The Long Road to Park City
By Luke Carothers Most people who arrive in Park City see a thriving mountain destination. They see ski resorts stretching across the hillsides, and a vibrant commercial district bounded with luxury homes, hotels, and restaurants. They see a community that has become synonymous with recreation, tourism, and growth. What they may not see, however, is how this history has been written through the built environment. Long before it became one of America’s premier resort towns, Park City was a rugged mining community carved into the mountains of northern Utah. It started as little more than a way stop clinging to a toll road that served ranchers and travelers moving through the region. However, over the last century and a half, the town has repeatedly reinvented itself, adapting its infrastructure, transportation systems, buildings, and public spaces to support a shifting economy an...