Park City, Utah
After a population decline following the shutdown of the area's mining industry, the city rebounded during the 1980s and 1990s through an expansion of its tourism business.Although they receive less snow and have a shorter ski season than do their counterparts in Salt Lake County, such as Snowbird resort, they are much easier to access.The city is the main location of the United States' largest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival; home of the United States Ski Team; training center for members of the Australian Freestyle Ski Team; the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah; the 2002 Olympic bobsled/skeleton/luge track at the Utah Olympic Park; and golf courses.The city has many retailers, clubs, bars, and restaurants, and has nearby reservoirs, hot springs, forests, and hiking and biking trails.[8] The area was traveled by the early Mormon pioneers on their journey to where they settled and built Salt Lake City.Although it was not the first find, the Ontario silver mine, discovered by Herman Buden in 1872 and quickly purchased by George Hearst through his business partner R. C. Chambers, was the first major producer.He had previously been a Colonel in the Union Army, mayor of Grand Haven, and was son of wealthy businessman William Montague Ferry.The silver industry was suffering when 'Parkite' miners presented to Utahns Inc. a proposal for a ski resort called Treasure Mountain.United Park City Mines, who owned the land the resort would be built on, received a land-redevelopment grant from the John F. Kennedy Administration.This marks the beginning of the ski industry largely promoted by the Utah State Legislation as a destination resort.This significant increase in visitors could be credited to promotional material that is distributed by the Utah Publicity and Tourist Council.Growth has accelerated in the last few decades, and Park City is now one of the most affluent resort towns in the United States.The makeover of Park City has stimulated a culture of expenditure, adventure, wealth, and this is included in their promotional material.To this day, there are still more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of old silver-mine workings and tunnels beneath the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort and neighboring Deer Valley.The festivities are centered on Main Street, while film screenings are held in several venues both within and outside of Park City.Park City usually serves as the finish for the final leg of the Tour of Utah road bike race.Park City is home to the Swaner EcoCenter, which also serves as an extension and distance education center for Utah State University.