The reinventions of Park City
From mining town to ski destination to land stewardship mecca
Summer/Fall 2024
Written By: Ashley Brown
If the state of Utah could have an unruly child, Park City would be it. Blame it on the mountain air or high altitude, but Park City’s character remains unique, its residents diverse, and its culture idealistic, ingenious and a tad bit wild.
When soldiers stationed in the Salt Lake area traveled over Big Cottonwood Canyon and found silver in 1868, they were by no means the first people to discover the land that makes up modern-day Park City. However, the silver enticed prospectors and by 1870 there were over 150 permanent residents.
By the time Park City was incorporated in 1884, there existed a culture that contrasted with other Utah settlements. There were over 20 saloons, a handful of unofficial brothels and numerous mines, including Ontario, Crescent, Anchor and Mayflower. The city had telephone service and a local newspaper, The Park Record, which was established in 1880 and holds claim to the oldest continuously published paper in Utah.
By 1889, Park City was a flourishing community of over 5,000 residents. The population growth was centered around mining, which attracted people from diverse regions, cultures and religions. Thanks to its population of practicing Buddhists, Catholics, Jews and Protestants it was literally the most religiously diverse place in the state.
Early Park City was a place of hard work, strong community (albeit often segregated) and entertainment. When the devastating fire of 1898 ignited on June 19, it consumed roughly 120 businesses, leaving only a quarter of Main Street’s buildings standing. The city’s residents banded together, rebuilding the city with vigor.
While mining remained the main economical driver, by the 1920s there was an inkling that the 12 feet of annual snow could draw tourists and provide another source of income. When Alf Engen set the world record for ski jumping at Ecker Hill in 1931, his 247-foot acrobatic feat opened a metaphysical door for Park City to become a place that breeds skiers. Some 75 years after Alf’s historic jump, ski racer Ted Ligety broke another ski record by becoming the first Park City athlete to win Olympic gold.
The transition from mining to cultivating world-class Olympians was both rocky and inventive. The first Winter Carnival was in 1936 and featured newly cut ski runs in today’s Deer Valley. Spectators drove a harrowing four hours on the “ski train” from Salt Lake. By 1946, the first lift was installed at present-day Deer Valley, and a few years later, mineral prices plunged and all mines shut down. Within two years of the closing of the mines, the town population dwindled to 1,150 residents.
The future of Park City looked bleak. And yet, the remaining residents did not give up hope. Maybe they remembered the great fire of 1898 and how the town rose from the ashes. Maybe they had fallen in love with the mountains. Help came in 1963 when Park City qualified for a $1.25 million federal loan. They used the money to outfit Treasure Mountain (now Park City Mountain) with the longest gondola in North America, a double-chair and two J-bars. And with that, Park City started its journey as a ski destination.
An influx of art came along with the city’s new focus on tourism.
In 1970, the Park City Art Festival (now the Kimball Arts Festival) laid the foundation for today’s artistic landscape, including creators like Willie Holdman, a photographer who captures the mystic of wild places, and Relévant Galleries, which cultivates long-term relationships with artists.
However, it was the launch of the US Film and Video Festival (now Sundance Film Festival) in 1981 that made Park City a true art destination. Forty years later, the 2022 Park City Song Summit altered the music landscape by unveiling entertainers as people and carving out space for conversation.
The art scene isn’t Park City’s only constantly evolving component. The hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics pushed the city to incorporate winter sports infrastructure and made Park City a training ground for Olympians worldwide, thanks to facilities like the Utah Olympic Park. Park City is home to the largest ski resort in North America, Park City Mountain, which features an astounding 7,300 acres of terrain, and the iconic Deer Valley Resort, which is in the process of doubling their skiable terrain.
Despite its astounding artistic and athletic accomplishments, Park City’s crown jewel is the land beneath it. Organizations like the Summit Land Conservancy ensure that open spaces are protected, and businesses like Madsnacks Produce make a point to cultivate the land while growing food that feeds the local population.
Park City is a city that never stops reinventing itself — igniting diversity, art, creativity and environmental justice along the way.
