Entry No. 45 — the Salt Lake City file — filed under: ruins
Silver King Mine
Perched high on the slopes of Park City Mountain, the Silver King Coalition Mine was once the centerpiece of Utah's most profitable silver mining operation. Built in 1891 and closed in 1953, the site features a massive 12,400-square-foot headframe building that was recently stabilized and restored to prevent its deep mine shaft from collapsing. Today, the weathered corrugated-metal structure stands as a towering monument to the region's silver boom, easily visible from nearby hiking trails and ski lifts.
The story
High on the slopes of Park City Mountain, a 12,400-square-foot titan of weathered corrugated metal stands guard over a deep, hidden mine shaft. Built in 1891, the Silver King Coalition Mine wasn't just another silver dig—it grew into the undisputed crown jewel of Utah's silver boom. Partners like David Keith and James Ivers poured immense fortunes out of this rock, shipping heavy silver concentrate down to Salt Lake City smelters and bankrolling grand mansions along Brigham Street.
When operations finally ground to a halt in 1953, the headframe was left to brave decades of brutal Wasatch winter snow and relentless high-altitude sun. Rather than letting the decaying industrial giant collapse into its own cavernous shaft, preservation teams recently stabilized the structure. Today, it stands as a massive, rust-tinged monument to industrial ambition, sitting right in the middle of a modern ski resort.
What it's like
You can't go inside—the interior is strictly sealed off to keep people out of the fragile historic frame and vertical shaft—but the outside view is enormous. In winter, you'll slide right past its colossal base near the Bonanza chairlift; in summer, you can hike up via the Bonanza Mine Trail to take it in from the edge of the path. The contrast between polished ski resort terrain and raw, looming 19th-century ironwork makes for a surreal pit stop.
The move: Hike the scenic Bonanza Mine Trail or ski past the base of the Bonanza chairlift to admire and photograph the colossal, newly restored headframe building from a safe distance.
📍 Before you go The historic headframe building has been structurally stabilized and restored as part of a National Historic District, but the interior remains closed to the public; it can be legally viewed from the surrounding ski slopes and hiking trails.
- 📍 Park City
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Silver King Mine, Park City, UT 84060, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Silver King Mill — Located just 0.1 miles away, this massive 1921 facility was built to process the raw silver ore pulled directly from the Silver King shafts.
- Judge Mine Tunnel — A short 0.6-mile trek down the mountain brings you to this 1887 tunnel built to drain water and haul ore out of neighboring silver seams.
- Ontario Mine — Just a mile away, George Hearst's 1872 discovery kicked off the massive Park City silver rush that later birthed the Silver King operation.
Good to know
Can you enter the Silver King Mine headframe building?
No. The interior is permanently closed to the public for safety and preservation reasons, but you can legally view and photograph the exterior from nearby trails and ski runs.
How do you reach the site?
In winter, ski past the base of the Bonanza chairlift on Park City Mountain. During warmer months, you can hike or mountain bike up along the Bonanza Mine Trail.
When did the Silver King Mine operate?
The headframe structure was built in 1891, and the mining operation actively ran until closing down in 1953.
What was the headframe building used for?
The massive structure housed the hoist machinery and timber superstructure required to raise heavy silver ore and transport miners in and out of the deep vertical mine shaft below.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: preservationutah.org · kpcw.org · parkcityhistory.org · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20