There’s no question that history buffs will find plenty to pique their interest in this historic mountain town. With a fascinating mining history, an Olympic legacy, and a rich cultural undercurrent, Park City offers nearly endless historical insights and activities. But rest assured that Park City’s wide range of activities and offerings warrant a closer look from any type of visitor, a history fan, or otherwise. Here’s proof.
Where to Stay:
You can’t beat the location — or the historical allure — of the Washington School House, a 12-room hotel originally built in 1889 as one of the three school houses in Park City. Located just a few blocks off Main Street, this fully renovated, award-winning boutique hotel features an abundance of thoughtful details, from the outdoor heated pool nestled into the hillside to the fabulous, served in the on-site restaurant — all guaranteed to make your stay memorable.
Plan your Day:
In the morning, head to the Downtown Transit Center to catch one of Park City’s free-to-use buses. Pro tip: Ahead of time, download the Park City mobile bus app, which makes it easy to track approaching buses and figure out which line you need to take. Search for “MyStop” on the App Store, or check out parkcitytransit.org.
Take the bus about 15 minutes to Utah Olympic Park. There, you’ll find the Alf Engen Ski Museum, which houses a vast selection of thoughtfully curated Olympic memorabilia (including costumes and pieces of the floats used in the Opening Ceremonies) that’ll take you right back to 2002 when Utah hosted the Olympic Winter Games. The museum offers interactive exhibits depicting the history of skiing in the Intermountain West, as well as a virtual-reality ski theater to satisfy your cravings for pow days, even in the summer.
When you’re ready for some action, visit the 1,335-meter bobsled track, with over 15 twists and turns and 103 feet of vertical drop. In the summer, the sleds are equipped with wheels that enable them to fly down the track at over 70 miles per hour.
Next up: Hop on the Fox School of Wines’ Mines & Wines Tour, which takes you to a number of Park City’s historic mining sites, each of which is thoughtfully matched with a delicious wine pairing! Led by “Headmistress” Kirsten Fox, a sommelier, the tour makes stops at fascinating spots all over town such as the Ontario Mine, Miners’ Hospital, and even the notorious “Red Light District.” When you’ve got history plus a side of wine, you can’t go wrong.
Finally, rent eBikes if you’d like to cruise around town on your own two wheels. Stop by XXX BIKE SHOP to rent an eBike and gain insights about where to cruise. One must-see sight: McPolin Barn. Known as “the most photographed barn in Utah,” you’ll be swayed to stop and take a stroll — as well as some photos — while you’re there. The idyllic barn, located right off Route 224 as you’re heading into town, was originally constructed in 1922 and formerly operated as part of a dairy farm.
Cap off your day by wandering Main Street and checking out the 47 historic buildings that line the street, as well as a number of statues and public artworks — check out some of the stories here. Finally, wind down with dinner at the award-winning Riverhorse on Main, a gourmet mainstay in Downtown Park City serving seasonal American dishes with a Western flair.
*Note: We know this day is jam-packed! While it may not be totally realistic to fit all of these activities into 24 hours, we simply wanted to give a sampling of what our mountain town has to offer. Pack it all in, or spread it out — we want you to make your visit your own!