Utah ski resort sold amid long legal battle

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — One of Utah's largest ski areas will be sold to Vail Resorts Inc., resolving a legal battle between two ski titans and paving the way for the creation of what could be the country's largest resort.

The $182.5 million deal gives Vail the base area and parking lot at Park City Mountain Resort, east of Salt Lake City. The Colorado-based company already is leasing the upper 3,000 acres of slopes, but couldn't use them without the base area owned by Powdr Corp.

The deal announced Thursday will allow Vail to join Park City with the Canyons ski area, which it also leased from real estate company Talisker.

Vail CEO Rob Katz said when the two adjacent resorts are connected with a lift in the future, the resulting 7,000-acre resort will be the largest in the country.