Luxury developer Extell broke ground on the Mayflower Resort in 2021, a project with ties to Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and owner Gary Barnett. The resort is named after a historic silver and gold mine, and is set to triple the size of Deer Valley Resort, potentially earning billions by 2030.
Adams, who chairs Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), is involved in financing the project and has accepted significant donations connected to Extell. Sens. Adams and Jerry Stevenson sit on MIDA’s board, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The land for the Mayflower project was originally intended for “development of an armed forces recreation facility,” and MIDA oversees developments with a military purpose. Extell’s partnership with MIDA has facilitated the project, and the company has made significant donations to Utah Republicans, including Adams.
The involvement of MIDA in local development projects stems from the need for more infrastructure-related barriers and potential opportunities for public financing and assessments. MIDA’s influence extends beyond the Mayflower project and into other ski resort developments in the lead-up to a second Winter Olympics in Utah.
Despite the impact of Extell’s donations on political figures like Adams, both Adams and Stevenson have denied that the contributions have influenced their decisions. While they are longstanding members of MIDA, questions have been raised about the potential conflicts of interest and the extent of their influence on MIDA’s board.
The involvement of political figures like Adams and Stevenson in MIDA, along with Extell’s financial support of Utah Republicans, raises concerns about the integrity of the development process and whether it truly serves the interests of the public.
As with many large-scale development projects, the story of the Mayflower Resort highlights the intersection of Business, Politics, and public interest. The influence of money and political connections on the decision-making process poses important ethical and legal questions that demand further scrutiny and consideration. This article provides insight into the dynamics surrounding the Mayflower Resort and calls for a closer examination of the impact of political contributions on development projects.
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