Snowbasin Resort history

The following year they hosted their first ski race featuring 75 racers, an access road was build to the resort, more runs were cut, and construction of the mile-long Wildcat Chairlift had begun by 1941.

Snowbasin won the title and the Forest Service constructed a lodge in 1944.

Delayed by World War II, it didn’t add its first legitimate chair lift or hold dedication and naming ceremonies until 1946.

The fourth NCAA Skiing Championships, the first in Utah, were held at Snow Basin in 1957.

During the 1960's Snow Basin saw the construction of the Glendale Inn Lodge, the Wildcat double chairlift was completed, and the original, antiquated rope tow was replaced by the Porcupine chairlift.

Miller played a key role in drafting the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) American Ski Technique in 1961.

Huntington was killed five years later in 1962, as he was performing post-season maintenance, replacing an electrical fuse at the Porcupine lift.

Since that time, Snow Basin has evolved in numerous ways, including several changes in ownership, the construction of new lifts, lodges and roads into the resort area, as well as the official name change to "Snowbasin" in 1978.

Snowbasin was significantly improved in 1979 with the construction of the Middle Bowl triple chairlift and a 2,700 square-foot expansion of the day lodge.

Set in the idyllic town of Huntsville, Utah, Snowbasin is one of the easiest ski resorts to access from the Salt Lake City Airport due to the construction of Trapper's Loop in the late 1980's.

The Holding family purchased Snowbasin in 1984 and still own it today.

The Snowbasin Master Development Plan was revised in 1985 to include the development of a destination four-season resort and a land exchange with the Forest Service.

The environmental impact study of the plan began in 1989 and took nearly two years to complete.

Sources: Frederick M. Huchel, History of Box Elder County: Richard C Roberts and Richard W. Sadler, History of Weber County; JDN, History Blazer August 1995; Snowbasin website www.snowbasin.com

The United States Congress passed the Snowbasin Land Exchange Act in 1996 as part of the Omnibus Lands Bill.

The snowmaking system was installed in 1999 and is the most advanced snowmaking system in the world utilizing the most up-to-date equipment and technology.

On May 23, 2000, the land exchange was completed, transferring 1,377 acres of National Forest System lands at the base of the resort to Snowbasin and 11,757 acres of private land in northern Utah to the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

During the 2002 Olympics, Snowbasin hosted the downhill, combined (downhill and slalom), and super-G events.

On June 25, 2004 Snowbasin Resort took one more step toward the goal to become a four-season resort when it opened for its inaugural Summer Season.