What happens when a Netflix co-founder turns his attention from streaming to skiing? For Reed Hastings, it has meant taking control of one of Utah’s largest ski areas and attempting to reshape how a mountain resort operates. Hastings became the controlling owner of Powder Mountain in 2023 after investing $100 million, and his plans have since gone well beyond a conventional ski-resort upgrade. The project combines public skiing with an exclusive private community, new lifts, luxury amenities and a major residential expansion, with major new investments now expanding both its public and private skiing operations.According to Mansion Global, Hastings paid $100 million in 2023 to acquire a controlling share of the Powder Mountain project from its previous owners, Summit Series. The development’s first residential phase sold all 39 lots, and the second phase is now adding 34 larger homesites in a new neighbourhood called Prado, along with eight pre-built chalets.
Why Hastings bought Powder Mountain
Hastings’ connection to Powder Mountain predates his ownership of the resort. He and his wife had already purchased a home there after looking for an alternative to the crowds at Park City. In a 2026 interview reported by POWDER, Hastings said the mountain’s quieter atmosphere and fresh snow were major attractions. After spending about 25 years building Netflix, Hastings described Powder Mountain as an opportunity to work on something he cared about outside the technology and entertainment industries. He said he wanted to do something impactful and different from Netflix.The timing was also significant for Powder Mountain itself. Before Hastings took control, the resort had been struggling financially and had not been making money. Hastings’ strategy has been to use real estate and private skiing to generate revenue that could help fund improvements to the wider mountain.
A ski resort with public and private terrain
The most distinctive part of the plan is the decision to divide access between public skiers and homeowners. Powder Haven, the private residential community, gives homeowners access to private lifts and terrain. At the same time, the majority of Powder Mountain remains available to the general public. Hastings has argued that combining the two sides allows the private development to help finance infrastructure while preserving public skiing.The approach has not been without controversy. Reserving some terrain for homeowners represents a significant departure from the traditional public ski-resort model, and the idea of private skiing has drawn criticism from some members of the skiing community. Hastings, however, has compared the concept to private golf clubs operating alongside the much larger public golf sector.
Another $200 million for the mountain
Hastings has already invested heavily in infrastructure, and his plans call for another $200 million in spending, with much of that investment focused on the Powder Haven side of the project. The wider programme includes new lifts, upgraded infrastructure, improved homeowner services and a large private lodge with high-end amenities.On the public side, Powder Mountain has also been receiving significant upgrades. A $40 million programme announced in 2026 includes three lifts, all intended for public access. One of the biggest additions is the new Don’t Mention It, or DMI, chairlift, which is scheduled to open more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain to public skiers during the 2026–27 season.An upgraded Sundown lift and a new beginner-focused Doodle lift are also part of the public-side improvements. The resort is additionally planning a 15,000-square-foot Sundown base lodge with ski school facilities, rentals, food and beverage services and skier safety facilities.
Powder Haven enters its second phase
The private residential development is expanding alongside the public ski infrastructure. After all 39 lots in the first Powder Haven neighbourhood, Shelter Hill, sold out, the second phase is bringing 34 larger lots to Prado. Mansion Global reported that the Prado parcels range from one to 4.5 acres and start at about $4 million. Powder Haven is also offering eight pre-built chalets in Shelter Hill, with homes available in configurations of 3,600 or 5,400 square feet. Two new private ski lifts are also being added, bringing the community’s lift network to six and giving residents access to more than 3,000 skiable acres.
A different future for ski resorts?
Hastings’ experiment comes as major ski destinations across North America face concerns over crowds, ageing infrastructure and rising operating costs. Powder Mountain is deliberately avoiding the conventional mega-resort model and instead trying to make private real estate help support a broader skiing operation. The concept remains unusual, but Hastings believes the public-private arrangement could become a model for other mountains. As Powder Mountain adds lifts, homes and amenities, its success will ultimately depend on whether it can maintain the uncrowded character that attracted Hastings in the first place while making the economics of running a large ski area work.For now, the Utah mountain is becoming something more than a conventional ski resort: a hybrid destination where luxury private skiing and public access are being developed side by side.
