Ski Utah Resort Histories | Cherry Peak

Established: 2015

Claim to Fame: Cherry Peak is Utah’s newest full-service ski area behind Woodward Park City who opened last year. Cherry Peak is a family-owned and operated resort and it opens 100% of its terrain for night skiing and the prices are very affordable for students and families.

Unique Character: Cherry Peak is family owned and operated and you can tell the moment you step foot onto the property. This approachable and family-friendly resort is perfect for escaping the crowds or just getting away from it all. Should you partake in Cherry Peak’s extensive night skiing operation, you'll enjoy a beautiful sunset overlooking Cache Valley. Cherry Peak is a cinch to get to and you don't have to navigate any hairy canyon roads or mountain passes before hitting the slopes.

Terrain Info
Cherry Peak graces the northwestern slopes of the Bear River Range in Northern Utah near Richmond, Utah and the Idaho border. It is located just 30 minutes north of Logan, Utah. Being tucked amid the hills, the resort captures an intimate feel and its slopes welcome local night skiers. The entire mountain is illuminated at night for the enjoyment of skiers, snowboarders and tubers. Cherry Peak has 29 ski runs and a terrain park. There is a tubing center and it's a real treat to try tubing under the stars. Cherry Peak features three triple chairs and a lengthy magic carpet that is perfect for beginners.

What’s in a Name: Cherry Peak
Cherry Peak earned its name from the surrounding terrain in the Bear River Mountains. It is located east of Richmond, Utah in Cherry Canyon and very near Cherry Peak, which tops out at  9,765 feet in elevation. 

Founding: An Olympic Inspiration 
Cherry Peak is one of Utah’s newest resorts (just behind Woodward Park City) and debuted its slopes to skiers and snowboarders in Northern Utah for the 2015-16 season. The resort was founded with the aim of providing residents of nearby Logan, Cache Valley and the students of Utah State University with accessible and affordable skiing. 

Cherry Peak primarily attracts local residents and it's an awesome place to learn the art of skiing or snowboarding, try night skiing or to give snow tubing a try. In 2009, local property owner, John Chadwick, began exploring options and digging into proposals for a new resort. John is a long-time local of the Logan area and has a background in industrial development. He hoped to commemorate the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City with an Olympic-themed ski area. Locals in the area frequently used the property for enjoyment when cross-country skiing or alpine touring. 

Chadwick’s family purchased the property in 1967 and as a child, John had daydreamed about putting up a ski resort. In 2002, Chadwick sold a car to an Olympic Ski Coach from Argentina and the two ended up taking a ski run on his family’s property. The coach confirmed John’s suspicions that the area would make for great skiing and suggested he open a resort. 

It took several years to get all the permitting and permissions in place, but construction on Cherry Peak began in 2013. Chadwick financed the entire resort with private investors instead of obtaining loans. Carrying no debt allows the resort to be flexible regarding their capital investments and avoid troubles that plague other ski areas. Sparse snowfall in the beginning of the 2014 season forced the resort to delay its grand opening until December 21, 2015. 

Cherry Peak initially welcomed skiers and snowboarders with two chairlifts and five runs. The following summer they installed a third chairlift and expanded their grooming to 29 runs. In the summer months, Cherry Peak’s cozy Grand Lodge often hosts weddings and evening concerts can be heard echoing amongst the resort’s beautiful foothills. The very popular summer concert series offers guests a chance to enjoy the sunset while relaxing on the grass, don't miss it! 

QUICK FACTS & ZANY LEGENDS

• When first opened, Cherry Peak did not operate on Sundays, which was unusual for a ski area as it is typically one of the busiest days of the week. Cherry Peak began operating on Sundays on February 19, 2017. 
  
  
• All of Cherry Peak’s chairlifts have ties to great ski resorts across North America. All three were purchased from Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Valley and Squaw Valley. The Gateway was Blackcomb’s former Crystal Chair and Cherry Peak’s Vista Chair arrived from Sun Valley. 
  
  
• Prior to Cherry Peak, the only new ski resort in America built from the ground-up was Tamarack Resort in Idaho in 2004. 

Photo Credit: Cherry Peak & Ski Utah

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