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Photo courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort
Photo by Eric Schramm
It was the late
1860's when a group of prospecting soldiers, stationed
near Salt Lake City, discovered silver in the hills
surrounding what is today Park City. In 1872, a trio of
prospectors tapped into an extremely rich silver vein in
Ontario Canyon. Word of the strike spread quickly, and
adventurers from around the world flocked to the area,
turning the tiny camp into a boomtown. The new population
soon put down roots, the weekly Park Record newspaper was
launched, and schools, churches and businesses were
established. In 1884, Park City was incorporated as a town.
Before the miners migrated to Park City, the area was
referred to as Upper Parleys. After the miners put down
roots, the town was called several names including Mineral
City and Parley's Park. Then on the Fourth of July 1872,
the locals dropped the 'Parleys' and the town officially
became Park City.
The town's residents enjoyed great prosperity for half a
century. The mountains surrendered $400 million in silver
and established 23 millionaires, most notably Utah's Silver
Queen Susanna Bransford, and George Hearst, father of
newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. Interestingly,
Park City was one of the few Utah towns established by
non-Mormons. During the mining boom, 27 saloons existed
on Park City's Main Street. Hearty miners made and lost
fortunes beneath the mountains surrounding the town. In
fact, there were more residents in Park City at the turn
of the century than there are today. Unfortunately during
1898, a major fire destroyed more than 200 businesses on
Main Street. Eighteen months later the town was rebuilt.
It was said that there was enough ore for another 100 years
but by the 1930's falling mineral prices ended the boom
years and enterprising locals began turning their
attention to the snow covered mountains.
Ski jumpers from around the world started competing at
Ecker Hill in 1930. Then in 1946, the town's first ski
area, Snow Park, opened.
As the sport of skiing caught on, three more ski areas
were opened within four miles of town, in 1963,
Treasure Mountain Resort (now Park City Mountain Resort),
and then The Canyons (now Park West) and Wolf Mountain
opened in 1968. In 1981, Deer Valley Resort opened
incorporating many of the former Snow Park runs. In 1973,
the U.S. Ski Team made Park City its permanent home with
the United States Ski Association following suit in 1988.
*Information and
facts for the above provided in literature from the
Park City Chamber of Commerce.
