The Voice of Local Utah

Utah Stories

Mayor Ben McAdams, Visit Salt Lake and Local Officials Launch “Ski City USA”

Easy access to world-class resorts, famed Utah snow and hundreds of lodging, dining and entertainment options make Salt Lake the ultimate urban ski destination.

by

Richard Markosian

|

ski city use

ski city useSalt Lake is the only place in the nation that gives winter enthusiasts the unique advantage of having four world-class winter resorts featuring 500” of the Greatest Snow on Earth® just minutes away from a region filled with hundreds of hotels, restaurants, bars and unrivaled entertainment options. That is why Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, along with Visit Salt Lake, representatives from the four Cottonwood resorts and other local officials, today unveiled a new campaign – repositioning Salt Lake as Ski City USA with the tagline, “Once you’ve stayed in Ski City, you’ll never stay in a ski town.”

The new program launched today with a branding teaser campaign encouraging people to discover where Ski City USA is and explore the benefits of planning a trip to Salt Lake. The national advertising effort includes a complementary mix of a print and digital campaign driving people to an interactive website, www.SkiCityUSA.com.

“Ski City USA is a fantastic alternative to the traditional ski or snowboard experience where visitors are restricted by the limited offerings of a small resort town,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. “Whether you live in Salt Lake or you live thousands of miles away, you can become a virtual resident of Ski City USA through social portals – joining a community united in being ‘locals’ of Ski City USA.”

The website highlights cities in the Salt Lake area as unique neighborhoods within Ski City USA, and gives each an opportunity to become brand stewards. As a result, site visitors can explore dining, nightlife, accommodations, resorts and activities available in all of the Salt Lake neighborhoods, which will help them plan their perfect vacation to Ski City USA.

“Municipalities will play a prominent role in the success of this new campaign because we are all distinct and unique neighborhoods – Sandy, Holladay, Salt Lake, Draper and all the others that add character to Ski City USA,” said Sandy City Mayor Tom Dolan.

“Research shows that nearly half of the country identifies the Salt Lake City skyline as Denver,” said Vicki Varela, managing director, Utah Office of Tourism. “We are here today to let the country know that this magnificent skyline is ours, and Salt Lake is Ski City USA.”

The new campaign looks to capitalize on the state’s continued record-breaking tourism numbers, which according to the Utah Office of Tourism, reached $7.4 billion dollars in traveler spending in 2012.

For more information, visit www.skicityusa.com

, , ,

Richard Markosian

I am a story teller and journalist. I have a passion for farmers, local craftspeople, and folks who aspire to create, build and grow their business in the local marketplace. Why local? By supporting locally-owned businesses we create more opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we claim our sovereignty to shape our communities how we want to see them. I aspire to build Utah Stories Magazine into a household Utah name, and assist Utah businesses and makers with marketing. On the journalism side of things my passion is investigative journalism that offers true insight into issues. I believe strongly in the forth estate: strong, meaningful, insightful journalism is essential to a free market Democracy.

Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Join Utah Stories Newsletter

  • Utah Stories

    How I Lost 120 Pounds and Changed My Relationship With Food

    Throughout most of my life, I used food to cope with chaos, depression, and pain I did not yet understand. By my early twenties, I weighed over 320 pounds and felt trapped in a body that limited every part of my life. This is the story of how learning about food, mental health, and habit-building helped me lose 120 pounds and rebuild stability.


  • Utah Stories

    Highway 6 and the Midland Trail: Utah’s Transcontinental Highway History

    From Price Canyon to Delta’s desert stretch, Utah played a central role in building the Midland Trail, one of America’s earliest transcontinental highways and the foundation of today’s Highway 6.


  • Podcast

    When Main Street Burned: The Aftermath of the Salt Lake City Fire That Hit Downtown Bars

    Fire doesn’t respect zoning, property lines, or even the most popular block on Main Street. On the evening of Monday, August 11, 2025, a blaze that began around 8:40 p.m. on Main Street. It moved quickly through a row of aging, interconnected buildings that had become the heart and soul of Salt Lake City’s fledgling bar district. By the time firefighters brought it under control, multiple businesses were damaged, dozens of workers were displaced, and one of the city’s most active stretches went dark.

    The fire started at London Bell and spread into neighboring structures, severely damaging Whiskey Street. White Horse never caught fire, but smoke, water, and a partial roof collapse caused extensive interior damage, forcing a full rebuild. Other nearby businesses were affected as well, including some that had helped turn this part of Main Street into one of its most active and economically stable stretches.


  • Utah Stories

    Utah Acquires US Magnesium Assets in $30M Deal to Protect the Great Salt Lake

    Utah leaders announced the state has successfully won the bid to acquire key assets of the defunct US Magnesium facility on the Great Salt Lake, including its associated water rights and property.