Soldier Hollow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soldier Hollow |
|
|---|---|
The venue during the 2002 Winter Olympics, February 2002
|
|
| Location | Wasatch Mountain State Park Wasatch County, Utah United States |
| Nearest city | Midway, Utah |
| Coordinates | 40°28′45″N 111°29′50″W / 40.47917°N 111.49722°W |
| Vertical | 419 ft (128 m) |
| Top elevation | 5,882 ft (1,793 m) |
| Base elevation | 5,463 ft (1,665 m) |
| Skiable area | 134 acres (54 ha) |
| Runs | 14 |
| Longest run | Olympic 3.1 mi (5.0 km) |
| Lift system | 1 (surface tow tubing hill) |
| Total length | 19 mi (31 km) |
| Terrain parks | No |
| Snowmaking | Yes (along 3.1 mi (5.0 km) of trails) |
| Night skiing | No |
Soldier Hollow is a special place for winter sports. It's located in Wasatch Mountain State Park in Utah, United States. This venue was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics. It hosted exciting events like biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined. Soldier Hollow is also expected to host these events again for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
After the Olympics, Soldier Hollow became a popular spot for many activities. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, tubing, and snowshoeing. When summer arrives, it transforms into a place for mountain biking and golfing. Since May 1, 2016, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has managed the venue. This foundation also runs other Olympic sites in Utah.
Contents
History of Soldier Hollow
Before the Olympics
Soldier Hollow is part of Wasatch Mountain State Park. This large nature area was created in 1961. It became a state park in 1968. The venue gets its name from a nearby valley, also called Soldier Hollow.
<mapframe latitude="40.479167" longitude="-111.497222" zoom="5" width="400" height="300" align="right" /> Long ago, parts of the park were used for farming and raising cattle. Locals also used the area for fun. In the late 1900s, people wanted to build hotels and golf courses here. Only the golf course was built. The Soldier Hollow Golf Course opened in July 2004. It's located just north of the sports venue.
Building the Olympic Venue
Soldier Hollow was one of only three venues built just for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) designed and built it. The other two were the Utah Olympic Park and Utah Olympic Oval. SLOC chose Soldier Hollow as an Olympic site in October 1997.
Construction started in 1999. The venue was mostly ready by January 2000. It even hosted the U.S. Cross Country Skiing Championships that year. The main building, called the day lodge, was finished in December 2000. It cost SLOC about $22 million to build the entire venue.
The 2002 Winter Olympics and Paralympics
During the 2002 games, Soldier Hollow hosted many events. These included biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined. Thousands of fans came to watch these exciting competitions. The venue also hosted biathlon and cross-country events for the 2002 Winter Paralympics.
Soldier Hollow was quite far from Salt Lake City. To make the trip fun, a special "Western Experience" was created. This area had music, entertainment, and pioneer reenactments. There were also cowboy camps and displays about American Indians.
To help people get to the venue, the historic Heber Valley Railroad offered rides. A special train station was built near Soldier Hollow. Steam trains carried passengers to the depot. From there, horse-drawn sleighs took them to the venue entrance. It was a unique way to arrive!
Soldier Hollow and the 2034 Winter Olympics
Soldier Hollow is set to be an Olympic venue again. It will host the biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined events for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Soldier Hollow Today
Today, Soldier Hollow is a busy place all year round. In winter, you can go cross-country skiing, tubing, and snowshoeing. You can also enjoy horse-pulled sleigh rides. In summer, the venue offers mountain biking and golfing. It also hosts a popular music festival and a famous sheepdog competition.
The State of Utah owns Soldier Hollow. It is part of Wasatch Mountain State Park. A non-profit group manages the venue.
Wasatch Mountain Music Festival
The Wasatch Mountain Music Festival was held at Soldier Hollow. For example, it took place from July 14–16, 2017. This festival celebrated Americana music, like bluegrass and folk. It had a beautiful setting in the Wasatch Mountains.
The festival featured two stages with many talented musicians. There were also camping spots, food, and vendor booths. Families could enjoy hiking, biking, and pioneer activities. The Heber Valley Railroad even ran a special "music train" for attendees. The festival aimed to teach as well as entertain. It offered workshops and music activities for children. In 2018, the music festival moved to the Zermatt Resort in nearby Midway.
Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship
Soldier Hollow is also home to the Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship. This event is a famous sheep herding competition. It's often called the "world's foremost sheepdog trial." About 28,000 people attend each year.
From its start until 2022, the competition happened on Labor Day weekend. This was at the same time as the Swiss Festival in Midway. However, the event was not held in 2023 due to construction for the upcoming Olympics. When it returned in 2024, the event moved to Memorial Day weekend. This new date usually brings cooler weather. It is a very important sheep herding event in North America.
