County
Summit
Year Built
1922
Architect
Silver King Coalition Mines Company
National Register?
Yes, within the Silver King Mining District, listed on the National Register in 1978, and within the Silver King Coalition Mine National Historic District designated in December 2024.
Status
Endangered: Imminent
Status Explanation
The Silver King Mill is falling apart quickly and could collapse soon because of neglect and ongoing exposure. Inside, the building is in bad shape, the windows are broken, and there has been vandalism and graffiti. The last smokestack is barely hanging on and could fall, crushing the east end of the building. There is talk of transferring the land from the current owners to Park City government. If the city takes over, saving the mill would be much more possible, but nothing has been decided yet. The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, the group best suited to lead a restoration, is still finishing other projects before they can focus on the mill. To save the mill, there needs to be a clear owner, a fundraising campaign, and more organizational support, but none of these are in place yet.
About the Threat
The Silver King Mill could collapse soon because it has been neglected for decades and exposed to the elements. Inside, the floors, walls, and other parts are falling apart. All the windows are broken, so the weather gets in. The building has also been vandalized, covered in graffiti, and people have gotten in without permission, leaving trash and debris everywhere. The biggest problem is the last smokestack, which is barely attached and could fall, crushing the east end of the building. If that happens, it could cause the rest of the structure to fail as well.
Three things need to happen before work can start to save the mill. First, the land must be transferred from the current owners to Park City government, but this is still being discussed. Second, a fundraising campaign must be set up and funded, which will probably need several million dollars. Third, the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History need to finish their current projects, like the Thaynes Headframe restoration, before they can focus on the mill. None of these steps are certain, and the building is getting worse faster than these issues can be solved.
Access
The mill sits above Park City Mountain Resort on Silver King Drive and can be reached by about three miles of dirt road. It is not open to the public. The site is part of the Silver King Coalition Mine National Historic District and will be near the Park City Historic Mine Route, which opens in September 2026.
History
The mill sits above Park City Mountain Resort on Silver King Drive and can be reached by about three miles of dirt road. It is not open to the public. The site is part of the Silver King Coalition Mine National Historic District and will be near the Park City Historic Mine Route, which opens in September 2026.
What can be done? What was learned?
The ongoing land transfer talks between the current owners and the Park City government are the most immediate way to make progress. Donating to the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History helps the organization prepare for the future mill campaign by building capacity and funding reserves. Spreading the word about the mill's condition and importance, especially its size as possibly the largest historic mining structure still standing in the country, also helps make a case to grant-makers, foundations, and government funders when the capital campaign begins.
What is the timeline?
The possible land transfer from the current owners to Park City government is the most important decision coming up. There is no public timeline for when this might happen. The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History say that fundraising for the mill is a future priority, but there is no start date yet. The smokestack's poor condition makes the situation urgent, since it could fail and cause more damage before any work can begin.
What has been the public discussion?
The Silver King Mill’s condition has been mentioned in news about the larger Silver King restoration, with both the Park Record and KPCW calling it the next big preservation challenge after the headframe building. FOSMMH has openly described the mill as a future capital campaign priority, but says that organizational capacity and clear ownership need to be addressed first. As of May 2026, there has not been dedicated media coverage of the mill’s condition, but its inclusion on the 2026 Most Endangered list aims to change that.
Links to more information and articles.
Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History / Park City Museum donations: https://parkcityhistory.org/product/donate-capital-campaign/
Park City Historic Mine Route (launching September 2026): https://parkcityhistory.org
Park Record, October 24, 2025 — FOSMMH 10th anniversary with mill context: https://www.parkrecord.com/2025/10/24/friends-of-ski-mountain-mining-history-commemorates-10-years-of-preserving-park-citys-history/
KPCW, July 30, 2025 — Silver King and Thaynes restoration coverage: https://www.kpcw.org/park-city/2025-07-29/thaynes-silver-king-mines-opening-for-public-tours-after-restoration-work