Top Stories of 2021

The Parley's Canyon Fire was "the real deal," according to the Park City Fire District Battalion Chief. Photo: Utah Fire Info

PARK CITY, Utah — 2021 started with hope, as COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the country expanded. However, variants such as delta and omicron have dealt a blow to the goal of returning to normalcy. Case counts surged in Summit County this week, showing that the pandemic is far from over.

The Utah Department of Health said on Friday that the state is on pace to possibly have the largest, single-day case count when numbers are officially reported on Monday.

While we no longer report official #COVID-19 data on holidays and weekends, a look at today’s preliminary, unofficial data show about 4,700 new cases. 1/5

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— Utah Dept. of Health (@UtahDepOfHealth) December 31, 2021

Outside of the coronavirus, a lot of things happened in Park City, Summit County, and Utah in 2021. Here is a quick review:

Parley’s Canyon Fire — A catalytic convertor along I-80 started what would become the 541-acre Parley’s Canyon Fire, which drove thousands of residents in the Summit Park, Pinebrook, and Timberline neighborhoods out of their homes.

“This incident, in particular, was kind of the big one for us,” said Mike McComb, emergency program manager for Park City Municipal.

Park City Mountain closes 9990 gate — In collaboration with the US Forest Service and the Utah Avalanche Center, Park City Mountain made the decision to permanently close the backcountry exit gate at the top of Ninety-Nine 90. The move came after multiple fatal avalanche incidents from skiers and riders that exited the resort boundary. Terrain is still accessible via the Peak 5 backcountry gate.

Park City elects Nann Worel for Mayor — Park City Councilmember Nann Worel defeated incumbent Andy Beerman for the mayor’s seat in November. Park City Council will additionally have two newcomers in 2022, consultant Jeremy Rubell and Main Street business owner Tana Toly.

Soils repository — Park City Mayor Andy Beerman announced in July that the proposed Gordo Bevill Waste Soil Repository is “on pause” following heavy community criticism. The facility, that would have been built near the SR-248/Richardson Flat Rd intersection, would have stored contaminants from Park City’s mining era in the 19th century.

Historic drought — Utah along with the western United States is facing a crippling drought, but the good news is, snowpack totals are above median levels as of Dec. 31. One park ranger said it is “inevitable” that Lake Powell in southern Utah is going to dry out. “I’m excited to see it transition,” the ranger said. “I see a lot of trails being built here.”

Labor shortage — Staffing issues are a problem everywhere, but it’s especially worse in a town with little affordable housing. Summit County officials estimate that 14% of Park City’s workforce lives within city limits. For the county, that figure is 38%. Deer Valley Vice President of Marketing Coleen Reardon said staffing is “going to be a challenge the whole winter.” One Park City restaurant owner told TownLift this summer was a “hundred times harder than COVID.”

Housing market — House prices and short-term rentals increased in Summit County in 2021. According to the Park City Board of Realtors, the median price of a single-family home in the Snyderville Basin is up 46% in the past two years. There are no homes within Park City limits listed under $2.5 million. Short-term rental listings made up 21.5% of total housing units in Summit County in 2021, the highest rate in the state. Short-term rentals have increased 8.9% in the county in the past two years.

Dakota Pacific — After an incredible amount of public input criticizing a project that would bring 1,100 homes to Kimball Junction, the CEO of the Salt Lake-based development firm behind the project asked the Summit County Council to pause the application. Dakota Pacific Real Estate CEO Marc Stanworth said he wants “to engage in further discussion… in hopes of modifying the plan and presenting the revised proposal for council consideration.”

A different kind of Sundance — Despite the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the Sundance Institute plans to push ahead with its film festival in Utah on Jan. 20. Along with offering free testing, a Variety report this week suggests the festival plans to offer booster shot vaccine doses. Booster shots and masks are required for in-person attendees. The festival is continuing to offer a strong online presence as the pandemic lingers on. Festival website

Avalanche fencing installed in backcountry ski area at The Canyons — 214 avalanche barriers were installed this summer above The Colony neighborhood at The Canyons in Park City despite opposition. Mini Mac, Main Mac, La Frontera, and Nutty Putty are the main backcountry runs impacted by the installation.

Park City Mountain ski patrol — The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association is preparing to enter into its 47th bargaining session with Park City Mountain owner Vail Resorts, after rejecting a contract proposal that offered a $15 an hour starting wage. The union has raised over $35,000 for a safety net fund “in the event we are forced into more significant action and we are not receiving paychecks.

Crash on US 40 leads to one death — In September, a police chase for a stolen car led to the suspect vehicle crashing on US 40 after a Utah Highway Patrol Trooper deployed a tire deflating device. One female was killed.