened. The coaster is open year round, and can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h)[3] In 2022, a 2,820 feet (860 m) long zipline opened that can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).[10] The resort also features a miniature golf course, an alpine slide, and a maze.[3] Snow King Observatory and Planetarium opened at the summit in 2024.[11]
Lifts
[edit]The resort features three chairlifts, one rope tow, three magic carpet lifts, and a gondola lift.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Heading for Jackson 1,600 feet below". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (AP photo). March 1, 1950. p. 10. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Nichols, Jake (May 4, 2023). "Vintage Photos Of Wyoming's Snow King 'Chairlift Of Death' Has Internet Buzzing: Is This For Real?". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c Nichols, Jake (February 24, 2024). "Wyoming's Year-Round Roller Coaster: You Can Ride It During A Blizzard". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Royster, Whitney (March 24, 2021). "Steep, dark and cold: A farewell to the Summit Lift". Jackson Hole News & Guide. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Graham, Ben (April 1, 2015). "Snow King is historic — but not too historic". Jackson Hole News & Guide. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Vallen, Lindsay (May 25, 2021). "Snow King to sell Summit Lift chairs". Buckrail. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Landsman, Peter (May 18, 2015). "Snow King Rafferty Construction". Lift Blog. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ "SNAPPED: Helicopter carries gondola towers up Snow King". Buckrail. October 3, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Arnold, Billy (April 16, 2025). "Snow King Resort hotel, base area — but not ski hill — sold for at least $84 million". Jackson Hole News & Guide. Archived from the original on April 16, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Robinson-Johnson, Evan (June 1, 2022). "Snow King's new zip line requires upper body strength". Jackson Hole News & Guide. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Arnold, Billy (June 5, 2024). "As Snow King observatory opens, Bill Nye makes childhood dreams come true". Jackson Hole News & Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Vallen, Lindsay (December 13, 2021). "Scenic rides only to start for Snow King's new gondola". Buckrail. Retrieved June 5, 2025.