From Silver Mining to the Olympics ~ Park City Utah History

Park City owes its birth and fame to the surrounding mountains. In 1868, federal soldiers exploring the area discovered that these peaks capped a wealth of silver ore. The subsequent silver rush brought forth Park City, which grew into one of the richest, wildest and most celebrated mining towns in the West.

By the 1950s, the silver had run low and Park City seemed destined to become a ghost town.  The population at the beginning of the decade was only around 1,000.  But the mountains once again brought life to the town, only this time the treasure lay atop the slopes rather than underneath. Utah powder ~ the skier’s “gold standard” for snow ~ transformed Park City into a ski town. By the 1980s, Park City was renowned as home to world-class ski resorts.

In 1995, Park City hit the big time once again when Utah won the international bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Although Salt Lake City officially hosted the Games, most of the alpine events were staged on Park City’s slopes.

It is fitting that Park City, a town founded on precious metal, will be remembered most by the gold, silver and bronze medals of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Park City’s three venues hosted 26 Olympic events – exactly 1/3 of all 78 Olympic events. Deer Valley Resort hosted 6 events — men’s and women’s moguls, freestyle aerials and Alpine slalom. Park City Mountain Resort hosted 6 events — men’s and women’s halfpipe, Snowboard PGS and Alpine GS. The UOP hosted 14 events — Nordic combined Sprint, Individual and Team (jumping); K90, K120 and K120 Team jumping; men’s and women’s luge; doubles luge; 4-man bobsled; 2-man bobsled; women’s bobsled; and men’s and women’s skeleton.

Park City Lodging invites you to experience Park City’s Olympic venues for your self. See why the world will always be welcomed here.