Long ago, people traveling the Overland stagecoach trail often pulled over at the Kimball Hotel & Stage Stop, founded by William H. Kimball. Fast forward to today, and Kimball Junction is a modern and growing neighborhood that serves as the gateway to Park City from Interstate 80.
This shopping, dining and residential center is home to the Redstone Shopping Center, Newpark Town Center, Junction Commons and a diverse array of housing options. While Kimball Junction has a variety of national brand names, it’s best known for its locally run businesses. Along with retail shops and restaurants, it has become a growing hub for wellness centers and fitness studios.
Kimball Junction boasts sweeping views from Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, Utah Olympic Park and many surrounding trails. Known by many as the “Locals’ Main Street,” there is something for everyone, whether you’re coming from Salt Lake, Heber or just down the street.
“You could spend the entire day or the entire week in Kimball Junction and never have to leave because you have everything at your doorstep,” says Brooks Kirchheimer, cofounder and restaurateur of Hill Top
Hospitality, which has Hearth and Hill and Hill’s Kitchen in Kimball Junction. “The best part is many are locally owned and operated, so you can support the locals that live right around you.”
Shopping Selection
Whether you visit Redstone or Newpark, there are numerous boutiques to explore. Indigo Highway is the place to find a unique gift, as this mountain modern general store stocks and supports more than 150 artists and emerging brands. Owner Jen Tutor chose Kimball Junction nine years ago to focus on serving local customers. “We really wanted to get to know our customers and have a relationship with them, as opposed to tourists, who we may only see once,” she says. “We love being a part of their lives.”
She adds, “We feel like Kimball Junction has everything you need in a mountain community, and our little street in Newpark is like our very own Notting Hill.”
For adventurers seeking fashion-forward gear, Northland Mountain Boutique offers a range of options that seamlessly transition from recreation to urban outings. Meanwhile, Free Living Co sells safer home goods, offering only vetted and verified non-toxic and sustainable products, including skincare, beauty and household essentials.
The revived Junction Commons, formerly known as Outlets Park City, is transforming from an outlet mall into a diverse shopping destination with more than 60 businesses, including retail shops, outlets, local boutiques, a thrift store and quick-serve dining. Local-run shops include Blue Sky Nomads, a jewelry and accessories store; CCPC Summit Exchange, a used clothing and recreational goods store; The Beau Collective, a boutique workout studio; and Savannah’s, a custom hat bar.
Diverse Dining
Whether you’re craving steak or Italian, American, Mexican or Asian cuisine, Kimball Junction delivers. This neighborhood is packed with local gems. On casual mornings, try Cupla Coffee, Hill’s Kitchen, The Bake Shop and Chomp Donuts and Coffee for java and breakfast. The Bake Shop opened just two years ago and specializes in fresh pastries, sourdough bread and filling breakfast sandwiches, while Chomp is a sweet new place for freshly made donuts and a full menu of coffee drinks, chai, matcha and hot chocolate.
At lunchtime, savor Tilly’s Charcoal Chicken’s poultry-based sandwiches and plates or stop by 11Hauz for quick, healthy Jamaican fare. Pair lunch with Utah-brewed beer at Red Rock Brewery or Park City Brewing in Redstone. When seeking a sit-down classic, Bartolo’s, Cortona Italian Cafe, Hearth and Hill, and Sterling’s Steakhouse and Lounge deliver culinary satisfaction.
Sterling’s feels like more than just a steakhouse thanks to its frequent live music and welcoming vibe. Jackson Sterling, the son in the father-son duo that opened Sterling’s, describes it as a place “where elevated dining meets laid-back Park City vibes.” He adds, “We’ve created a space that feels both upscale and approachable, with live music seven nights a week, a cozy lounge area and a warm, welcoming staff.”
Sterling chose Kimball Junction because of its fast-paced growth, unique feel and vibrancy. “It’s a part of Park City that offers the perfect balance between accessibility and character. It’s easy to get to — right off Interstate 80 — and offers plenty of parking, which makes dining here stress-free, whether you’re a local or visiting from out of town,” he says. “It’s a hub for both locals and travelers who want a genuine Park City experience without the pains of Main Street.”
Hearth and Hill is another Kimball Junction favorite, and its eclectic menu ranges from burgers and ramen to gyoza and birria tacos. The Eatery opened in the neighborhood seven years ago, and co-founder Kirchheimer calls this booming area the perfect home.
“We opened in Kimball Junction because we wanted to be a gathering spot for the community and felt that Kimball Junction was central to the year-round community of residents,” he says. “We also knew that Center Drive in Kimball Junction could be the new Main Street of Park City and provide locals and visitors alike with multiple dining, shopping and workout options with free parking, convenient public transportation and [a location] adjacent to Swaner Preserve.”
Outdoor Access
Kimball Junction’s crown jewel is Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, a 1,200-acre nature preserve and educational center that protects the area’s native wetlands. Explore it on the Wetland Discovery Trail or climb up the four-story tower to survey the landscapes from above.
Another option is to follow the paved trail behind Redstone to connect to the city’s vast trail system for hiking, biking and running. Or park in designated rail-trail user spaces near White Pine Touring to explore the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail.
Health and Wellness Centers
Kimball Junction is also becoming a wellness destination with businesses like Autumn Bear Wellness Collective, Avanto, Prime IV, Pure Sweat and Float Studio, Stretch Labs and Upgrade Labs, where you can opt into the latest trends. For example, Avanto and Pure Sweat and Float bring Nordic wellness offerings to Park City, with cold plunges and saunas at Avanto and infrared saunas and float tanks at Pure Sweat and Float.
Meanwhile, Upgrade Labs provides cutting-edge biohacking technologies to help optimize the body’s performance, recovery and overall well-being. Prime IV focuses on improving health through hydration therapy, which delivers vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream for rapid absorption. Stretch Labs is a wellness studio offering one-on-one assisted stretching services to reduce pain and improve flexibility and mobility.
Autumn Bear Wellness Collective is meeting Park City’s growing demand for a boutique integrative health clinic that combines primary care and traditional healing. The Autumn Bear team includes a doctor of osteopathic medicine who specializes in functional aging, as well as practitioners of acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, Chinese dietary therapy and sound healing. Together, they help patients build strength, balance and resilience at every stage of life.
“Main Street is iconic, no doubt — but if you’re only going there, you’re missing out on a big part of what makes Park City special,” Sterling says. “Kimball Junction has a more relaxed, local vibe and offers experiences you just won’t find downtown.”
