Snow King Mountain is expanding its snow‑making capacity with 18 new guns, a move that local residents say will safeguard winter recreation after a sub‑optimal snowpack last season. The project, a joint effort between the resort and the nonprofit Jackson Hole Snow Devils, aims to keep the hill open for skiing and the high‑profile Hill Climb race.
According to Buckrail, the resort’s General Manager Ryan Stanley explained that nine of the new guns will serve the Exhibition trail, the historic course for the Hill Climb, while the other nine will be placed near the Rafferty chairlift for regular ski operations. The Snow Devils have agreed to finance the nine Exhibition guns over the next few years, and local lodging partners have also shown interest in supporting the effort.
The underground infrastructure—pipes, vaults and hydrants—was installed several years ago at a cost estimated between $2 million and $3 million. The 18 new snow‑making guns themselves carry a price tag of nearly $1 million. Stanley noted that “snowmaking on that entire run for a three‑day event is kind of a big deal,” underscoring the financial logic of sharing costs with the Snow Devils and other businesses.
The Hill Climb, a three‑day event scheduled for March 18‑21, 2027, draws more than 10,000 spectators and 300 racers from across North America, providing a significant economic boost to hotels and restaurants at the end of the ski season. The race has been canceled only four times in its 51‑year history: in 1981 and 2026 for lack of snow, in 2015 for avalanche danger, and in 2020 due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Snow Devils President Mike Robertson cautioned that “snowmaking doesn’t guarantee anything,” but added that it gives the club the ability to build a course even in a low‑snow year like 2026.
Since 2001, the Snow Devils nonprofit has donated nearly $2 million to local families, nonprofits and scholarship recipients, including $270,500 to Wyoming State Snowmobile Association scholarships. The new guns are ready for operation and await cold weather, which Stanley hopes will arrive by mid‑November. The resort’s anticipated opening date is Friday, Dec. 4, and the community looks forward to a reliable snow base for both everyday skiers and the upcoming Hill Climb.
What’s next: Snow King expects the new snow‑making system to start producing snow by mid‑November, followed by the resort’s official opening on Dec. 4. The Hill Climb will take place March 18‑21, 2027, with the Snow Devils continuing their public fundraising campaign to support ongoing snow‑making costs.
Sources: buckrail.com
