Park City Information & Fun Facts

Beyond the Slopes: Discover the Heart of Park City

Park City Main Street is situated at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet and is renowned for its world-class ski resorts, breathtaking mountain scenery, and vibrant small-town atmosphere. While it draws visitors from around the globe for its legendary winters, locals know the real magic begins in summer—when hiking, biking, festivals, outdoor concerts, and sunshine take over the landscape. As the saying goes, “You come for the winters, but stay for the summers.”  Discover some fun and surprising facts about Park City that capture what makes this mountain town so special.

Park City Details

Location: 30 miles east of Salt Lake City in Utah's scenic Wasatch Back Range.
Elevation: Park City spans elevations from 6,400 feet in lower residential areas to 10,026 feet at the summit of Jupiter Peak—Park City Mountain’s highest skiable point.
Population:

Annual Visitors:  Park City welcomes over 4 million visitors annually—about 2.6 million during the winter season and 1.4 million throughout the summer.
Climate:

Snowfall: Park City Mountain Resort receives an average of 355 inches of snow per season, offering one of the most reliable snowpacks in North America.

Park City School District

Total Enrollment: Approximately 4,117 students (2024–2025)

Park City School District is consistently recognized for excellence in education. It was ranked the “Best School District in Utah” by Niche in 2020 and earned the same honor from Business Insider in 2018. Known for its strong academics, high graduation rates, and innovative programs, the district continues to be one of the top-performing public school systems in the state.

Key Elevation Points Summary

Fun Facts About Park City

1. Olympic Legacy
   Park City was a host venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics and will reprise its role for the 2034 Winter Games, hosting ski and snowboarding events.
2. The Ten O'Clock Whistle
   Every Friday at 10:00 p.m., a siren sounds in Old Town—a tradition dating back to 1902 when it served as a fire warning system
3. The Skier's Subway
   In 1963, skiers were transported through old mining tunnels via subway cars to reach the slopes—a journey that was cold, wet, and lasted about an hour.
4. Silver Mining Roots
   Before ski boots, there were pickaxes—Park City began as a silver mining town in the late 1800s and still has a few of the old mining tunnels beneath its surface.
5. Sundance's Star Power
   Park City has been the home of the Sundance Film Festival since 1981. However, starting in 2027, the festival will relocate to Boulder, CO.
6. Record-Breaking Shot Ski
   In a fun annual tradition, Park City set a record with 1,385 participants simultaneously taking a shot from a ski lined with shot glasses, stretching over 900 meters.
7. Mountain Biking Mecca
   Designated the world’s first Gold-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Park City has over 400 miles of trails.
8. Historic Main Street
   Main Street features 64 Victorian buildings, all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, thereby preserving the city's rich heritage.
9. Halloween Goes to the Dogs
   Each Halloween, Main Street shuts down for a massive trick-or-treat and dog costume parade. Locals dress their pups as dinosaurs, hot dogs, or ski instructors, and the creativity is so next-level it’s become a must-see event—even for people without pets.
10. Utah's First Ski-In Whiskey Distillery
    High West Distillery, located at the bottom of Park City Mountain Resort, is the first ski-in, ski-out whiskey distillery in the world. Après-ski with a twist!

Wild West Weirdness

• The Bank Vault That Became a Bar
  The No Name Saloon—Park City’s most iconic bar—sits atop an old bank. Some say the original vault is still hidden inside, now rumored to store secrets (and maybe a few rare bourbons).
• Winter Parking Tickets. . . Paid in Beer?
  Legend has it that during a particularly bad snow year, a local brewery jokingly offered to cover one parking ticket if patrons brought in the citation and ordered a pint. It worked so well, they made it a yearly “Park & Pint” tradition—for charity.
• Main Street Host a Moose—or Two
  Locals swear there's one moose that makes annual fall visits to downtown. One year, it strolled right past a yoga class on the rooftop of the Kimball Terrace—without flinching.
• Haunted Brothel or Historic B&B?
  Several Main Street buildings were once brothels, and one now-operating inn swears it has a “flirtatious ghost” who messes with hair dryers and flicks lights during bachelorette weekends.
• A Celebrity Goat Once Roamed Main Street
  A local resident famously walked their goat “Vinny” in a Park City hoodie along Main Street. Tourists thought he was part of a pop-up art installation.
• The Park City Museum Jail Cell Selfie
  isitors can actually step into a preserved historic jail cell inside the Park City Museum. Locals joke it’s a rite of passage—“Do Main Street, get cuffed... in a good way.”
• The Great Fire of 1898
  On June 19, 1898, a devastating fire swept through Park City, destroying over 200 buildings and nearly 75% of the town. Remarkably, the community rebuilt, and many of the structures on Main Street today date back to the post-fire reconstruction.
• The "snow-Globe" Effect
  Locals call it this when big fluffy flakes fall perfectly under glowing lamplights downtown—it’s so surreal that Hollywood films have recreated it (but Park City's the real deal).
• The Running of the Balls
  A cherished Park City tradition held annually on Miners Day, which coincides with Labor Day, the first Monday in September. This event is a playful homage to the town's mining heritage and a community-driven fundraiser. .

During the festivities, approximately 15,000 golf balls are released from a 15-foot tower onto Main Street, racing down a three-block course. Participants can purchase balls, and the first to reach the finish line win prizes such as ski passes, hotel stays, and gift cards. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits through the Park City Rotary Club's community grants and scholarship programs.

The event is part of a day-long celebration that includes a pancake breakfast, the Bark City 5K run, a parade, live music, mining competitions, and more, all honoring Park City's rich mining history.

For a visual glimpse of this unique event, you can watch a video of the Running of the Balls here:

Who You Work With Matters

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With over 30 years of experience selling real estate in the Park City, Deer Valley & Salt Lake City, the Wallace Team with Summit Sotheby's International Realty is dedicated to providing unparalleled service. Our passion is leveraging our experience, network, and resources to help our buyers and sellers achieve their real estate aspirations.

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