Explore the rich history upon which this community was built, from pioneers and gritty miners, to ghosts, and the eventual transition to glamourous mountain destination! Here are some opportunities to uncover the colorful stories of how we got here and how things used to be.

Summer Ski Fix

The slopes may not be covered in snow, but you can still get a taste of skiing at the Alf Engen Ski Museum at Utah Olympic Park. Here you can learn about the history of skiing and check out some old-school skis that we can’t believe people actually used. We also love the display of flashy ski suits famously sported by the “father of freestyle skiing,” local legend Stein Eriksen. Get a crash course on the science of avalanches and the geography of the Wasatch mountains. Try the Take Flight ski jump simulator to get a taste of ski jumping, the oldest form of ski competition.

Ski with a splash If you’re headed to the museum on a weekend, you should go and see the Flying Ace All-Stars Freestyle Show at the Utah Olympic Park. Olympians and National Team athletes perform acrobatic tricks on skis and snowboards as they ride jumps into the Olympic Freestyle Pool.

The Way Things Were

Park City is a famous resort destination these days… but it wasn’t always that way. The Park City Museum tells the colorful history of the town’s silver mining days full of outlaws and rule-breakers. What better way to convey that tough Western spirit than by displaying the original territorial jail built in 1885? There’s also an old mining cage and a 1926 fire truck. Try your luck setting of the dynamite explosion or try drilling for ore. From fire disasters to the transition to a ski town to life on the western frontier, the Park City Museum is a cool stop if you’re interested in what made Park City the place it is today. 

The Museum is located at 528 Main Street and is open Monday – Saturday 10am-7pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm.    

Walk it out: From the day after Memorial Day until Labor Day, the Museum offers a Guided Historic Tour of Main Street, Monday through Friday at 2pm. Join the group to explore historic downtown’s architecture, people and events that shaped Park City.

The Tale of the Rail Trail

The Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail is 28 miles of mostly-unpaved state park that traces the coal route from Echo to Park City. Despite many railroad companies’ attempts, a full railroad track was never built, and instead coal and silver were transported on a narrow-gauge track. In 1992, the stretch became the first non-motorized rail trail in Utah and is open to the public as a state park.

You can hike, bike, e-bike or even ride horses along all or parts of the trail. The journey offers stunning views of the area’s mountains, water, and wildlife. Besides moose, herons, deer and beaver in the woods, there are even eagle nests along the river bed.

Reading break: 16 plaques along the trail make great excuses to stop and catch your breath. They tell the local stories of early Mormon settlers, the infamous Donner Party, the excavation site of Ice Age mammoths and other historical events and locations.

Art that rocks

On the prominent Coalville Ledge are some really cool petroglyphs and pictographs that most people don’t bother to visit up close. Take the walk and you’ll be rewarded with carvings and images of animals and symbols that date between several thousand to 800 years old. The petroglyphs are believed to be from the Ute and Shoshone tribes, and maybe others as well. It’s actually pretty uncommon for one site to show multiple histories, so it’s definitely worth taking a look. The pictographs have been dated 200 to 1300 AD based on the headdresses that are depicted.

Expert tip: Petroglyphs are carvings on rock faces and pictographs are paintings.

It’s miner time

Every year Park City celebrates its silver mining heritage with some unique festivities. On September 2, kick Miners’ Day off with a 5K race – a favorite event for locals because pups are welcome to run too! Then head to the parade downtown and check out the community floats and marching bands.  

Proceeds of the event benefit local charity projects. The craziest event has got to be the Running of the Balls (nope, not a typo). Inspired by the famed Bull event in Pamplona, Spain, this much safer version involves 10,000 balls rolling down Historic Main Street. You can purchase a ball for $5 or 5/$20 (proceeds benefit local charities) and let it race on your behalf for some awesome prizes like ski passes, hotel stays and restaurant vouchers. The first balls through the chute are the winners. Who knew mining history could be so eventful?

Haunted History

Everyone secretly loves a spooky summer night, right? Park City Ghost Tours run every evening at 8pm to walk you through Park City’s spirits and haunts. One of the most local famous local ghosts is The Man in the Yellow Slicker. Stories tell of the ghost of an old silver miner that has appeared throughout Park City’s history. Sometimes he’s helpful... and sometimes he isn’t. Make your Ghost Tour reservation at least 24 hours in advance, or call 435-615-7673 on the day of to see if a tour is already scheduled that you can join. Meet at 415 Main Street.

IF YOU DECIDE TO STAY

In addition to getting the guaranteed lowest rates, booking your lodging here is another way to help sustain art in our local community. A portion of your booking goes back to the Park City Summit County Arts Council.

EXPLORE ART ADVENTURES

IN PARK CITY & SUMMIT COUNTY

While we’re well-known as a mecca for mountain recreation, there are boundless opportunities to enjoy art, music, film, theater and other cultural events in Park City and Summit County.