Nonprofit Breaks Ground on Adaptive Skiing Center in Park City, Utah

The National Ability Center’s new building looks to provide more space to give people of all abilities more opportunities on the mountain.

The National Ability Center (NAC) broke ground on Aug. 9 on a new adaptive skiing facility in Park City Mountain, Utah. Named the McGrath Family Mountain Center, the building will offer expanded services for adaptive athletes.

The NAC said on Instagram that the coming facility represents a “culmination of years of planning, coordination, patience, and hard work by many.”

It will allow the nonprofit to continue its adaptive ski and snowboard program. The program provides equipment and support to athletes of varying physical abilities, allowing them to participate in outdoor winter sports.

For 23 years, this program has operated out of a “temporary” double-wide trailer. Now, thanks to multiple donors, Park City will get a brand-new building. Donors include Vail Resorts EpicPromise and the State of Utah, NAC leaders said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by National Ability Center (@nationalabilitycenter)

Bigger Building, Bigger Program

The McGrath Family Mountain Center will sit slopeside at the base of Park City Mountain. That’s only possible because of a historic 50-year land lease with Vail Resorts, the NAC said in a press release.

The new facility should be finished by next summer and will feature two stories and 9,400 square feet. It will cost about $6.5 million and includes office space, a reception area, and locker rooms for adaptive athletes and coaches.

Most importantly, the expanded space will open opportunities to more visitors. With so much more room to work, the NAC can offer more people with disabilities the chance to participate in ski and snowboard programs.

The new facility will also have on-site restroom facilities for NAC participants and their families. That’s a major upgrade from the current reliance on the resort’s restrooms, which are all located outside the existing center, the press release said.

A Word From the National Ability Center

“Words cannot express how thrilled we are to have finally broken ground on the McGrath Family Mountain Center,” said Dan Glasser, CEO of the NAC. “This project has been six years in the making, and we owe it to our incredible partnership with Vail Resorts, Park City Mountain, Big-D Signature, Architectural Nexus and the town of Park City for their help in bringing our dream project to fruition.”

Glasser added, “The new McGrath Family Mountain Center will benefit thousands of individuals and families in need of adaptive recreation and adventure programs.”

Adaptive Athlete Runs 104 Marathons in 104 Days & More Stories to Start Your Week

This is GJ's wrap on exploration and adventure news of the week. Here’s what you missed and a few things to look forward to. Read more…

Meet Sonya Wilson: Climbing Role Model, and Eddie Bauer's First Deaf Climbing Guide

What does representation in climbing look like? It looks like climbers of all abilities getting inclusion, access, and working together to progress in the sport. Deaf climber Sonya Wilson is facilitating that in a big way. Read more…