Brighton Ski Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brighton Ski Resort |
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View from the resort
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 Brighton
Location in the United States
Brighton
Location in Utah
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| Location | Brighton, Utah, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Salt Lake City |
| Coordinates | 40°36′0″N 111°35′0″W / 40.60000°N 111.58333°W |
| Vertical | 1,750 feet (533 m) |
| Top elevation | 10,750 feet (3,277 m) |
| Base elevation | 8,755 feet (2,669 m) |
| Skiable area | 1,050 acres (4.2 km2) |
| Runs | 66 total 21% beginner 40% intermediate 39% expert/advanced |
| Longest run | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) |
| Lift system | 1 high-speed six pack 3 high-speed quads 1 fixed grip quad 1 triple |
| Terrain parks | Yes, 5 |
| Snowfall | 700 inches (58.3 ft; 17.8 m) |
Brighton Ski Resort is a fun place to ski and snowboard in the western United States. It is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon in Brighton, Utah. The resort is about 30 miles from Salt Lake City and is owned by Boyne Resorts.
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Discovering Brighton Ski Resort
Brighton Ski Resort was the very first ski resort in Utah. It was also one of the first in the entire United States! The resort began in 1936. Members of the Alpine Ski Club built a simple rope tow using wire and an old elevator motor.
Brighton's Early Days
The resort got its name from Thomas W. Brighton. He built some of the first buildings in the area. In 1943, Zane Doyle and Willard Jensen bought a T-bar lift. Later, in 1954, Willard thought it was a good idea to build a double chair lift. This was a big step for the resort.
In 1955, Zane's brother-in-law, Dean L Jensen, joined them. Together, they built the first double chair lift, called Mt Majestic. More lifts were added, and the resort grew. The Doyle and Jensen families owned and ran the ski area for many years.
Who Owns Brighton Now?
Boyne Resorts bought Brighton in 1986. They sold it to CNL Lifestyle in 2007 but continued to manage it. In 2016, Och-Ziff Capital Management bought the property. Then, in May 2018, Boyne Resorts bought Brighton back. They still own and operate it today.
A Focus on Fun Trails
Brighton is known as a "no-frills" resort. This means its main goal is to offer amazing trails for skiers and snowboarders. While you can find places to stay, eat, and shop, Brighton is not usually a "destination" resort. Most people who visit Brighton are locals from Utah. Many visitors stay in the greater Salt Lake City area. They often visit other ski resorts nearby too.
Exploring Brighton's Backcountry
Brighton is famous for its great backcountry access. This means you can reach areas outside the main resort boundaries. Visitors can buy special tickets to use the lifts to get to these backcountry gates. Brighton has exciting cliffs, chutes, bowls, and natural features. Many people say Brighton has some of the best snow in North America!
Public Land for Everyone
Brighton is located on public lands. The entire resort is part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This means the land is open to everyone all year round. However, you need to buy a ticket to use the ski lifts.
Special Deals and Neighboring Resorts
Brighton is a favorite among local skiers and snowboarders. The resort often has special deals to make skiing more affordable. For example, on some "Quad Wednesdays" in December, you can get a cheaper lift ticket. You just need to bring an item for a local charity.
Brighton is right next to Solitude Mountain Resort. You can buy a "Solbright Pass" to ski at both resorts. You can travel between them using specific runs like Solbright or Evergreen.
Skiing Under the Stars
Brighton offers some of the best night skiing in the western U.S. You can ski on over 200 acres of terrain. Six lifts operate at night, including the main mountain terrain park. Night skiing is available from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. This usually runs from early December to early April. Brighton is closed for night skiing on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.
Brighton's Snowboarding History
From the early 1990s into the 2000s, many top professional and amateur snowboarders called Brighton their home mountain.
Fun Facts About Brighton
The Disney Channel Original Movies, Johnny Tsunami and Cloud 9, were filmed at Brighton Ski Resort.
