Atla and Snowbird Ski Vacation - Now and Then

Ski Utah article series:

Just 29 miles from the Salt Lake City airport are the old silver mine town of Alta Utah and an incomparable ski resort, Snowbird. To look at them today, you’d be hard-pressed to imagine that a scant bit over 100 years ago, these were wilderness, uncharted territories which might have gone undiscovered altogether if not for the quest for silver.

In 1869, a U.S. Army soldier began prospecting for silver in Little Cottonwood Canyon. This would eventually become the Little Emma mine. Over the lifetime of that mining operation, it would produce nearly four million dollars of silver at that day’s prices! In its prime, the little mining operation, nestled deep in a narrow canyon, would house eight thousand people, all of whom lived in 138 homes, hotels, and boarding houses. The little town boasted two ore smelters, stores and even its own railroad. Unfortunately most of the evidence of this history was buried when it was destroyed by a series of avalanches.

There were many silver mine towns in Colorado back in the day, though. What would make Snowbird come to life was the dream of Ted Johnson, who was living and working in nearby Alta at the time. Ted purchased the mining claim for Blackjack, and knew that this one ski run was only part of the story. His dream included making the wide bowls and long runs of Peruvian Gulch and Gad Valley available to skiers as well.

But Ted Johnson was a dreamer, a man with a vision and nothing like the sort of money it would take to make a ski resort happen. Enter Texas oilman Richard D. Bass, whom Johnson met at a party in Vail in 1969. Bass was also involved in the skiing industry in Aspen and Vail, and knew the business well. He came up to visit with Johnson the next week, and jumped on board, seeing the same potentials that Johnson had dreamt of. Shortly thereafter, the two had the mining claim for Snowbird too, and went on a grand tour of U.S. and European ski resorts, after ideas and inspiration on how to make Snowbird the best resort possible. Dick Bass is quoted as summing up his vision with “My underlying dream for Snowbird is the creation of a year-round resort, which respects and complements the beauty and inspiration of this natural setting – a place dedicated to increasing human understanding through the enhancement of body, mind and spirit.”

Snowbird opened up in December of 1971, with just three lifts and its lodges. The next summer they would build the Turamura (later changed to simply The Inn.) The following two summers continued construction and expansion. In 1974, Ted Johnson sold his interest to Dick Bass, and retired from the project.

For over a decade, Snowbird would continue to grow in popularity and provide people with extraordinary skiing. In 1986, a major expansion occurred, and Snowbird’s Cliff Lodge now sported a world-class resort and spa. In keeping with Dick Bass’ vision, Snowbird would be a year-round resort, not just another ski lodge.

Further expansions would continue into Salt Lake Valley. Snowbird now owns the Canyon Racquet & Fitness club, for example, but that’s almost insignificant in contrast to what was yet to come. Eventually more runs were opened, more chairlifts, and access to bowls of pristine-perfect powder. In 2001, in preparation for Salt Lake City’s hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics, they installed a second high-speed chairlift (Baldy Express,) at Mineral Basin. This provided a connection with the town of Alta, as well as allowing the two resorts to offer a combined lift ticket for over 4,700 acres of powdery slopes.
To date, Alta and Snowbird have been rated as the #1 ski resort in the U.S. every year since that expansion, a proud testimony to the vision of founders Ted Johnson and Dick Bass.

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