Why Park City won out over Denver
We had plenty of reasons to think Denver was our next home. Several of our old MSMS friends are there, plus a cousin of mine. On top of that, Denver had all the big-city perks: concerts, sports, restaurants. It looked like a solid fit.
The real lift line: I-70 during ski season
But we’ve skied Colorado often enough to know the catch: I-70. That interstate out to the resorts is a white-knuckle ride on a good day and a parking lot on a bad one — and “bad one” can happen on a Tuesday morning just as easily as a Saturday. The idea of spending hours in traffic every time we wanted to ski made Denver less appealing fast.
Park City, by contrast, was refreshingly simple. Fly into Salt Lake City, drive 45 minutes on a good road, and you’re here. Skiing is practically at your doorstep. And the snow? Utah’s lighter, drier, and more consistent — the kind of snow that makes skiing fun instead of frustrating.
Old Town in Park City
It wasn’t just the skiing. Colorado has plenty going for it, but Park City had a lifestyle that felt more like us. Smaller town (8,292 in 2024), easier pace, Main Street charm. And the climate was a bonus: Utah leans more desert than Denver, which means hot summers but not the endless, surface-of-the-sun stretch Austin delivers until November. By the time leaves turn here, Austin is still sweltering.
And if I ever get tired of the snow? There’s always Starkville in the winter for basketball season. I’m not giving that up.
Welcome to Humphrey Coliseum…. for an evening of basketball…
Denver vs. Park City (my scientific observations)
Denver has friends, family, and great beer. Park City has snow that doesn’t break your spirit before you even get to the lift.
Denver looked like the plan, but Park City lived like the plan. And the best part? We’re more mobile now — if Park City stops working for us, we’ll move on to the next chapter.
