Utah Ski History FAQs
Read Alan Engen's responses to your ski history questions. If you don't find what you're looking for on this page, please submit your question on our Ask a Question about skiing history page.
Dave's Questions: Did Alf know that Utah was selected to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games? What were his feelings about that? (posted 5/24/09)
Alan's Response: No. At the time of Alf's passing in July, 1997, he was not aware of Salt Lake City's selection to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. However, he did play an active part in the bid process and was a member of the Site Selection Committee that chose the location for what is now Utah Olympic Park. The Salt Lake Olympic Bid Committee for the 2002 Winter Games made a special card featuring Alf and his accomplishments that was sent out world-wide. One of these cards can be found at the University of Utah Marriott Library Ski Archives in the Alan Engen Ski History Scrapbooks.
Student's Question: Where is Alf Engen buried? (posted 5/27/09)
Alan's Response: Alf is buried in the cemetery at Centerville, Utah.
Mike's Questions: What was the first resort in Utah? i.e. Which mountain was the first to install and use mechanized lifts? When was Alta founded/opened? Where can I find more information on the history of Alta? (posted 5/27/09)
Alan's Response: To answer the first, question, it is assumed that the term "resort" refers to winter skiing accomodations for locals and out-of-state visitors. In this context, Alta was the first to provide uphill chair lift conveyance along with public shelter accommodations. The original Collins Lift at Alta began operation to the public in January, 1939. The ski area itself opened in 1938. The first three ski areas to construct chair lifts in Utah are:
- Alta - Started chair lift operation to public during 1938-39 ski season
- Snow Basin - Started chair lift operation to public during 1945-46 season.
- Brighton - Started chair lift operation during 1947-48 ski seaon.
It should be noted that Brighton, Alta, Snow Park (now Deer Valley), Beaver Mountain in Logan, and Timp Haven (now Sundance Resort) had other tow devices in operation at their respective locations prior to chair lifts being constructed.
For more information about Alta's history, please go to www.altahistory.org Under the "Alta Powder News" menu, select the "Powder News Archives" link and you will be able to access back issues that focus on historical articles. Books available through the Engen Museum include For the Love of Skiing - A Visual History, and First Tracks - A Century of Skiing in Utah.
Dave's Question: Who were the first contributors that Joe Quinney convinced to finance the new Alta ski area in 1937? (Posted 7/21/09)
Alan's Response: Alta, as a ski area, really began with the construction of the original Collins chairlift. Following a 700-acre Forest Service acquisition of land donated by miner/prospector George H. Watson in 1937, a group of businessmen, headed by S. Joe Quinney, formed the Salt Lake Winter Sports Association (WSA) that raised $10,000 so an initial ski lift could be built at Alta, Utah. That group consisted of S. J. Quinney, W. J. O'Connor, V. R. Parkinson, L. R. Ure, Paul F. Keyser, E. Bartlett Wicks, Stewart Cosgriff, and P. H. Kittle.
In 1938, the WSA made an agreement with the Michigan-Utah Mines to purchase the aerial tramway which carried ore from Alta, down Little Cottonwood Canyon, to Tanner's Flat during the early 1900s. Michigan-Utah Mines president, Bill O'Connor (who was also an original member of the WSA group), agreed to be in charge of designing and building the chairs for the proposed chairlift which was planned to go up Collins Gulch, named after Charles Collins, an early Alta miner. The funds raised by the WSA were sufficient to construct the wooden towers, cables, and chairs and allow the original Collins Lift to officially open to the public in mid-January, 1939. Skiers were initially charged $.25/ride or $1.50 for a day pass. The original Collins Lift was the first uphill chairlift conveyance in Utah and the fifth built in the United States.
Jackson's questions: Which lodging came first in Little Cottonwood Canyon? Was it the Snowpine, and if so, in what form was it originally? Where did visitors stay between the area's opening in 1938 and the Rustler opening in 1947? What information do you have on Rustler's founders, Howard Stillwell and Sverre Engen? When did Sverre and Alf emigrate to the US and when did they arrive in Alta? Was Sverre the engine behind the creation of the Rustler Lodge? Was the Rustler built with Stillwell's money and Sverre's sweat? Who was the first chef at the lodge? Who were the five lodge owners when the town of Alta was created in 1970? Who was the governor who dedicated the Rustler heli-pad in 1963?
Alan's answers: The Snowpine was the first lodge in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It was built in 1938 and was initially called the Rock Shelter. Its first purpose was as a warming shelter for day skiers and was not fully completed until the following summer. The Alta Lodge was constructed in late summer of 1940; the Rustler opened on Thanksgiving Day, 1947; and the Peruvian Lodge opened in 1948.
The Rustler Lodge was initially started by Howard Stillwell. Stillwell's father was an early Alta mining pioneer and owned the land which was passed on to Howard. Howard opened the partially completed lodge in November, 1947. In early 1948, Sverre took a financial interest in the Rustler Lodge as a partner with Howard and helped finish the initial construction. In addition, Sverre and his wife, Lois, were the first managers of the lodge operation and ran it for several years.
Both Alf and Sverre emigrated to the United States in 1929. Alf came first, arriving in July, and Sverre followed later in the fall of that year. Alf first entered Alta in 1935 when he was hired by the Forest Service to select areas conducive to ski development. However, he did not work at Alta until 1948, after coaching the U.S. Olympic Ski Team in the '48 Olympic Winter Games. Sverre began his career at Alta in the late '30s or early '40s when he was hired by the Forest Service to be the first snow ranger. In 1945, Sverre became the seventh Alta Ski School director. More details about all the ski school directors can be found in the Spring 2009 edition of the Alta Powder News at www.altahistory.org. Alf took over the ski school from Sverre in 1948.
The first chef at the Rustler Lodge was Finn Gurholt, a Norwegian who emigrated to the United States in the early 1950s. Finn became a well-known chef in the Salt Lake area, eventually creating a highly respected restaurant called "Finn's." He died in 1991 at the age of 70.
The owners of the five Alta Lodges in 1970 were: Bill Levitt (Alta Lodge), Lee Bronson (Rustler Lodge), Edwin Gibbs (Peruvian Lodge, sold to John Cahill in late 1970), Jim & Elfrieda Shane (Goldminer's Daughter), and Al Kapp (Snowpine Lodge).
Utah's governor in 1963 was George Dewey Clyde who was in office during the years 1957-1965.
Linda's question: It is well-known that the miners and Mormon pioneers devastated the forests along the Wasatch Front. I heard recently that Boy Scouts were responsible for re-planting the trees more than 100 years ago. This was supposed to be well before the CCC helped to re-forest Alta in the 1930s. Can you tell me if this is true and where to find documentation of tihs early re-foresting effort?
Alan's answer: Conservation efforts provided by Boy Scout tree planting activities probably did play a contributing role over the years and their efforts need to be applauded. However, in terms of significant impact to reforestation in the Wasatch mountains, the signing of Executive Order 6106 in 1933 by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt, creating the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs), started a program which had a profound impact on Utah over the following decade. CCC workers performed hundreds of jobs in Utah, working on roads and perhaps most important, forest replantation projects in the Cottonwood Canyons. A major CCC camp was located at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon which accommodated approximately 200 personnel. My father, Alf Engen, was a CCC foreman at that camp in the mid to late 1930s. There is little question that the CCC tree planting at Alta had a significant positive effect on the area's development as a ski resort.
Bob's question: I recently ran across a deed in the Salt Lake County Records Book 230 Deeds, page 34 that conveys the mining claims at Alta to the USA from Salt Lake County, claiming title by virture of tax sale. This seems different from the lore which says Watson/Alta United donated the surface to the US and reserved the minerals, represented by another deed about the same time, but recorded years later. What is your sense of the history there?
Alan's answer: I currently have in my possession a copy of a 1938 document signed by George H. Watson, President & Secretary of the Alta United Mines Company, and Edgar S. Hill. The document states that the agreement is between Alta United Mines Company (grantor) and the United States of America (grantee) dated September 14, 1938. It was recorded on December 3, 1941 in Salt Lake County. The five-page document outlines the specific properties given up by Watson for a price of one dollar. I am not sure the deed you mentioned is the same as mine but it would be interesting to compare the two documents.
