Jackson Town Council approves Snow King improvements
Jackson’s town council approved Snow King Mountain’s minor development application by a vote of 4-1.
Snow King Mountain’s proposal includes a new lodge, a mountain coaster and replacing the 35-year-old Rafferty chairlift by also extending it roughly 1,000 feet.
Snow King Mountain wanted the minor development application application approved because the alternative, an intermediate development plan, would require more public notice, planning commission recommendations, but, most of all, more time.
The proposed improvements are an effort to stop the financial bleeding that barely keeps the mountain operating in the summer. Ryan Stanley, the general manager of the mountain, said they have the investors now, and to put the plans in motion they need to make down payments next week.
“In order to implement these activities in the summer of 2014, we need to put down payments on the coaster, which is manufactured in Germany,” said Stanley. “The fact of the matter is, if you can’t do these things in the summer months and make money from them we really suffer another year of financial losses.”
At the full meeting, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Snow King Resort, skiers and others spoke in support. On the other hand, several people, some who live nearby, asked the council to not approve the minor development application so everyone in town could discuss the impact of the improvements further.
