Early on a Thursday morning in June, the waiting room at the Fort Snelling immigration court was nearing capacity.
The court sits inside the Henry Bishop Whipple Federal Building, which had served as the headquarters for immigration enforcement agents during Operation Metro Surge and was the site of near-daily protests this winter.
According to the dockets pinned to a board under each judge’s name, many were here to seek asylum — a protection that would grant them legal status in the United States if they could prove a specific, legally enumerated fear of returning home, offered under international law and treaties the U.S. has been party to for decades.
Immigrants from all corners of the globe — Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas — sat or stood where they could while they waited for the 8:30 a.m. mass hearing to begin. Another reporter spoke with the head of the court observers to glean what details he could about the process.
I played a version of musical chairs, finding the rare empty seat next to a group, introducing myself, and asking if they would be willing to share their stories. More often than not, I was waved away by one of the handful of lawyers present, told no by a friend or family member, or was simply faced with a stoic stare, a furrowed brow, or a painful sob that told me they were too worried about the next half-hour of their future to explain to a stranger the events that had brought them there.
Statistically, these asylum seekers were almost guaranteed to see their cases fail. The asylum grant rate at Fort Snelling has fallen to less than 2% during the second Trump administration — down from more than 10% in 2024, the final full year of the Biden administration, and from over 28% in the final full year of the first Trump administration. For some of the countries that make up the largest share of cases at the court, such as Ecuador, the grant rate is now close to zero.
Related: Immigrants fleeing gang violence see door to asylum closing at Fort Snelling immigration court
These impending denials are not anomalies. They are the result of what immigration lawyers and legal scholars describe as a deliberate, multi-pronged tightening of the asylum system.
That day in court, I met Sofia, an Indigenous Ecuadorian national who has lived in the United States for three years and was scheduled to have her initial asylum hearing next year. I am not using her real name, to protect her from the people she says she fled. “I came here for a better life and to have the American dream,” she said.
Then, in late May, a letter from immigration authorities told her that the hearing — where a judge could decide to send her back to Ecuador, a place she feared persecution by the government and by gangs, or to a so-called “safe third country” — would happen the following week.
This gave her scant time to do what needed doing. She scrambled to find a friend to drive her into the Twin Cities from South Dakota. That friend had to take off work and arrange childcare for the multi-day trip. They had to find lodging and try to line up a lawyer in time.
After spending the previous night at a hotel near the airport, she sat, visibly exhausted, among dozens of immigrants, along with a handful of young children, lawyers and observers, in the crowded waiting room.
Asked to describe what she wanted from this hearing, she answered simply: “I hope that everything goes well.”
Shortly after 8:30, a clerk asked the group to line up and walk, single file, into Judge Monte Miller’s court.
The group was smaller than a few days earlier, when 73 immigrants were ordered to appear simultaneously in a “mega masters” hearing, but the court was still packed to capacity, leaving several observers waiting outside.
To Sofia, the size of the dockets was not incidental. The large, crowded hearings, she said, “are meant to scare people.” Some of her friends have been afraid to show up for their own hearings, she added, “because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The Executive Office of Immigration Review, which houses the Board of Immigration Appeals, disputes that characterization. Such large dockets are routine, the agency said; each case is still heard separately and afforded due process, and all immigration courts are prepared to hold larger ones as needed. At a master calendar hearing, the agency said, the judge explains the immigrant’s rights and the charges against them, takes any plea, and — if the person is found removable and wants to seek protection — schedules a separate merits hearing where both sides can present evidence.
Few final decisions were made at that characteristically large hearing of about two dozen immigrants. But the data shows that by the time they reach the end of their proceedings, the overwhelming majority of those seeking asylum will have been denied safe harbor in the United States. Most will be ordered deported — back to their country of origin, or to one of a growing number of countries the U.S. has struck agreements with to take in asylum seekers, some with limited immigration infrastructure and inconsistent human rights records.
Between the procedural changes at the court itself, the closing of certain hearings to observers, the increase in out-of-state judges hearing cases, the shock-and-awe campaign of Operation Metro Surge and Minnesotans’ response to it, the detentions of immigrants and protestors, and watching the data consistently show a dropoff in asylum grant rates at Fort Snelling, it has been an incredible time to observe and report on what is happening to our fast-changing immigration system.
Deer Valley’s new terrain expansion is one of the most ambitious projects in modern skiing. The resort plans to nearly double its skiable terrain while maintaining the industry-leading standards it’s known for. We spent an extended trip in early 2026 skiing the new footprint alongside Deer Valley representatives and Olympic skier Fuzz Feddersen to see how it all came together.
Construction is still ongoing, and this season marked the worst snow year in Deer Valley’s history. Even so, we found the new terrain diverse and distinct, yet seamlessly integrated into the legacy Deer Valley experience.
This guide introduces the terrain, lifts, and base-area amenities in Deer Valley’s East Village so you can make the most of the Expanded Excellence initiative.
East Village: A Second Front Door
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Deer Valley East Village is seamlessly connected on the slopes, but geographically separate from the main resort, and that separation works in its favor. Accessed via US-189, it bypasses Park City traffic entirely.
Yes, it’s still a work in progress. You’ll see active construction throughout the base area. But the core infrastructure is already in place, and it functions like a fully supported ski base. What’s here now works and what’s coming will only enhance it.
The East Village base area delivers the Deer Valley essentials: free parking, rental shop, ski valet, and East Village Restaurant, where a bowl of the resort’s signature chili tastes especially good on a cold afternoon.
Where to Stay in East Village (25/26 Season)
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
For the 25/26 season, the clear lodging choice is the newly completed Grand Hyatt. It offers a signature restaurant, on-site Ski Butlers rentals, a full spa, and shuttle service to Park City and Snow Park. There’s no ski-in/ski-out access yet, but a short shuttle brings you directly to the East Village base.
Additional hotels are expected to open for 26/27, which will further transform East Village into a true walkable ski hub.
We found the Grand Hyatt welcoming and highly functional, particularly with Ski Butlers on-site and a massive locker room that makes gearing up painless. Their High Hot Chocolate service, modeled after high tea but featuring locally processed cocoa, may become a new tradition for us. It’s indulgent enough to stand in for a light meal or serve as a sweet reset between Park City’s famously rich dinners.
The only logistical wrinkle is shuttle coverage. Service does not extend to Empire Canyon (Fireside Dining) or Silver Lake (Stein Eriksen Lodge, Mariposa), so a bit of planning is required. Still, between Snow Park (St. Regis, Cast & Cut) and downtown Park City, dining options are abundant. With new hotels opening next season, you may soon be able to walk to a different restaurant every night and still not try them all.
Snow Science: The Engine Behind the Expansion
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Deer Valley’s reputation has always been built on snow quality, from immaculate corduroy to sophisticated snowmaking. The expansion continues that legacy in a serious way.
The new terrain draws most of its water from Jordanelle Reservoir. Roughly 80 miles of new snowmaking pipe now support more than 1,200 high-efficiency snow guns. The reservoir isn’t just scenic, it’s foundational.
What’s more impressive is the sustainability loop. Deer Valley is allocated just 1% of the reservoir’s available water. Through dedicated irrigation channels, approximately 80% of that allotment is returned by season’s end. Combined with an expanded grooming fleet, that system allowed the resort to open a record number of runs during a historically hot and dry winter.
If you’re wondering how the terrain skied so well in a lean year, this is your answer.
East Village Gondola: The Spine of the New Terrain
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
The 10-passenger high-speed East Village Gondola is one of the two primary lifts out of the base area. It’s a 15-minute, 3,000-vertical-foot ride to Park Peak (9,350’), with a mid-station at Big Dutch Peak (8,170’).
From Park Peak, you access some of Utah’s longest runs along with terrain served by Pinyon Express and the Vulcan Express / Revelator Express lifts.
Green Monster is the headline act: a 4.85-mile green descent between Park Peak and Baldy Mountain, nearly 40% longer than Park City Mountain’s Home Run. It weaves between two blues: Carbonite, which drops along the ridge, and Age of Reason, which follows the valley floor.
Deer Valley partnered with longtime Mountain Host Michael O’Malley to name the new terrain in ways that honor both local mining history and the resort’s evolving identity. “Green Monster” references a Wasatch County copper mine, though you’ll never convince me there isn’t a double entendre for the 37-foot-tall wall in Fenway Park that has foiled many home runs. Common sense tells us that “Age of Reason” is an homage to Thomas Paine, and I could imagine cruising down the exposed ridge would freeze you like the compound that imprisoned Han Solo. However, “Carbonite” is a nod to Park City’s silver mining legacy.
Names aside, the terrain progression is smart. Carbonite offers a manageable ridge experience before committing to Redemption Ridge. And if confidence wavers, Green Monster provides a bailout.
Another thoughtful touch is Corduroy Lunch. Select freshly groomed terrain off the gondola’s mid-station remains roped until noon. Carving fresh tracks midday is a true afternoon delight.
Keetley Express: The Connector
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Keetley Express is the other primary East Village lift and likely the fastest gateway back to legacy Deer Valley terrain. After the 1.25-mile ride up, a short ski down Road to Sultan brings you to Sultan Express.
Of course, you have to take Sultan up the mountain before you get back to skiing. That sets you up for over 5 continuous miles of green runs if you combine Homeward Bound with McHenry, or take a run on the classic black Stein’s Way. You could also use connectors to access the lower half of Green Monster or McHenry directly, or try the plethora of intermediate runs off Keetley Point.
Advanced skiers should keep Keetley on their radar as well. When conditions align, it’s a sneaky access point to Mayflower Bowl and its quiet pocket of expert terrain.
Aurora: Small but Essential
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Aurora is easy to underestimate. It’s only about 700 feet long and takes two minutes to ride, but it plays a crucial role.
It’s the return lift from McHenry, which connects directly to Silver Lake Lodge, and it services Keetley Point terrain. There’s also a confusing sign near the top of Aurora on Green Monster directing skiers left toward East Village. If you follow it, you’ll earn a short Aurora ride, and remember to hang right next time if you want to return directly to Keetley and the gondola.
These lifts rise from one of the steepest valleys in the Deer Valley footprint, so steep that lift towers had to be installed by helicopter.
Redemption Ridge is the signature descent, often described as Stein’s Way on steroids. At roughly twice the length of Stein’s, it drops 2,700 vertical feet over 2.5 miles. Once you commit, you’re in it, with steeper, more technical lines breaking off the ridgeline into the valley.
If that feels ambitious, start on Stein’s to calibrate. Carbonite also offers a similar exposed-ridge experience that’s much more forgiving. But If the snow is right and you can hang, Redemption could be your saving grace from the Bambi Basin blues.
Pinyon Express: High-Alpine Access for Everyone
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Pinyon Express and Revelator both reach Park Peak, but their personalities diverge from there.
Pinyon serves a beginner-friendly zone on the north side of Park Peak, allowing newer skiers to experience high-mountain terrain without intimidation. Clipper stands out because it also connects the East Village Gondola back into legacy Deer Valley terrain, but there are multiple easy route options.
Because Pinyon sits right at the boundary between old and new terrain, it functions as a seamless crossover point. Novice skiers and ski classes can access this alpine playground from either side of the resort.
The Future of Deer Valley Is Already Underfoot
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
It would be easy to judge an expansion like this on acreage alone. Nearly doubling skiable terrain is headline material in any snow year, let alone the driest season in resort history. But what impressed us most wasn’t the scale; it was the intention.
Expanded Excellence doesn’t feel bolted on. It feels studied. Deliberate. The lift placements make sense. The terrain progression makes sense. Even the names tell a story. You can ski a 4.85-mile green down Green Monster, test your mettle on Redemption Ridge, duck into legacy terrain off Keetley, and end the day with corduroy that rivals anything Deer Valley has ever groomed, all without feeling like you’ve left the original footprint of the resort.
That’s no small feat.
Skiing with Olympic veteran Fuzz Feddersen gave us an insider’s lens, but even without that access, the throughline is obvious: Deer Valley isn’t chasing growth for growth’s sake. They’re building a second front door that will eventually feel as iconic as Snow Park or Silver Lake, and they’re doing it with the same snow science, guest service, and meticulous grooming that built their reputation in the first place.
East Village still hums with construction equipment. You’ll see cranes on the skyline and fresh dirt where hotels will soon rise. But beneath that temporary noise is something permanent: infrastructure that works, terrain that skis well in lean years, and a blueprint that positions Deer Valley for the next several decades.
If this was Expanded Excellence in the worst snow year on record, it’s hard to imagine what it will feel like in a banner winter.
One thing is certain: the future of Deer Valley isn’t coming. It’s already here!
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Disclosure: A big thank you to Deer Valley Resort for hosting us, setting up a fantastic itinerary, and usage of some of the images throughout (image credit in hover text ).
As always, the views and opinions expressed are entirely our own, and we only recommend brands and destinations that we 100% stand behind.
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Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
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