Miner-themed pond skimmer aims to raise awareness for Park City mining preservation

PARK CITY, Utah — Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History will bring history to life this Saturday with a miner-themed pond skim event designed to spotlight efforts to preserve Park City’s historic mining structures.

Phil Hildebrandt, a Friends team member dressed in full Park City miner attire, will attempt to “skim to save” a scale model of the Silver King Mine headframe building. The annual event is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at 12 p.m. at the Eagle Race Arena at Park City Mountain Resort.

Organizers placed the replica model of the Silver King headframe on the far side of the pond, where Hildebrandt will attempt to cross the water on skis to retrieve it. The model, designed and built by Brock Dehart of the Park City Mountain Resort Sign Shop, underscores the group’s efforts to preserve the full-scale historic structures.

“Phil’s pond skim draws attention to the need to save the Silver King Mine building, at the Bonanza lift base, and the Thaynes Mine complex at the Thaynes lift base, both at Park City Mountain.”

The group’s restoration goals for 2025-26 include stabilizing both the Silver King Mine building, located at the base of the Bonanza lift, and the Thaynes Mine complex, near the Thaynes lift. The Silver King headframe, built in 1891, ceased operations in 1953. The building sustained damage during the winter of 2022-23, when record snowfall compromised its roof and windows.

The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, a committee of the Park City Museum, works to preserve Park City’s mining heritage. Their efforts have already contributed to the recognition of the Silver King Coalition Mining District on the National Register of Historic Places.

“One of the ‘Big Three,’ the Silver King Mine was the second discovery that would make Park City one of the world’s most profitable mining camps of its era.”

The event is open to the public.