Brighton Ski Resort, in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City, began in 1936 when Alpine Ski Club members built a rope tow from wire and an old elevator motor. Regarded as Utah’s first ski resort and one of the earliest in the United States, it was named for Thomas W. Brighton, who built the area’s first structures. Operating on public land in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, it became known for excellent snow and for its place in Utah’s skiing and snowboarding culture. Neighboring Solitude is accessible through Solbright Pass, and the resort has passed through several owners before Boyne Resorts repurchased it in 2018.