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Show I f The Newspaper Thursday, January 15, 1981 Page 9 Third in a Series: Skiing in Utah : A History . . This is the third in a series of excerpts from the book "Sfeiing in Utah: A History," f the work of Salt Lake City author Alexis Keiner. This i book explores the start of ' alpine skiing and ski jump-? jump-? ing along the Wasatch Front, focusing both on the i, sport's early advocates and ' on the development of ski ; areas such as Alta, Brighton, J Park City, Solitude and Snowbird. The following excerpt is taken from the chapter en- titled "The Skiers' Mecca." t "Sfeiing in Utah," a paper-; paper-; back, is available at a ? variety of locations around '; Park City. As the 1950s drew to close, (r little activity was evident on ( the proposed development of Park City as a recreation area. Metal prices, J especially those of lead-zinc : on which Park City's . economy so heavily depend- ed, continued their decline. On a similar decline was ,; Park City's population. Once I numbering in the thousands the 1960 census indicated that only 1,366 residents , remained. Much like the coal mining areas of Appalachia, ' Park City had become an of- ficially designated "depressed area." Much like . the "skier's mecca" " aspirations of the 1920's and ; '30's the dream of becoming ( "another Aspen" began to i; recede beyond the im-() im-() mediate horizon. But for those in the know the "depressed area" classification was like cash in a Swiss bank account, an elixer of youth that could qualify the depressed area for massive infusion of capital via federal govern- ment low-interest loans administered ad-ministered by the Area Redevelopment Administration. Ad-ministration. Within months a new surge of enthusiasm en-thusiasm coursed through the veins of Park City's leadership and that of the mining company. The "Park City Recreation Committee," Commit-tee," headed by Mayor William Sullivan, was organized to help renew the effort. Directors of United sparlFCity Mittfes approached .vAmeieahr' 'Smelting and Refining Company and Anaconda Copper for additional ad-ditional capital. Just prior to Pearl Harbor Day 1962, the Recreation and Land Development Division, of United Park City Mines Company announced that a total of nearly $2 million had been obtained for the project, that a half million . dollar contract had been signed with a West German company for construction of a 12,880 ft., ;144-car gondola tramway, and that contracts were being negotiated for the erection of two chairlifts to be completed concurrent ' with the tramway. A thirty-six page, multicolor multi-color booklet "New Bonanza at Park City" was prepared by an advertising agency to explain the "general proposion" of the development develop-ment and to invite "private enterprize" to participate in the venture. 1 The facilities to be wholly owned and operated by the resort company, explained the brochure, would include the gondola, clubhouse and activities center in the lower terminal building, parking area for 1,000 cars, summit restaurant, all chairlifts, golf course and private ' summer campsites. Opportunities Oppor-tunities for private enter-- enter-- prise would include such projects as hotels, lodges, motels, private residence I rooms and rooming houses, I in-town dining, entertainment, entertain-ment, and service facilities, art shops and galleries. ' Under the heading "A 'Bonanza' for All," the brochure concluded: "Yes. ..Park City, once , boomingly prosperous from the rich silver and other metals of its mines, again , can realize great properity from the 'silver' it will attract at-tract as one f America's foremost recreation and , residential playlands! Once again Park City can become a 'bonanza' to those with the spirit to prospect and to venture!" ven-ture!" The official, public ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly named "Treasure , Mountains" resort was ' scheduled for Saturday, December 1963, the shortest shor-test day of the year. During the preceding evening a private "preview reception" was planned for some 500-700 members of the press, travel agents, and other special invitees. in-vitees. As the days approached December 20 a feeling of apprehension ap-prehension prevailed among planners of the grand event. Little snow had fallen that December, and blades of grass ominously protruded along the carefully groomed ski runs of Utah's newest winter playground. Worse yet, the tramway wasn't ready! As of December 15 only 36 of the 144 cabins had been mounted on the cable, only an additional twelve were promised to be added to Friday's preview. Nevertheless, festivities commenced on schedule. As guests arrived for the reception each was received by John M. Wallace, President of United Park City Mines Company, James E. Hogle, Executive Committee Com-mittee Chairman of its Board of Directors, and S.K. Droubay, the mine company's com-pany's Vice President and General Manager.- Immediately Im-mediately following the platitudes groups of guests were ushered to the waiting gondolas for the twenty-two minute ride to the Summit House. Here, they could sip hot cider, coffee, or chocolate as they casually perused the premises. A trio of yodelers, complete with accordion and two guitars . lent an unusual Swiss-western Swiss-western flavor to the occasion. oc-casion. Nearly forty-one years had passed , since the Park Record initially predicted Park City's emergence as "a 'mecca' for winter sports." On the eve of the winter solstice, 1963 Park City finally emerged in the company of a very delectable delec-table assortment of chicken livers with bacon, honey-dipped honey-dipped chicken legs, smoked oysters with bacon, crab barquettes, shrimp bouchees, barbecued cocktail frankfurters, and cream cheese balls with toasted coconut. Another fifteen years would pass before its ramifications became fully digested and the need for the "plop, plop....fizz, fizz" of a soothing Alka-Seltzer became apparent. ' Treasure Mountain contin-; contin-; ued operation under the ownership own-ership and management of United Park City Mines Company for the remainder of the decade. Due to the highly restrictive terms of the government loan, little opportunity remained for development of other facilities, such as the residential subdivisions, recommended by National Planning and Research. Within five years of its grand opening United Park City Mines Company began searching for someone with a "stronger development talent" to take over the facility. Negotiations commenced com-menced with Royal Street Company of New Orleans for a possible sale of the resort. In 1969 negotiations were concluded and in February, 1970 Royal Street assumed operation of the Park City resort. The "Greater Park City Company" was formed for administration of the newly acquired property. Under its leadership the resort once more experienced a surge of enthusiasm. New lifts were 1 1 lis ill i 1 V , j. . . -' US HIM its. ab ." is i. -nw rm k till! I iiJiillfiifU, P mm Italian Cuisine Open 7 days a week 5:30 -10:30 412 Main St.. 649-8211 - Mileti's 'We slept overnight at the Comstock Mine;" Arbor Day trip Park City to Brighton, 1923. Photo by W.H. Hopkins, courtesy of the Wasatch Mountain Club. MOUNTAIN constructed, and new facilities to house throngs of newly attracted skiers. Condominiums Con-dominiums proliferated, as did apartments and golf course cottages. At a manic pitch building continued. Right into a recession. . As a result of rising interest in-terest rates that followed the Arab oil embargo of 1973-74 the Greater Park City Company Com-pany was unable to meet' its obligations. In 1975, the area was sold to Alpine Meadows of Tahoe, Inc. At time of its sale it boasted nine ski lifts serving the largest (about 5,500 acres) privately owned parcel of ski terrain in Utah. Like it has with so many laundry detergents, the change of ownership was accompanied ac-companied by an aura of "newness" for the resort. Park City: "Tough,'.' "Bold," "Bolder-than-Bold." Jupiter Bowl had become penetrated with a chair lift and the area now boasted 650 "new" acres of "advancedexpert" terrain to complement the "beginnerintermediate" "begin-nerintermediate" terrain with which it had been so bounteously endowed. Thanks to numerous entrepreneurs en-trepreneurs Park City's boutique, nightclub, restaurant, and shopping plaza prospect was also on the upswing, prompting one New York based national ski magazine editor to compare the area to those in Colorado. "Aspen and Breckenridge come to mind as places offering of-fering this kind of variety," he wrote in Sfeiing and concluded con-cluded his Park City article with a not-uncommon ski writer's slu aimed at the people of Utah: "and though Park City may not yet be on a par with these, considering it's Utah, it's amazing one can make such a mental comparison at all." RESTAURANT FRESH THIS WEEK Live Maine Lobsters Fresh Snapper Fresh Oysters Fresh Steamers 6-11 p.m. Dally , Reservations Suggested 649-4006, 368 Main Street Mastercharge and VISA accepted Cross-country is in at Jon If you've been looking for a high quality cross-country ski outfit at an affordable price, look no further. Jans has just received a Fischer-Dynafit outfit that'll perform and last season after season. Fischer Crown no-wax ski $99.50 Dynalit ankle-high leather boot 55.00 Fischer fiberglass poles 1 4.00 Fischer-Rottefella binding 10.50 Installation and prep. 8.00 If purchased separately $187.00 $139.95 Jans Price MM fflOQMJfflDi 1700 PARK AVENUE, PARK CITY, UT. 84060, 649-4949 Open 8-8 Dally "VI t"! Jt if Luxury Soaking Salon Come, treat yourself to an evening of pleasure. Rest your weary bones and tired muscles in one of our 5 private therapeutic pools. After a hard day on the slopes or for a special end to a hectic day, nothing feels better than a good soak. You'll leave feeling like a new person. ill In the heart of Park City 1700 Park Ave., Mt. Air Mall Adjacent to Jan's Mountain Outfitters 5 private rooms - Reservations suggested Hours 3:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. daily 649-4056 Opening the week of January 1 9th FT" fill 1st II li |