Park City- Utah Ghost Town

PARK CITY

NAME: Park City
COUNTY: Summit
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 2
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, cool summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer.

COMMENTS: Ski resort nearby.
REMAINS: Some of the mines.

Although not a ghost town today for it boasts a population of 7,500, Park City has preserved much of what it would have looked like had it become a ghost town. As is the case with Ophir, soldiers of the U.S. Army are credited with the discovery of silver, gold and lead in the area where Park City is located today. In 1870 the discovery was made public and the influx of people began. By 1880, Park City was so populated it was in fact a city other than just in name. The mining operations were so successful the populace began to think of Park City replacing Salt Lake City as the prime city in Utah. Then came an unexpected problem, which nearly caused the city to become a ghost town. The initial mining operations had been at very shallow depths. As the diggings went deeper and deeper they soon reached the water table, the mines flooded and had to be abandoned. Park City was about to become a ghost town. Someone suggested the mine owners join together instead of competing with each other. They did and with additional capital now available constructed drainage canals, drained the water from the mines and saved Park City.	Park City Courtesy Bob Bezzant Park City Courtesy Bob Bezzant Park City Courtesy Bob Bezzant Park City Courtesy Bob Bezzant

Although not a ghost town today for it boasts a population of 7,500, Park City has preserved much of what it would have looked like had it become a ghost town. As is the case with Ophir, soldiers of the U.S. Army are credited with the discovery of silver, gold and lead in the area where Park City is located today. In 1870 the discovery was made public and the influx of people began. By 1880, Park City was so populated it was in fact a city other than just in name. The mining operations were so successful the populace began to think of Park City replacing Salt Lake City as the prime city in Utah. Then came an unexpected problem, which nearly caused the city to become a ghost town. The initial mining operations had been at very shallow depths. As the diggings went deeper and deeper they soon reached the water table, the mines flooded and had to be abandoned. Park City was about to become a ghost town. Someone suggested the mine owners join together instead of competing with each other. They did and with additional capital now available constructed drainage canals, drained the water from the mines and saved Park City.

Park City
Courtesy Bob Bezzant

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