By Yeti \ February 7 2015
Feb 3 2015 / Brighton Ski Resort
Feb 3 2015 / brighton ski resort
Feb 3 2015 / brighton ski resort
Feb 3 2015
Feb 3 2015 / Brighton Ski Resort
Feb 3 2015 / brighton ski resort
Feb 3 2015 / brighton ski resort
Feb 3 2015
By Harriet Wallis, the geezer gal
Skiing with an extension ladder is a bad idea. Zane Doyle learned it the hard way. He finished some work on the lift he owned at Brighton and was skiing down carrying the ladder when he fell and broke his hip. He was alone on the mountain, so he crawled to his car and drove himself to the hospital. It was the 1940s when lifts were primitive and maintenance was self taught.
In the 1930s and 40s Brighton was not a single resort but a conglomeration of surface tows that had been cobbled together and worked erratically. They were owned by various ski clubs and individuals such as Doyle.
There were other mishaps. Doyle bought a T-bar when its owner went to serve in World War II. But the first time he turned on the long-idled lift its wooden towers collapsed.
During the war Doyle made a deal with the Army. In exchange for helping to plow the road, GIs could ski for $1 a day and they showed up in droves. Many GIs didn't know how to use the T-bar, so Doyle allowed good skiers to form a line half way up the slope. When someone fell off, a better skier would grab the empty T and ride the rest of the way up.
Then in 1947 a private company, Brighton Recreation, made a radical move. It installed a state-of-the-art single-chair lift on Mount Millicent. Ironically, K Smith, who sold his rickety T-bar to Doyle when he went to war, was a partner in the firm that put in the lift. The upscale lift was such a phenomenon that Salt Lake City dignitaries showed up for its dedication along with a crowd estimated at 2000-3000 people. Lift rides were free that day.
In 1955 Doyle and partners bought the first double-chair lift in the Intermountain West, and Doyle installed it himself. He spent all summer on his hands and knees boring holes nine feet deep into solid granite for 15 lift towers. His only tools were a single jack (a drill-like device) and a sledgehammer. He lost 50 pounds that summer doing the hard manual labor.
Doyle added more chairlifts over the next few years. Then in 1963 Doyle and his partners bought out Brighton Recreation and took over the Mount Millicent lift. The ski area was finally all under one ownership.
Today, Brighton is owned by CNL, an investment firm that owns 110 properties, including 17 ski resorts, in 34 states and two Canadian provinces. Brighton continues to be managed by Boyne USA with the Doyle family in leadership and management roles.
Brighton has come a long way since the pre-lift days when skiers would leave Park City, climb to the ridge and spend the night in the abandoned Comstock Mine boarding house where they over-nighted with "rats, fleas and bedbugs." They'd ski into Brighton the next day, and then return over the top to Park City.
If you'd like to learn more about Utah ski history, check out this story on Alan Engen from Alta, or Junior Bounous from Snowbird.
Harriet Wallis has been a ski writer, editor and photographer forever. She learned to ski on a dare when she was in her mid 30s and has been blabbing about it ever since. Read more from Harriet at Senior Skiing http://www.seniorsskiing.com/
All photo credits: Brighton Resort
(This information will not be shared)
13 Comments
Dana Simonson \ 8.3 years ago
Great Stories. We love reading them! Keep up the good work and the great stories.
Thanks!
Kathy Miner \ 8.3 years ago
This was such a fun article for me to read! My parents were part of the hike Park City and ski down into Brighton Bunch. I heard a lot of fun stories from them about their adventures from PC to Brighton. I loved the pictures of the the old tow bar, lifts, and ski clothing. Thanks for a fun look back at Brighton.
Kathy Miner
Patti Timmins \ 8.3 years ago
I would love to hear about the Brighton family that originally owned the property and ran the Brighton Hotel.
Linda Barnes \ 8.3 years ago
Great writing and some interesting facts about Brighton Ski Resort. The history of Brighton was presented very well and very enjoyable to read. My six boys learned to ski there and I know they will love to read this article. Keep up the great work!!!
Fannie Zaharias Daly \ 8.3 years ago
Some of the best years of my life were spent in Brighton. Mt. Millicent was a challenge that was loved by all, too ! Many of us learned to ski at Brighton ! Etched forever in my memory !!!
Bob Miner \ 8.3 years ago
We love Brighton and are pleased to learn more about it's history.
LArry Green \ 8.3 years ago
Great history lesson on Brighton. The photos are really great (they are the ones in the lodge), I would like someone to identify where (exactly) those photos were taken (e.g., Snake Creek, Crest) though. Can't wait for more.
jo \ 8.3 years ago
you forget how primitive things used to be after seeing today's resorts. Love the pictures of the skiers in their ski garb of times past.
MILES MIYA \ 8.3 years ago
Nice history of Brighton. Know you do mostly skiing but maybe some other history of the canyons, Big and Little. and how some of the areas got their names.
George Felis \ 8.3 years ago
I was one of those skiers who would climb up the slope, about half way up t-bar and waite for an empty t-bar and grab it to go to the top. Pappy Dole would shake his ski pole at us and scream at us since we didn't pay for our ride up the lift. I am the skier coming to the top of the lift. Those are great memories of my early days of learning to ski at Brighton. For the past 50 years I have ski patrolled at Brighton and continue to do at the present time.
Claire Walter \ 8.3 years ago
Brighton's early days with different lifts/tows owned by different people reminds me of the early days of skiing in the Alps. A farmer would string up some uphill conveyance and collect the revenues from rides made on it.
Elizabeth \ 8.3 years ago
I was fortunate enough to be present at the "black tie bonfire" in Brighton's parking lot about 15 years ago. That night Zane was given a microphone and he told us stories about the early days at Brighton. One of the biggest themes underlying all of it, and something he passed on to Randy, was how much FUN it was. What's the point of working at a ski resort if you're not having fun?
Alice Williamson \ 8.3 years ago
Interesting article. Do not have Facebook so can't do a Like.