County
Summit
Year Built
1871–1972 (contributing buildings)
Architect
Multiple, mostly unknown
National Register?
No
Status
Still Endangered
Status Explanation
The Kamas Main Street Corridor is at risk due to rapid regional growth, aging, unmaintained commercial buildings, and a lack of local historic preservation regulations. There are no demolition controls, historic districts, preservation commissions, or city policies to protect historic buildings. Several commercial properties are for sale, which means they could be torn down or replaced with new buildings that do not match the area. The biggest recent change is the SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan, which was released as a draft in November 2025. This plan officially recognizes Kamas Main Street as the valley's only important historic storefront corridor and its walkable city center. It is the first time that several agencies have formally recognized the corridor's value. The process to adopt the plan has started and includes changes to the General Plan and zoning codes, which will require public hearings. This is the best opportunity in the near future to add historic preservation standards to the Kamas city policy. As of May 2026, those hearings have not been scheduled. The West Hills incorporation proposal, a 3,600-acre development between Kamas and Hideout, was found unconstitutional in October 2025 and removed from the November ballot. However, the sponsor has appealed and is trying to get the issue on the November 2026 ballot. The Utah Supreme Court has not made a final decision yet.
About the Threat
The Kamas Main Street Corridor is at risk due to rapid regional development, neglect, and a lack of local historic preservation rules. Kamas does not have demolition controls, a historic district, a preservation commission, or city policies to protect its historic buildings. Several commercial properties are for sale, making them likely targets for demolition and new construction that may not fit the area's style or character. Many buildings are in poor shape due to deferred maintenance, and vacant or underused properties are especially at risk.
The wider development situation is important. Kamas Valley is under outside development pressure. A proposed 3,600-acre area called West Hills, between Kamas and Hideout along SR-248, was ruled unconstitutional by a Summit County judge in October 2025 and taken off the November ballot by the Utah Supreme Court. The sponsor has appealed and wants to put the issue on the November 2026 ballot, but as of May 2026, the Supreme Court has not made a final decision. A federal lawsuit against Kamas City for supporting the Kamas Valley Preservation Association in opposing West Hills was dismissed in May 2026.
Access
Yes. The Kamas Main Street Corridor is open to the public. The buildings listed below can be seen from the street, and many are still used by businesses. If you drive north on Main Street from 100 South, you will see these historic buildings:
96 S Main — Private home, 1930 Minimal Traditional
95 S Main — Bolt Ranch Store, 1929 Spanish Revival commercial
85 S Main — Commercial office, 1972 Gambrel-roofed A-frame
80 S Main — Summit County Pizza Co., 1893 Folk Victorian (large non-historic addition)
55 S Main — Private home, 1907 Folk Victorian
50 S Main — Private home, 1893 Victorian Crosswing
40 S Main — Private home, 1935 Minimal Traditional
35 S Main — Mirror Lake Diner, 1950 Streamline Moderne (altered from original)
30 S Main — 1871 Rock House (original structure beneath 1930 pyramid roof)
10 S Main — Fire Station, 1930 Vernacular
5 S Main — Private home/business, 1972 Side-gabled Contemporary
1 N Main — Service Station, 1950 Googie Style
2 N Main — Service Station, 1950 Googie Style (altered beyond recognition)
25 N Main — Private home/business, 1930 Minimal Traditional
30 N Main — Theater, 1946 muted Art Deco
40 N Main — Commercial building, 1918 Vernacular commercial
45 N Main — Commercial building, 1935 Minimal Traditional commercial
54 N Main — Commercial building, 1904–1924 Modern commercial
55 N Main — Commercial building, 1950 Mid-century Modern commercial
60 N Main — Private home, 1942 Tudor Revival
65 N Main — Private home, 1893 Victorian Queen Anne
79 N Main — Private home, 1927 Vernacular
85 N Main — Small business, 1930 Minimal Traditional
History
Yes. The Kamas Main Street Corridor is open to the public. The buildings listed below can be seen from the street, and many are still used by businesses. If you drive north on Main Street from 100 South, you will see these historic buildings:
96 S Main — Private home, 1930 Minimal Traditional
95 S Main — Bolt Ranch Store, 1929 Spanish Revival commercial
85 S Main — Commercial office, 1972 Gambrel-roofed A-frame
80 S Main — Summit County Pizza Co., 1893 Folk Victorian (large non-historic addition)
55 S Main — Private home, 1907 Folk Victorian
50 S Main — Private home, 1893 Victorian Crosswing
40 S Main — Private home, 1935 Minimal Traditional
35 S Main — Mirror Lake Diner, 1950 Streamline Moderne (altered from original)
30 S Main — 1871 Rock House (original structure beneath 1930 pyramid roof)
10 S Main — Fire Station, 1930 Vernacular
5 S Main — Private home/business, 1972 Side-gabled Contemporary
1 N Main — Service Station, 1950 Googie Style
2 N Main — Service Station, 1950 Googie Style (altered beyond recognition)
25 N Main — Private home/business, 1930 Minimal Traditional
30 N Main — Theater, 1946 muted Art Deco
40 N Main — Commercial building, 1918 Vernacular commercial
45 N Main — Commercial building, 1935 Minimal Traditional commercial
54 N Main — Commercial building, 1904–1924 Modern commercial
55 N Main — Commercial building, 1950 Mid-century Modern commercial
60 N Main — Private home, 1942 Tudor Revival
65 N Main — Private home, 1893 Victorian Queen Anne
79 N Main — Private home, 1927 Vernacular
85 N Main — Small business, 1930 Minimal Traditional
What can be done? What was learned?
The most important thing community members can do right now is to get involved in the adoption process for the SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan. As Kamas City and its partners work to update General Plans, zoning codes, and development rules, people should speak up for historic preservation standards and design guidelines in any changes that affect Main Street. The plan suggests changes like smaller setbacks, taller buildings up to three stories, and fewer parking requirements. These changes can help preserve Main Street's historic character when combined with design standards that protect it.
Contact the Kamas City Council to show your support for including historic preservation in the SR-32 plan. The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month. You can find contact information and meeting agendas at kamascityut.gov.
Community members should also ask the Kamas City Council to create historic district protections for Main Street, either by designating it as a local historic district, nominating it to the National Register, or both. A local historic district with demolition controls would legally protect the area from unsuitable development. A National Register nomination would let property owners apply for federal and state tax credits if they restore their buildings. Both steps can occur simultaneously and would help achieve the SR-32 plan's vision for Main Street as the valley's walkable historic center.
The Utah Main Street program accepts applications from new communities every spring. Joining this program would give Kamas access to organizational support, technical help, and economic development resources focused on preservation. You can find more information at ushpo.utah.gov/utah-main-street-program/.
Community members can also support the Kamas Valley Preservation Association (kvpa.org), which has a vision for "a vibrant, thriving Main Street that honors our past and supports future growth." Property owners with historic buildings on Main Street can contact the Utah State Historic Preservation Office for technical assistance on rehabilitation options, available tax incentives, and the National Register nomination process.
What is the timeline?
The SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan is a formal planning document created by Kamas City, Oakley, Francis, Summit County, UDOT, and the Mountainland Association of Governments. It was released as a draft in November 2025. The plan calls Kamas Main Street "the heart of the Kamas Valley" and "the area's only substantial historic storefront Main Street." It designates Main Street as the walkable city center core using the Rural Town Center context typology, which is the plan's most pedestrian-friendly and preservation-focused category. The plan maps SHPO-designated historic structures in the Kamas Valley, and throughout public engagement, community members made it clear that preserving historic places is a top priority.
The plan's Action Plan asks all project partners, including Kamas City, to update their General Plans, zoning codes, and other rules to include the Preferred Concept. This adoption process is the best chance for community members to express support historic preservation standards on Main Street.
The public engagement part of the planning process is finished, but the formal adoption process, which includes General Plan updates and zoning code changes, still needs public hearings as required by the Utah Municipal Code. As of May 2026, these hearings have not been scheduled. Community members should check the Kamas City Council agenda at kamascityut.gov to see when the hearings are announced.
What has been the public discussion?
The May 2025 Most Endangered listing was covered by the Park Record and Salt Lake Tribune. In 2025, the main issue in Kamas was the West Hills incorporation. The Utah Supreme Court agreed with the Third District Court that the incorporation was unconstitutional and removed it from the November 2025 ballot. The sponsor has appealed, and as of May 2026, the Supreme Court's final decision is still pending. A federal lawsuit against Kamas City for supporting KVPA was dismissed in May 2026. The SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan, released as a draft in November 2025, officially named Kamas Main Street as the heart of the Kamas Valley and its only historic storefront district. The plan also showed substantial community support for preserving historic places.
Links to more information and articles.
SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan (Draft, November 2025): https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4566e7dddac14f05a966817a668970c0
SR-32 Plan website: https://www.sr32.org
SR-32 Plan contact: sr32plan@gmail.com
Kamas Valley Preservation Association: https://kvpa.org/
Utah Main Street Program: https://ushpo.utah.gov/utah-main-street-program/
Park Record (May 2025 — Most Endangered listing coverage): https://www.parkrecord.com/2025/05/29/kamas-main-street-corridor-declared-endangered-historic-space/
Salt Lake Tribune (June 2025 — Most Endangered listing): https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/06/01/kamas-main-street-is-an-endangered/
Park Record (October 2025 — West Hills declared unconstitutional): https://www.parkrecord.com/2025/10/16/west-hills-incorporation-declared-unconstitutional-weeks-before-election-day/
Park Record (May 2026 — federal lawsuit against Kamas dismissed): https://www.parkrecord.com/2026/05/14/federal-judge-dismisses-lawsuit-against-kamas-over-west-hills-involvement/
Kamas Valley History — Rock House: https://kamasvalleyhistory.org/2022/06/01/from-the-calendar-the-kamas-tithing-house/
Kamas City: https://www.kamascityut.gov/