A Glimpse at What’s Going on Around the Valley
Powder with a Past
Deer Valley Resort’s recent expansion doubled the area’s skiable terrain, adding 100 new runs to an already impressive selection. To commemorate Park City’s mining history, the resort named each run with reference to our mountain town’s legacy. From straightforward titles like Lone Tree (named after a longstanding pine tree found on the run) to monikers deeply rooted in lore like Deep Enuf (honoring mining engineer Keith Droste, who used the term when signing documents), the project aims to connect the past to the present. Using the help of Park City historian Michael O’Malley, each name “was chosen with careful intention and holds a significant purpose to honor and celebrate Deer Valley’s past and usher in our bold future,” says Deer Valley Resort Vice President of Mountain Operations Steve Graff.
Fine-Dining Donuts (& Coffee)
Park City’s newest fine-dining establishment opened its doors in November 2025, but no forks or knives are necessary here. Chomp Donuts & Coffee makes and sells fresh, small-batch doughnuts. Their secret ingredient? A combination of the three co-owners’ experience: a trial lawyer, corporate sales professional and a Michelin-trained chef. Leah Erickson, Rick Nemeroff and Jeff Mahin teamed up to bring Park City an establishment with the polish and flavor of fine dining and the accessibility of a neighborhood watering hole. Customers can enjoy nostalgia-inspired flavors, coffee snob-approved caffeine options, and even seasonal doughnut variants when the time and ingredients are right. Located in Kimball Junction, Chomp is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smithsonian Stamp of Approval
Park City Historical Society and Museum have been committed to preserving and promoting the area’s rich history and culture for more than 40 years. In 2026, the organization was officially designated as the only Smithsonian Affiliate in Utah, joining a nationwide network of more than 200 cultural institutions that share knowledge, resources and experiences. The partnership is a testament to the long-term strategic goals and excellence in both preservation and community engagement by the museum’s board and staff. “[We] are honored to become Utah’s only Smithsonian Affiliate partner, opening the door to new educational and professional collaborations for our staff and providing Smithsonian Affiliate reciprocal membership benefits for our members,” says Randy Scott, past board president. The museum is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Message in a Bottle
On a trip to Park City, the Dean family of Naples, Florida, purchased a bottle of High West Distillery bourbon to commemorate their vacation. After enjoying the contents, they repurposed the bottle to carry a handwritten note and a $10,000 voucher for their Naples Aesthetic and Wellness Institute, setting it out at sea with no expectations of its return. The bottle traveled for six months and more than 1,000 miles through the Gulf of Mexico before washing up on the shore of South Padre Island, Texas. The Deans and the couple who discovered the bottle have since become close friends.
High Proof, High Praise
Botanical Master Distiller Sara Sergent was named a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category. A pioneer in botanical spirits, the Alpine Distilling CEO is one of only a few distillers worldwide (and the first American woman) who specializes in the difficult method of vapor extraction for gin production. Sergent and her husband, Rob, cofounded Alpine Distilling in Park City in 2016, and they also operate the tasting room and event space Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club on Main Street.
100 Years Young
A standing ovation is in store for Park City’s Egyptian Theatre, which turns 100 in 2026. More than a visual hallmark, the venue’s defining quality is its role as a community gathering space. The Egyptian witnessed the area’s growth into a resort destination in the 1960s, hosted the very first Sundance Film Festival in 1981 and weathered multiple name changes and renovations. Through it all, the Egyptian still hosts intimate concerts, shows and screenings 52 weeks a year. According to director Randy Barton, anniversary celebrations will happen all year but especially around Miners Day weekend and on the theatre’s actual birthday, Christmas Day.
