Park City

Last updated on December 31, 2025.

Park City, Utah, is a former mining town that has transformed into a major tourist destination based around its world-class ski resorts.

History of Park City, Utah

The first non-Natives to pass through the area were Mormon settlers on their way to settle the Salt Lake Valley. One of their leaders, Parley P. Pratt (1807–1857), explored the canyon in 1848 and was given a charter to build a toll road through it. A few families settled the basin at the top of the canyon after finding it was an ideal place for grazing. They named the settlement Parley’s Park City.

Silver and lead were discovered in 1868, leading to a mining boom the following year. Gold was also discovered shortly after, but in small quantities that weren’t economically viable. The town was founded in 1869 and incorporated in 1884, with the name shortened to Park City.

In 1880, a spur line connected the town to the Transcontinental Railroad. The silver mines became some of the most famous in the world by 1892, drawing even more miners and wealth to Park City, but there were some difficult moments as well – the town almost completely burned down in 1898, and an explosion at the Daily West Mine in 1902 killed 34 miners.

Transition to Tourism

A collapse in silver prices during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II contributed to the town’s decline, and by the 1950s it was a ghost town. The Ontario Mine — the last major mining operation — closed in 1972.

The miners, however, saw an opportunity with skiing, which the locals began doing for recreation in the 1930s. United Park City Mines, which owned major tracts of land, received a redevelopment grant in 1962 and in turn leased the land to a developer, who built Treasure Mountains Resort. It opened on December 21, 1963, became Park City Ski Area in 1966, and was renamed Park City Mountain in 1996. Deer Valley — a luxury skiers-only resort — opened in 1981.

Park City received a further boost when the Sundance Film Festival moved to town in 1981. Held annually in January, it attracts several Hollywood stars to town and has been responsible for bringing attention to many independent films and filmmakers (Note: the festival will move to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027).

The town also held several events during the 2002 Winter Olympics: Alpine skiing and snowboarding at Park City Mountain; Alpine and freestyle skiing at Deer Valley; and bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, and ski jumping at Utah Olympic Park. The same events will be held at these venues for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

Main Street in Park City, Utah

Park City’s historic Main Street, lined with Victorian buildings, is a great place to enjoy whether you’re in town for the skiing or not. There are plenty of shops and art galleries to browse through, as well as outdoor cafés and restaurants. I’m sure the atmosphere is amazing during ski season.

You’ll also find several sculptures and street art along Main Street, including three surviving murals of seven painted by Banksy in January 2010. Two Banksy’s are at 402 and 537 Main Street, while a third is in storage for safekeeping.

Egyptian Theatre

The historic Egyptian Theatre replaced the Dewey Theatre, which opened in 1899 and collapsed during record snowfall in 1916. It was designed as a replica of Warner’s Egyptian Theatre in Pasadena, California, and Egyptologist C.R. Berg of Seattle consulted on the theme and decor. Constructed starting in 1922 and it opened on Christmas Day in 1926, with a performance of “A Wonderful Sign of a Magical Time” by John Alphonso Rugar (1883–1970). The theatre changed names to the Silver Wheel Theatre in 1963, and it was restored to preserve its original features in 1978 and again in the 1990s.

When the Sundance Film Festival moved to Park City in 1981, the Egyptian Theatre was the original home and main venue. As the festival grew, more venues were built but the theatre continued to host screenings. Today, it hosts mainly live stage shows and concerts. The theatre originally had seating for 400 but the present capacity is 310.

Park City Museum

Housed inside the city hall, which also served as the police and fire departments and Utah Territorial Jail, is the Park City Museum. It features excellent displays on the town’s history and origins as a Wild West mining camp. Admission is $15 for adults, $11 for seniors age 65+ and students, and free for kids under 18 (as of April 2025). It’s open daily from 10am to 5pm.

A scale model of a mine complete with working elevators is one of the main exhibits, and there’s a mining display in the basement.

You’ll also learn about the town’s transition from mining to skiing and the history of the Sundance Film Festival. On display is the world’s first underground ski lift — used inside a mine shaft — as well as items from the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Also in the basement are cells from the last remaining Utah Territorial Jail, nicknamed the Dungeon by locals. A creepy interactive exhibit features profiles of real convicts who served time there. It operated from 1885 to 1966.

Wasatch National Forest

If you’re driving to Salt Lake City, I recommend taking the scenic route through the Wasatch National Forest. We drove along Pine Canyon Drive, which turns into Guardsman Pass Road and later Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. The entire drive is gorgeous, but our favorite part was at Guardsman Pass where admired views of an incredible autumn landscape.

Where to Eat in Park City, Utah

We popped into one place for lunch.

Main Street Deli (Permanently Closed)

We ate lunch at a jam-packed Main Street Deli, which opened in 1977. They serve excellent gourmet sandwiches and coffees. It’s also one of the more affordable places to grab a bite along Main Street. (Note: the deli closed in July 2020.)

Map of Park City, Utah