Winters in Sundance, Utah, are harsh, with steep, mountainous terrain, heavy snowfall and overnight accumulation. For Stewart Mountain Lodging, though, this amount of snow is the norm, and removing it is not simply cosmetic — it directly impacts safety, access and the guest experience.
The resort consists of 40 rental properties spread across roughly four square miles. Guests must have reliable access to their ski lessons, activities and departures, says Brad Stewart, owner of Stewart Mountain Lodging. However, rapid accumulation either at midday or overnight complicates that, as guests cannot readily traverse the hazardous roads, which are also on steep grades.
“Snow removal is pivotal to enable guests to get to and from their property or to and from the local ski resort,” says Stewart.
Given this, access is not just about plowing roads; it’s rather about ensuring that guests can confidently come and go in the area despite the snow.
With different types of snow, such as light, powdery snow versus heavy wet accumulation, the removal tools must remain adaptable. For example, with heavier wet snow, a snow blower is not effective since the chute will get plugged up, Stewart says. In these conditions, he instead switches to a bucket or blade attachment to move snow out of the way.
“It’s the versatility of this equipment and these attachments that really give me the ability to respond to the guest need for access,” he says.
Another scenario is when the area gets rainfall during the daytime hours, meaning it will then freeze overnight, causing ice-covered roadways. For this, Stewart uses a sanding attachment for his machine that allows him to sand the driveways and roadways, giving guests better traction and less risk of collision.
Stewart adds that the versatility of the snow removal equipment also enables him to dispatch his teams to do pre-arrival clearing. This helps guests have better access to the properties once they get to the resort.
Additionally, there is another snow removal service in this area that runs plow trucks around the mountain, which sometimes leave big windrows in front of the driveways. That can be obstructive for guests trying to access or leave the property.
“This event gives us the ability to move around to these properties quickly and remove those windrows out of the way of the driveway,” says Stewart.
For facilities managers of resorts and similar properties, investing in equipment versatility is key over raw horsepower. This is because adaptability allows for facilities teams to meet the moment effectively instead of scrambling to get a roadway cleared. Moreover, managers must build operational plans around safety and response time to manage snow removal efficiently.
Overall, in mountain hospitality, winter operations are not just about clearing snow—they are about preserving access, protecting safety and making sure the guest experience begins the second tires hit the driveway.
Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market.
