Snowbasin is one of the olest ski resorts in the United States. Opened in 1939 as part of an effort by the city of Ogden, Utah to restore the Wheeler Creek watershed after decades of overgrazing. Over the next 50 years Snowbasin grew slowly. After a large investment in lifts and snowmaking by current owner Earl Holding, Snowbasin hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Downhill, Super-G and Combined races.