The next stop on the tour was the Silver Star Resort where we were able to see several examples of how historic mining buildings and other features have successfully been incorporated and repurposed.  The most notable feature at the site is the Spiro Tunnel named for Solon Spiro.  He came to Park City as a young man and became the owner of several mining properties.  The tunnel was planned to drain water from mines in the Thaynes Canyon area, including the Silver King Consolidated Mine, AKA the King Con, which was then owned by Spiro.  It was hoped that the tunnel would also intersect yet undiscovered ore bodies.  By 1924, having found no new ore and facing financial difficulties, Spiro was forced to sell out to his rival the Silver King Coalition.  They extended the tunnel 40 feet and hit new ore at 13,650 feet from the entrance.

SPIRO TUNNEL AT THE SILVER STAR

The Silver Star Resort complex was developed with an eye toward integrating a number of historic mining buildings and other artifacts into its design.

(Left) A boiler house and the adjacent coal hopper has been restored.  (Above) This set of pulleys looks like it came from a stamp mill.

The MHAers find a little shade while the Manager of the Silver Star describes their preservation efforts and adaptive reuse of mine buildings on the property.

The entrance to the Spiro Tunnel with interpretive signage telling its history.

Once inside, the old wooden timbering has been replaced with roof bolts, wire mesh, and Gunite (sprayed concrete).

A “Y” shaped junction of mine drifts provides room for a maintenance shop area.

(Above) The tunnel extends over 13,000 feet into the mountain to still drain the workings of several mines.  A narrow gage track is still used to haul equipment in the tunnel.

You can learn more about the Silver King Coalition Mine at the websites below:

https://parkcityhistory.org/mining

https://parkcityhistory.org/mining/silver-king-mine