Utah Celebrates Tremendous Growth since 2002 Winter Games

In February 2002, the world turned its attention toward Salt Lake City, Utah as it hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.  Fresh off the heels of the 9-11 attacks, Salt Lake City and the world’s best winter athletes successfully reunited nations through a series of events that would not soon be forgotten. Bluebird days and snowy nights set the perfect stage for what many would consider the most perfectly executed Winter Games of all times. The event officially put Utah on the map as a premier vacation destination and spilled the secret of its Greatest Snow on Earth® worldwide.

Ten years later, Utah remains very connected to the Games and its 2002 legacy. Park City based U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association continues to train Olympic hopefuls at the state-of-the-art Center of Excellence facility, which opened in 2009. Additionally, Utah hosts a number of world-class competitions each season including World Cup aerial and freestyle skiing, the Dew Tour, Grand Prix Snowboarding, the World Freeskiing Tour and more.

As snow enthusiasts have gravitated to Utah, the state’s 14 resorts have polished the incredible winter products offered to their guests. Myriad on-mountain enhancements such as thousands of acres of new terrain, dozens of lifts, multiple maintenance upgrades and even a new resort, have made navigating Utah’s slopes even more exhilarating and accessible. Off-slope amenities such as sensational spas, top-notch eateries, hip watering holes and eclectic shops have enhanced the overall Utah vacation experience. In fact, the town of Park City has increased the number of pillows available by 33 percent in the last ten years as new lodges, varying from economical to luxury, have sprouted across the state.

Utah has even witnessed the blossoming of a burgeoning liquor industry. Local microbreweries, wineries and a slopeside whiskey distillery are garnering national acclaim for the quality of their brews and spirits. Recent liquor law reform ended the infamous “private club” system making it easier for visitors to enjoy Utah’s pubs, bars and restaurants as well.

Despite the cascade of advancements, Utah has stayed true to its roots offering a unique and unadulterated mountain experience. Each and every development has been carefully orchestrated to preserve the classic charm and natural beauty Utah’s mountain resorts have always possessed.

In Utah, every visitor gets gold medal treatment. Come live our legacy and feel what it’s like to be a champion on our slopes.

Jessica Kunzer
801.433.2016
jessica@skiutah.com