All About Park City, Utah
Boasting that it’s “Winter’s Favorite Town”, Park City is one of the most popular resort towns in the U.S. Nestled along craggy mountains, the town of about 7,000 was first settled in the late 1860s as a mining camp. It is also one of the few settlements in the state of Utah that was not established by Mormons.
Many people from around the world flocked to Park City to mine silver in the mountains, and the thriving little town added schools, churches, businesses, and saloons. The mining heyday began to evaporate in the early 1900s after the legendary silver mines began to dry up.
Around 1930, skiing and winter sports became all the rage. A couple of ski resorts opened, which changed names and morphed into the main luxury ski resorts in town today: Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort. Park City evolved from a mining town to a tourist town, with the tourist population today frequently outnumbering the local resident population in peak season.
In 2002, the XIX Olympic Winter Games took place in Park City. The Utah Olympic Park is still intact and hosts many sporting events. If you’re interested in being athletic yourself, the park hosts many champion-led clinics for everything from skiing to bobsledding.
Today, Park City is known for being a winter and summer playground. Visitors flock to the mountainside town to relax in the resorts or get out in the fresh air.
Things to Do in Park City, Utah
With a history of mining and the mountains right in town, Park City is a great place for adventure seekers. It’s the home of the United States Ski Team! Mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, bobsledding, ice skating, dog sledding — these are just a few of the things you can do here! Name any outdoor activity, and Park City is guaranteed to have something outdoorsy for everyone.
Not inclined to be an Olympic athlete? That’s fine. Park City culture allows for everyone to enjoy the mountain life without being extremely active or physically fit.
Downtown offers plenty to do from shopping, family activities, art and culture, and food. Want to take in a food tour? Or maybe enjoy a relaxing spa treatment? The luxurious side of Park City resort life offers many opportunities to indulge and spend quality time with loved ones.
If art and culture are something that is important to you, then listen up: Park City hosts the famous Sundance Film Festival. The 10-day festival is usually swamped with celebrities and movie lovers, and adds an exciting party atmosphere to the mountain town. The film festival is open to the public, so if you’re in the area between late January and early February, stop by!
The official tourism website of Park City has a comprehensive list of all the fun things to do, places to eat, and where to stay. Click here to visit their website.
Living in Park City, Utah
Have you been to Park City so much, or just can’t get over the allure of living there? If fresh mountain air, small town vibes and a hint of luxury are your thing, then Park City is the ideal place for you to live.
With a current population of just under 8,000, it was named by Forbes as one of the 20 prettiest towns in the U.S. in 2008. The median household income is $65,800. Although considered a smaller town, Park City has an excellent public transportation system used by locals and tourists alike.
Park City has its own public school system with four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.
The town has both a humid continental climate and an Alpine climate, which makes for cold, snowy winters and warm summers.
Park City real estate can be quite expensive. Just searching “homes for sale in park city utah” shows an average single family home listing priced at $1 million. But, with the mountains at your doorstep and the serene sounds of nature all around…you can’t put a price on that. Many condominiums and townhouses offer permanent residences and vacation rentals. Even some of the resorts offer housing options!
Since the town is so close to nature, many houses are built using stone and wood beams, perfectly complementing Mother Nature’s beauty.
The downtown area offers plenty of restaurants, bars, grocery stores and other activities. Salt Lake City and its metropolitan area is just over 30 miles away. Since the tourism industry is hopping in both summer and winter, there’s always plenty to do. Catch an outdoor concert at one of the resorts or take a cooking class at a restaurant downtown.
Moving to Park City, Utah
Moving to a unique, mountainous area like Park City can present its own unique challenges. If you want to build a new house, you need to make sure your preferred building spot isn’t on natural preserve land. Can your car handle the drive through the rocky terrain to your new abode? And, if you’re hiring movers to help you complete your Park City relocation, are they familiar with all of the area’s quirks and requirements?
Look at local movers like Two Man Movers & Storage, Park City Moving Company or All My Sons Moving & Storage. Local movers in Park City usually know the best solutions to moving your belongings in difficult terrain, and can even offer recommendations on the town.
When you move to Park City, make sure that you have thoroughly researched the town and are ready to make the commitment to the area’s way of life.
Park City isn’t just a place to live; it’s a lifestyle. And if you’re ready to commit to the mountain life, it’s smooth skiing ahead for you in Park City.