Bonanza Flat Conservation
Background
Bonanza Flat is an over 1,500-acre conservation area at the top of Guardsman Pass, spanning Summit and Wasatch counties. The landscape is characterized by alpine meadows, aspen groves, wildflowers, several alpine lakes, and includes the popular Bloods Lake Trail.
In 2016, the area faced imminent development pressure. To protect it, Park City Municipal and Utah Open Lands spearheaded a community-driven conservation campaign. Park City voters approved a $25 million bond, and with additional contributions from three counties, three cities, public agencies, and 11 nonprofit organizations, the remaining $13 million was raised to meet the $38 million purchase price.
The land is now protected under a conservation easement and managed by Utah Open Lands in consultation with local stakeholders. A comprehensive management plan, adopted in 2020, balances recreation access with ecological preservation. Bonanza Flat stands as an example of a successful community-driven conservation effort to protect a pristine natural area from development.
How Bonanza Flat Ended Up for Sale
Bonanza Flat was originally owned by United Park City Mines, a company with deep landholdings dating back to Park City’s mining era. In 2003, Canadian-based Talisker Land Holdings LLC acquired the United Park City Mines company and ownership of Bonanza Flat and the Canyons Resort ski area.
As the global financial crisis laid waste to the real estate market, Talisker defaulted on major loans in 2011. Lenders – including Wells Fargo and Midtown Acquisitions – took control of its land assets, Bonanza Flat among them. Those assets were then transferred to Redus, LLC, a holding entity established to manage and sell the foreclosed properties.
Redus’s goal was to maximize recovery value on the defaulted loans. The $38 million asking price for Bonanza Flat reflected market valuation and it did not matter to them who purchased the property or how the land would be used. When news got out that Redus was negotiating with a developer, the local community mobilized and successfully raised the funds to purchase and permanently protect the land.
Could Brighton Do a Bonanza Flat on Old Stage Road?
In theory, yes. A coalition of the Town of Brighton, public agencies, nonprofits, and private donors could attempt a Bonanza Flat–style purchase of the Old Stage Road parcels.
The problem is the time to buy the Old Stage Road property was before it was purchased by Solitude. Unless Solitude is willing to sell – or has an incentive for a land exchange with the Forest Service (as once envisioned in the Mountain Accord) – it is unlikely they would be interested in a conservation sale.
Estimates in 2023 suggested the Old Stage parcels might be worth $1–1.5 million. That would have been within community fundraising reach, but the current owner hasn’t indicated any willingness to part with the property. As we know, they believe it is a solution to a parking problem.
A more realistic option may be a conservation easement – where Solitude retains ownership but agrees to permanent limits on development in exchange for incentives. What those incentives might look like remains an open question.
Sources:
Park City Municipal Corporation. Park City acquires Bonanza Flat, grandest of all land deals. June 16, 2017. https://parkcity.gov/Home/Components/News/News/20370/23?arch=1
TownLift. New trail enhances access to Bonanza Flat Conservation Area. August 28, 2024. https://townlift.com/2024/08/new-trail-enhances-access-to-bonanza-flat-conservation-area/
Ski Utah. Ski Utah Resort Histories: Park City Mountain. June 28, 2021. https://www.skiutah.com/blog/authors/lexi/ski-utah-resort-histories-park-city/
Utah Open Lands. Bonanza Flat Conservation Area. https://www.utahopenlands.org/bonanza-flat
Park City Municipal Corporation. Bonanza Flat Conservation Area Overview. https://parkcity.gov/departments/trails-open-space/what-we-do/open-space/bonanza-flat-conservation-area