"We were able to extend the season, which is a nice way to give back to our local riders and skiers," said Lawson. "Those are the ones who are around to benefit from an extra week of skiing."

Snowbird also extended its season, thanks to the generous supply of snow.

"We ended up with 194 days of skiing," said Jared Ishkanian, spokesman for Snowbird, "which is a really long ski season. The weather definitely helped offset the tough economic times. Overall, it was a very positive winter for us."

Attracting summer visitors is a more recent endeavor at Snowbird, although some activities have been offered for years. Recent additions make the resort much more than a pretty hillside.

"We offer an all-day activities pass for $32 for an adult, and we definitely attract a more local crowd in the summer," said Ishkanian. "We pride ourselves on being super accessible and offering these activities, including the free concerts, is helping us become a true four-season resort."

Snowbird will open about 1.2 miles of single-track mountain-biking trail in early July. Snowbird is also hoping to lure locals into the canyon with the promise of a little time-travel activity.

For $6, patrons can buy a bag filled with dirt and minerals native to the area, including gold. Then the "miners" dump the bag into an apparatus that allows them to pan for gold and other minerals. The resort also has a Zipline, Alpine slide, bouncy castle, climbing wall and mechanical bull.

Snowbird will also use music to attract visitors. The resort's free Cool Air Concert Series begins this Friday, July 3, at the Peruvian Terrace. Papa Mali will perform on July 3, while Kort McCumber will perform on July 4. Danny Barnes caps a weekend of music with a concert on July 5. Opening acts begin at 5 p.m., and headliners take the stage at 6 p.m. Coolers and families are welcome, and there are a number of festivals at the resort this summer, including the Mountain Music Festival, July 8-12 and the Snowbird Tent Revival: A Celebration of Gospel Music, Aug 14-16. For more information, visit www.snowbirdrc.org.

e-mail: amy@desnews.com

Events at Utah ski resorts this summer, from mountain biking to concert series:

Alta Ski Area is open to the public all summer long for hiking and biking. Enjoy a fabulous lunch or brunch on weekends at the Alta Lodge. Alta's famous Wildflower Festival will also take place July 17-19, 2009.