Look Beyond The Sleeping Dogs: Portraits of a Vibrant Community in Park City's 'Ghost Town' Era
“Most of what you read about the history of Park City, Utah, covers two eras. First came the days of ore, from 1869 until the end of World War II, when the promise of precious metals lured thousands to this little canyon at the headwaters of Silver Creek and made millions for a privileged few. Then came the town's renaissance as a winter resort beginning with the opening of Treasure Mountains in 1963. Often glossed over by contemporary historians is the period between these two eras, when mining was withering and skiing meant taking your chances at Snow Park, a shoestring mon-and-pop operation in what is now Deer Valley. At least one book included Park City in an inventory of Western ghost towns. People drove up from Salt Lake City to gape at the abandoned buildings.
But hold on, said historian Gary Kimball, who grew up in Park City in the so-called ghost-town era. There was a vibrant community here in those years, he said, as visitors would have realized if they had looked beyond the dogs sleeping in the street. In this delightful collection of first-person vignettes, Kimball recalled his adventures growing up in the aging “camp” and the myriad colorful characters he met along the way. Some of these vignettes were published in his 2006 book, Of Moths and Miners, which is now out of print. Others are appearing here in print for the first time.
Before Kimball died in 2018, his family assured him that these stories would be made available for future generations of readers.”
- Back Cover Text
“Most of what you read about the history of Park City, Utah, covers two eras. First came the days of ore, from 1869 until the end of World War II, when the promise of precious metals lured thousands to this little canyon at the headwaters of Silver Creek and made millions for a privileged few. Then came the town's renaissance as a winter resort beginning with the opening of Treasure Mountains in 1963. Often glossed over by contemporary historians is the period between these two eras, when mining was withering and skiing meant taking your chances at Snow Park, a shoestring mon-and-pop operation in what is now Deer Valley. At least one book included Park City in an inventory of Western ghost towns. People drove up from Salt Lake City to gape at the abandoned buildings.
But hold on, said historian Gary Kimball, who grew up in Park City in the so-called ghost-town era. There was a vibrant community here in those years, he said, as visitors would have realized if they had looked beyond the dogs sleeping in the street. In this delightful collection of first-person vignettes, Kimball recalled his adventures growing up in the aging “camp” and the myriad colorful characters he met along the way. Some of these vignettes were published in his 2006 book, Of Moths and Miners, which is now out of print. Others are appearing here in print for the first time.
Before Kimball died in 2018, his family assured him that these stories would be made available for future generations of readers.”
- Back Cover Text
“Most of what you read about the history of Park City, Utah, covers two eras. First came the days of ore, from 1869 until the end of World War II, when the promise of precious metals lured thousands to this little canyon at the headwaters of Silver Creek and made millions for a privileged few. Then came the town's renaissance as a winter resort beginning with the opening of Treasure Mountains in 1963. Often glossed over by contemporary historians is the period between these two eras, when mining was withering and skiing meant taking your chances at Snow Park, a shoestring mon-and-pop operation in what is now Deer Valley. At least one book included Park City in an inventory of Western ghost towns. People drove up from Salt Lake City to gape at the abandoned buildings.
But hold on, said historian Gary Kimball, who grew up in Park City in the so-called ghost-town era. There was a vibrant community here in those years, he said, as visitors would have realized if they had looked beyond the dogs sleeping in the street. In this delightful collection of first-person vignettes, Kimball recalled his adventures growing up in the aging “camp” and the myriad colorful characters he met along the way. Some of these vignettes were published in his 2006 book, Of Moths and Miners, which is now out of print. Others are appearing here in print for the first time.
Before Kimball died in 2018, his family assured him that these stories would be made available for future generations of readers.”
- Back Cover Text