Park City, Utah, is widely recognized as a top ski destination, known for luxury resorts, fine dining, rejuvenating spas and a charming small‑town atmosphere. Its close proximity to Salt Lake City International Airport means winter travelers can be on the slopes within an hour of landing.
Park City welcomes visitors of all skill levels. For the 2018–2019 winter season, High Meadow Park at Canyons Village opened as a dedicated learning area for beginning skiers. Designed to be family friendly, the park provides a safe, supportive environment where newcomers can develop skills together. Complementing the learning area, a new high‑speed four‑passenger lift shortens ride times and improves access across the mountain.
On‑mountain dining continues to evolve. Cloud Dine, a popular ski‑in, ski‑out restaurant with sweeping views of the Wasatch Range, expanded its capacity by 200 seats—an increase of more than 60 percent—to better serve guests during peak periods. The historic Mid‑Mountain Lodge also received extensive renovations that respect its 120‑plus‑year mining heritage while introducing a relaxed, refined mountain aesthetic in both design and dining. After a morning on the slopes, many visitors still seek out the beloved Mid‑Mountain burger.
Cloud Dine © VAIL RESORTS
Resort properties have also seen significant upgrades. Grand Summit Hotel, A RockResort, invested $15 million in renovations after joining Vail Resorts’ RockResorts portfolio; the project refreshed all 212 suites along with meeting facilities, the café and the spa. The Waldorf Astoria Park City planned guestroom renovations, expanded meeting spaces and a new health club and spa area.
Development continues at Canyons Village and nearby areas. New condo projects at the base include The Lift and Apex, while new concepts such as YOTELPAD Park City and Hotel Ascent—a full‑service condo hotel—are expanding lodging options. In spring 2019, The Lodge at Blue Sky, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, planned the opening of a 46‑room property in nearby Wanship, adding a boutique luxury option close to Park City.
The traditional shoulder season is shortening as Park City’s year‑round appeal grows. “We used to turn into a ghost town after Miners’ Day and not reactivate until Christmas,” says Park City Mayor Andy Beerman. “Our fall season has become much busier, with more restaurants staying open, more activities and more local events.”
Mayor Beerman also points to a rise in second‑home ownership and retirees moving to the area, trends that make the community feel larger than its roughly 8,000 full‑time residents. That growth creates opportunities and challenges: maintaining vibrancy while preserving opportunities for locals to recover and enjoy their town.
To address housing and community needs, the city is building hundreds of affordable units aimed at supporting the middle class, strengthening neighborhood ties and easing congestion. “We hope to become a model for social equity: a town where all of its residents feel safe, welcome and valued,” the mayor says.
Park City is pursuing ambitious sustainability goals to become one of the country’s first net‑zero communities. Initiatives include a move toward 100 percent renewable energy, electrifying municipal vehicles, improving building efficiency and protecting soils and forests through conservation purchases. The mayor highlights investments in an electrified transit fleet and expanded active‑transportation infrastructure—urban trails and e‑bike programs—working toward a more car‑optional town.
For visitors, Mayor Beerman recommends several highlights. Utah Olympic Park offers a range of activities for both kids and adults. A walk along Historic Main Street is essential—allow time for shopping, dining on an outdoor deck and visiting the Park City Museum to learn about the town’s mining past. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate more than 400 miles of gold‑level, nonmotorized trails.
In summer, Bonanza Flat—a recently preserved, 1,400‑plus‑acre alpine meadow—offers new trail access and wildlife viewing. “If you don’t see any moose up there, you aren’t looking very hard,” the mayor quips.
SCENIC DRIVES
When you need a break from the slopes, take a scenic drive. Head east from Park City about 16 miles to Kamas and join the Mirror Lake Highway. The route climbs to 10,687 feet at Bald Mountain Pass and passes lakes, waterfalls, trailheads and potential wildlife sightings as it travels through the Wasatch‑Cache National Forest and into the Uinta Mountains.