Park City
Park City is a year-round resort town located on the Eastern (or Back) of the Wasatch Mountains, part of the Rocky Mountain Range in Utah. Altitude in town ranges from 6,720 to 8,460 ft. above sea level. The surrounding Wasatch Mountain rise over 10,000 ft. It is probably best known for its skiing and winter season with three world-class ski resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons Resort and Deer Valley Resort - and for hosting the annual Sundance Film Festival.
Understand
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Long before Park City became a world class mountain resort and venue for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, it was famous as a silver mining town, and boasts a lively and colorful past. Founded by prospectors in the late 1860s, Park City continued to mine silver until the early 1970s.
From approximately 1850, when small settlements were forming, until the railroad lines were laid throughout the West in the 1890s, stagecoach travel was the main form of transportation. There was even a stagecoach business in Park City! William Kimball, a Park City resident, started his stagecoach business in 1858 competing with Brigham Young for United States mail contracts. He was sent to England on a Mormon church mission and when he returned, he started the Park City-Salt Lake City Route. The Kimball Brothers Stage Line operated from 1872 until 1890, when the railroad made its way into the West. Moving quicker as well as transporting more people and mail, the railroad easily put the stagecoach out of business.
Between 1880 and 1920 when Park City mines were the most organized, productive and active, they produced more than 20 million tons of ore including lead, zinc, copper, silver, and a small amount of gold. These were the years of Park City's mining renaissance. The mining company, Park City Consolidated Mines, started the ski business in 1963, when they built the first lifts on what was then called Treasure Mountain. The Park City area now has two world class resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, and the Deer Valley Resort.
In 2002 Park City was a major host site for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. 175 city volunteers contributed more than 6000 hours to the Games, or the equivalent of 750 workdays (and this doesn't even count the public safety volunteers).
Tourist information
Park City's visitor information centers offer maps, brochures and other information.
- Park City Museum, 528 Main Street, ☏ +1 435-649-6100. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.) Located on historic Main Street in Park City, the museum underwent a $9-million renovation. Stop by the Museum Store to get tips and guest information from the Visitor Bureau's Visitor Information Specialists.
- Park City Visitor Info Center, 1885 West Ute Blvd (in the lobby of the Richens Building & Summit County Library), ☏ +1 435-649-6100. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-7PM.
Get in
By plane
The Salt Lake City International Airport is just 36 miles from Park City via interstate 80.
By car
Interstate 80 runs east from Salt Lake City through Parley's Canyon into Park City. Take the Kimball Junction exit (#145) onto SR-224. Park City is also accessible from US-40 to the east from Keetley Junction on SR-248.
By bus
High Valley Transit's bus 107 runs from Salt Lake Central via Utah State University to Jeremy Ranch and Kimball Junction..
Get around
Park City has a year-round free city-wide transit system. The bus routes connects historic Main Street, Kimball Junction, Prospector, Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons Resort. Traveling with skis or snowboards on public transit is not a problem.
Over 75% of public parking is free of charge in the historic area of Main Street. Most feasible parking is $1.50 an hour with a 3-hour time limit. There is also free parking in alley lots, China Bridge Garage Levels 1-3, and the Upper Level Gateway Garage.
See
- Alf Engen Ski Museum, 3419 Olympic Parkway (The Utah Olympic Park is accessible eastbound and westbound from I-80, about 28 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City.), ☏ +1 435 658-4228. 9AM to 6PM. The Alf Engen Ski Museum is in the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center at Utah Olympic Park, four miles north of town. It contains more than 300 trophies, medals, uniforms, scrapbooks, skis, boots, photos, films and other collectables that span some 70 years in the career of the Engen family. The museum's educational component gives school children a skiing-based foundation to study subjects such as the water cycle, physics and Utah's colorful history. FREE.
- Kimball Art Center, 638 Park Ave, ☏ +1 435-649-8882. M-F 10AM-5PM; Sa Su noon-5PM. The Kimball Art Center is non-profit center for the arts committed to inspiring experiences through education, exhibitions and events. The Kimball Arts Festival is the signature annual event hosted in early August each summer.
- 1 McPolin Farm.
Do
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The Park City area has three world class resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and Canyons Resort. The winter offers great opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, tubing, shopping and dining. Summer activities include hiking, mountain biking, road biking, horseback riding, golfing, shopping and dining.
- 1 Park City Mountain Resort, ☏ +1 435-649-8111. ,
- 2 Utah Olympic Park, 3419 Olympic Pkwy, ☏ +1 435-658-4200, park@uolf.org. 9AM-6PM. - in Park City
- Sundance Film Festival. Started in 1978, the largest American independent film festival is held every year in Park City and surrounding areas. This festival is widely recognized as the premier showcase for American and international independent film and has grown to include film culture events, panel discussions, youth programs, an online exhibition, and live music for its 45,000 yearly attendees.
- Kimball Arts Festival. The three-day festival offers a multi-sensory artistic experience for its 45,000 attendees, including visual-art exhibitions, live musical performances, cuisine-related activities, art-focused film screening, as well as its largest fundraising event, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival Opening Night Gala and Auction.
- 3 Egyptian Theatre Company, 328 Main St, ☏ +1-855-745-SHOW (7469), boxoffice@parkcityshows.com. Park City's Historic Egyptian Theatre was built in 1926 and is home to a professional theatre company that puts on several musicals and a play every year in addition to hosting concerts and the Sundance Film Festival. $10-40.
- White Pine Nordic Ski Center, Park Avenue and Thaynes Canyon Drive, ☏ +1 435-649-6249. 20 km of groomed cross-country ski tracks are maintained by White Pine Touring in the winter for classic and skate skiers. The 3k, 5k and 10k+ loops wind through the base of Park City's scenic Wasatch Mountains. Lessons and rentals are available for all levels and ages of cross-country skiers. $8-$20.
Buy
Resort shopping areas such as the Resort Center at Park City Mountain Resort, Silver Lake Village at Deer Valley Resort, and the Resort Village at The Canyons, make it easy to browse between runs.
- Gallery Mar, 580 Main St, ☏ +1 435-649-3001. Gallery MAR welcomes both emerging and seasoned collectors and feature fine contemporary art spanning from detailed still life works to abstracted landscapes and whimsical figurative pieces. The gallery seeks out non-commercial artwork and specializes in individualized customer service for private and public collections, as well as designers and decorators. Media include oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media, bronze sculpture, and ceramic. From vast canvases to intimate smaller works. Painting starter sets, art supplies, and fine art books available.
- Jans, 1600 Park Ave, ☏ +1 435-649-4949. Jans' flagship store on Park Avenue carries a large selection of alpine and Nordic skis, mountain bikes, road bikes, fly fishing equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories for year-round mountain recreation. Their expert guides offer local knowledge of Park City's best recreation spots, and their shop technicians are skilled for all types of gear repairs.
Eat
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- Davanzas Pizza & More, Main St. Pizza, salad and ranch. Recommended for cheap eats.
- Main Street Pizza & Noodle, 530 Main St, ☏ +1 435 645-8878. 11AM-midnight. This spacious pizza joint on Main Street is a hidden gem - featuring homemade fresh pasta, free drink refills, and tasty (if a bit cornflower-heavy crusted) pizza, this is a great place to go after a day on the slopes. While the pizza is what this place is known for, you'll be missing out if you don't order one of their homemade pasta dishes, like Pasta #5, homemade spaghetti with fresh basil, garlic, olive oil and tomatoes sauteed with white wine. moderate.
Drink
- Wasatch Brew Pub, Main St. Great pub with restaurant attached. Reasonably priced food.
Sleep
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under $100 |
| Mid-range | $100 - $200 |
| Splurge | Over $200 |
Expect hotel prices to be 2-3 times higher during ski season; shop around for bargains from June through September. During Sundance expect every hotel within thirty miles of town to be booked, so make plan far in advance. If visiting in the summer be aware that ski lodges and condo units will be operating with significantly less staff, meaning that you may be picking up your key from a lockbox rather than the front desk and may not be able to quickly resolve any problems with your room; hotels will not have this problem.
Budget
- Best Western Landmark Inn, 6560 N Landmark Dr, ☏ +1 435-649-7300, fax: +1 435-649-1760. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A 100% smoke-free hotel with 106 rooms that is just off of I-80, several miles from downtown Park City. Amenities include an indoor pool and hot tub, a tiny exercise room (three pieces of equipment), free cookies, expansive lobby with fireplace, complimentary buffet breakfast, HBO, and wireless internet. The Best Western is comparable to the nearby Holiday Inn Express, and while not as nice as the pricier resort hotels it is a good value for the money with a comfy lobby and friendly staff. $50-$150.
- Chateau Apres Lodge, 1299 Norfolk Ave, ☏ +1 435-649-9372. Private rooms start at $100 per night, dorm-style beds start at $35 per night..
- Holiday Inn Express, 1501 Ute Blvd, ☏ +1 435-658-1600, fax: +1 435-658-5059. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Like the Best Western and Newpark Hotels, the Holiday Inn Express is located just off of I-80, a few miles from the ski resorts and downtown Park City. It is a smoke-free hotel that offers the expected functionality of most of the hotels in this chain: free breakfast, fitness center, pool, free cookies, clean room, HBO, wireless, and good service. The soundproofing leaves a bit to be desired - if you have moderately noisy neighbors you'll hear their every word - but the staff is responsive to complaints. For those choosing between this hotel and the Best Western, the Holiday Inn has a better fitness area and slightly nicer rooms, while the Best Western offers a better breakfast, high-def TVs, and cosier common areas. $70-$120.
Mid-range
- Marriott Park City, 1895 Sidewinder Dr, ☏ +1 435-649-2900. One mile from downtown by complimentary town shuttle.
- Newpark Resort, 1456 Newpark Blvd, ☏ +1 435-649-3600, toll-free: +1-877-649-3600, fax: +1 435-615-7767, reservations@newparkresort.com. Eco-friendly rooms feature a fireplace, couch, luxury linens, expansive bath, and flat-screen television. Hotel amenities include an indoor/outdoor pool, workout room, and several common areas with fireplaces. Downtown Park City is several miles away making a vehicle a necessity, and the location is caddy corner to a mall, but it's quiet, extremely clean, and a good option for those looking for an upscale place to spend the night. Rooms from $159/night.
- Westgate Park City Resort & Spa, 3000 Canyons Resorts Dr. An all seasons mountain resort with ski-in/ski-out lodging accommodations and a spa. Year-round activities from hiking to fishing.
Splurge
- 1 Stein Eriksen Lodge, 7700 Stein Way, ☏ +1-435-649-3700, info@steinlodge.com. Park City's only five-diamond hotel.
- Waldorf Astoria Park City, 2100 Frostwood Dr, ☏ +1-435-647-5500. Park City's most sophisticated hotel.
- The St. Regis Deer Valley, 2300 Deer Valley Drive East, ☏ +1-435-940-5700. Sits on the Deer Valley resort. You can ski out from the hotel onto the resort or take the funicular from the resort's base.
- Black Diamond Lodge 333, 2280 Deer Valley Dr. Accommodations immediately adjacent to the Snow Park Lodge. Enjoy ski-in/ski-out lodging at Deer Valley Resort.
- Club Lespri, 1765 Sidewinder Dr (Prospector Square), ☏ +1 435-645-9696, fax: +1 435-645-7676. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Luxury boutique hotel.
- Grand Summit Resort. Ski-in, ski-out condo hotel resort at the base of the Canyons Resort.
- Treasure Mountain Inn, 255 Main St (near the top of Main Street), toll-free: +1-800-344-2460. Eco-tique hotel near the top of historic Main Street. Family owned, mid-sized suite hotel and conference center. Park City's first green hotel -- 100% carbon neutral.
- Washington School Inn, 543 Park Ave, ☏ +1 435-649-3800, fax: +1 435-649-3802. A lavish bed and breakfast near the Town Ski Lift.
- Park City Lodging, 2064 Prospector Ave, ☏ +1 435-649-6175, toll-free: +1 877-935-2794, info@parkcitylodging.com. Offers year round condos and vacation home rentals in Park City.
- Montage Deer Valley, 9100 Marsac Avenue, ☏ +1-435-604-1300. Mountain hotel and resort with ski-in/ski-out access that has 220 guest rooms, suites, and residences. Includes 5 restaurants, a large spa, and 55,000 sq ft of event space.
- Park City Vacation Rentals, 314 Main Street Suite 101, ☏ +1 435 571 0024.
Camping
- Park City RV Resort, 2200 Rasmussen Rd, ☏ +1 435-649-2535. RV Park close to ski resorts; hot tub and heated pool; Reasonable rates and easy access from I-80 at exit 145.
Go next
- Salt Lake City - The state capital is about 35 miles away via interstate highway.
| Routes through Park City |
| Reno ← Salt Lake City ← | W  E |
→ Jct W  → Evanston → Rock Springs |
| END ← | W  E |
→ Vernal → Steamboat Springs |
| Evanston ← Jct W ← |
N  S |
→ Provo → END |