Park city gay bar
By Andrew Collins
A hip, gay-friendly and heavily developed ski group 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake, the handsome town of Park Town attracts the matching Range Rover counter-culturalists as Aspen, Colo., but it’s considerably more laid help and friendly.
In 1993, after many lesbians and gays boycotted Colorado because of its anti-gay rights initiatives, Park Town lured some of the queer market by holding a gay ski week. The charming, historic mining town remains a popular getaway for ski and outdoors aficionados, as well as show buffs who call on each January for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Any time of year, however, Park Metropolis offers plenty to keep you occupied. You may stroll along historic Main Street (and the newer, lower Main Street), which contains dozens of upscale restaurants, galleries and boutiques. At the foot of Main Street, a gondola takes skiers (or sightseers) up the hill above town.
As a primary winter-sports venue during the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City saw unprecedented exposure — and growth — during the months leading up to the games. Park City locals maintain a love-hate connection with the legions of celeb-watchers, clip fanatics, and shadowy
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A winter storm is headed our way—one of the worst the mountain’s seen this year. Thirty-mile-per-hour winds whip across the landing at the highest of Town Lift on Park City Mountain with absolutely no remorse. Despite the unpleasant conditions, my spirits are high. I’m here with my best partner for Utah Gay Ski Week, and I’m gearing up for what’s likely to be the highlight of the trip—the Queerski Pride Parade group ride down the mountain, celebrating the vigor and unity of the gay community.
Nearly an hour ahead of schedule, I huddle in a ball next to a ski run signpost and watch for rainbow flags (or drag queens) coming off the chairlift. I’d, of course, prefer to acquire a few runs in before the parade, but I disallow to risk my chance at skiing down the mountain with my fellow gays. Over half of the lifts are closed, current lines are reaching a 25-minute-plus wait time, and the gusts continue to pick up speed as the forecasted storm approaches—time to wait out the weather.
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How To Get the Most Out of the Park Urban area Annual Gay Ski Week
Organizers expect between 1,200 and 1,500 skiers and snowboarders from all over the country and beyond. To inspire local participation, Utah residents receive distinct discounted pricing of 25 percent on passes.
Obviously, skiing and snowboarding are the main attraction and participants have two world-class mountains to choose from, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort. Park City is the largest ski and snowboard resort in the region, with 41 lifts serving an astounding 340+ trails. The skiers-only Deer Valley is known for its impeccable customer service and pristinely groomed trails. It’s no slouch in terms of size, either, as it features 24 lifts that service 123 different trails.
For many visitors, however, the skiing is just the start of what makes this week special, as après-ski events, business, art galleries and dance parties hand participants a chance to mingle (Read: Beyond the Ski Slope). “Elevation is one of the few places where you can come across hundreds of male lover people who divide a common thing besides their sexual orientation,” Whitman says. “So I always recommend that you consciously make the decis
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Salt Lake’s Queer Bar Scene Is Growing, Thriving, and Never Looking Back
In a state established for its religious zeal, Salt Lake City serves as a bastion of progressiveness, playfulness, and celebration. In fact, the city’s been listed by Advocate magazine as one of the Ten Queerest Cities in America. The city holds one of the biggest and best-attended Pride parades and festivals around, with Pride Week festivities attracting tens of thousands of participants who light up the downtown scene in full rainbow-hued regalia. (There’s even a Utah Lgbtq+ Ski Week—real thing, utahgayskiweek.com, see you there.)
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a parade to celebrate pride and inclusivity. It’s pretty easy for everyone of every orientation to jump in on the incredible fun that is Salt Lake on a hot city evening and the regular rotation of drag shows retain the city sizzling all through the winter.
Check out a few of our favorite “officially” gay bars and gay-friendly bars—keeping in mind that, in this town, it needn’t be a “gay bar” for everyone to fit right in.
Club Try-Angles
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