40 Years of the National Ability Center in Park City

Park City is world-renowned as a community that celebrates and prioritizes accessibility. The National Ability Center (NAC) is central to Park City’s approachability. People with invisible and visible disabilities travel from neighboring towns, states, and across the globe to take part in the diverse outdoor recreation opportunities offered by the organization, including horseback riding, alpine skiing and snowboarding, water skiing, mountain biking, and river rafting, as well as summer camps and obstacle courses. 

The NAC is celebrating a significant milestone in 2025—its 40th anniversary. During a conversation with co-founder Meeche White, she highlights the organization’s regional impact. “Park City has gone out of its way for accessibility because of the National Ability Centers' presence here.” Looking back, it’s evident that NAC and Park City grew together. Meeche describes the scene when she and her former husband and co-founder, Peter Badewitz, arrived in 1984 with the dream of building an adaptive organization. “It was this cute, little, funky mountain town.” The Park City vibe, in combination with some of the best novice-friendly terrain, sealed the fate for Park City to be home to the NAC.

The NAC is celebrating 40 years of sport and recreation opportunities in Park City!

Looking Back on 40 Years

The multi-faceted organization of 2025, which operates dozens of modalities across multiple facilities, began with Meeche and Peter’s dream. “We were very naïve. I think being naïve was a blessing, because if we'd known what it would take, we probably would have said, ‘No, we're not going to do this,’” Meeche explains the origins of the NAC (which began with the name Park City Handicapped Sports) and how her tenacity played a role in the organization’s success. “Once I sink my teeth into something, I go after it.”

In 1984, they approached Park City Ski Area (now Park City Mountain Resort) with aspirations to operate an adaptive organization and the ambition to facilitate the skiing program on the mountain. “I think the real reason they allowed us to try and start a program was that they were having the International Special Olympic Games at Park City Ski Area in 1985, and they didn't have anybody on staff who knew anything about adaptive skiing or Special Olympics,” Meeche informs. “I ended up managing the Alpine events at the Park City Ski Area for the International Special Olympics."

A place for everyone to learn to ski and ride!

In the winter of 1985, they launched Park City Handicapped Sports. The now globally recognized organization was established with a $5,000 grant. “Peter, my partner, is a disabled veteran from Vietnam. We had some strong veteran connections, and he was on the US disabled ski team,” Meeche explains that their relationship with the Disabled Veterans of Utah helped them secure the funds to launch the organization. “We had 45 lessons that first year… Our first participants were from the Salt Lake VA and kids from the local elementary school.” 

By 1987, the NAC was operating from an office, and in 1995, it moved to a double-wide trailer at Park City Mountain Resort. In 1996, it received an anonymous donation of 26 acres of land in Quinn’s Junction, now known as the NAC Ranch. As the facilities expanded, so did the programming and offerings. “Before we moved our offices. We had horseback riding out there (The Ranch). We built a challenge course, an equipment storage building, a barn, and an indoor riding arena… The first building we built was an outdoor riding arena, as well as a road to get there,” Meeche remembers.

An Unwavering Spirit and Mission

While the organization's programming and notoriety have grown exponentially over its four decades of existence, its heart and mission remain unchanged: to empower people through outdoor recreation. “The outdoors is a magic and healing place. When I look at why I wanted that program, it was because of the power of the outdoors,” Meeche illustrates how the impact of recreation on participants hasn’t changed over the forty years of operation. “I would see people go out and ski or go down the river. It changes their lives. You see it in two hours. You watch their lives change, and their parents' perception of them changes.”

The spirit and mission of the NAC is alive and well!

Emil Chaung, a member of the NAC board of directors, shares how the NAC changed his life. Emil missed out on much of the outdoor recreation as a child after being inflicted with poliomyelitis at six months. “The beauty about an organization like NAC is that they've got adaptive equipment that suits everybody.” Emil doesn’t hide his tears of joy as he explains how the NAC allows him to participate in all the outdoor recreation he missed out on as a kid. “I know a couple of dozen families who moved here because of their kids or family situation, and to provide accessibility and options for outdoor recreation.”

A legacy of sport for every body!

National Ability Center 40th Anniversary Celebration

To celebrate 40 years of adaptive programming, the NAC is hosting the 40th Anniversary Community Celebration at the main campus. The free event is open to the public and offers an opportunity to view the Equestrian Center, The Hub, and the Lodge. There will be activities, food, and music.

When: Saturday, July 12, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Where: National Ability Center - 1000 Ability Way, Park City

Here is to 40 more years of the National Ability Center in Park City!

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