Netflix’s co-founder will redevelop Utah resort right into a ‘skiable outside artwork museum’

A preferred resort in Utah might be reworked right into a luxurious “skiable outside artwork museum” after being acquired by Reed Hastings, the billionaire co-founder of Netflix, who will set up works by James Turrell, Jenny Holzer and others all through the mountaintop.

With 8,484 skiable acres, Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah, is the most important ski resort in North America by complete acreage. Beginning in 2026, the 12,100-acre property might be residence to a brand new artwork programme. Notable installations embrace a trailside gentle set up, Ganzfeld Apani (2011), which James Turrell initially created for the Venice Biennale. The resort mentioned it can additionally set up a significant work by Nancy Holt from the Eighties onsite. Items commissioned particularly for Powder Mountain will embrace a collection of textual content engravings on rocks by Jenny Holzer and an set up by Utah native Paul McCarthy rooted in American Western mythology.

“I grew up in Utah, and the affect of Utah and its mountains has been a essential a part of my work. I’m excited to have the chance to grasp a piece in that panorama. and to be part of constructing one thing particular at Powder Mountain,” McCarthy mentioned in an announcement. He instructed The New York Occasions his work would take the type of an Alpine hut and be located someplace on the mountain that’s “visually distant”.

EJ Hill—who constructed a practical indoor curler coaster on the Massachusetts Museum of Up to date Artwork final yr—has been tapped for a site-specific design for 2 of the mountain’s new ski lifts, and the artists Arthur Jafa, Nikita Gale, Gala Porras-Kim, Davina Semo and Raven Halfmoon are additionally finishing commissions for the resort, amongst others. All works might be owned by a non-profit being arrange by Hastings.

The primary season of programming was conceived by Matthew Thompson, the director of Powder Mountain’s new arts programme, chief artistic officer Alex Zhang and Diana Nawi, curator of latest artwork on the Los Angeles County Museum of Artwork.

The event has been met with a frosty reception by some residents of Eden, who say they’ve been priced out of having fun with the slopes. Powder Mountain first opened to the general public in 1972, and for many years was recognized for its “locals-only really feel”, in accordance with Deseret Information, a newspaper based mostly in Salt Lake Metropolis.

When Hastings acquired the resort final yr, he additionally inherited greater than $100m in debt. He moved to offset the invoice by sectioning off greater than 2,000 sq. miles of the mountain as soon as open to most people and setting it apart just for homeowners of an on-site group known as Powder Haven. Plots begin at $2m with yearly membership charges starting from $30,000 to $100,000.

“You possibly can’t afford it,” mentioned Rick Bruce, a retired firefighter who additionally labored part-time as pro-patrol on the resort for greater than 4 a long time, in accordance with Desert Information. “The overall really feel is that they’re pricing out the native guys.” (Grownup ski season passes for the general public part begin at $1,099 for the 2024/2025 season. Climbing and biking throughout summer time and fall is free.)

Hastings has defended his resolution, saying it is the one strategy to hold Powder Mountain economically viable, as Powder Haven will underwrite enhancements for the remainder of the resort. Invoice Holmes, Powder Mountain’s chief membership and group relations officer, instructed Deseret Information that earlier than the acquisition the resort was “dropping cash and piling up debt. The established order merely wasn’t sustainable.” He added that the brand new non-public providing would stop the resort from having to affix a ski resort megapass programme, which might result in crowds on the mountain.