Thirty Park City businesses and community organizations now carry a formal accessibility credential after Wheel the World verified the resort town as an Accessible Travel Destination, the Park City Chamber/Bureau announced at a ceremony Friday, July 24, at the National Ability Center.
The verification means travelers with mobility challenges, sensory disabilities, or chronic conditions can look up detailed accessibility information for Park City lodging, restaurants, trails, and attractions on Wheel the World's website. Trained assessors called "Mappers" evaluated each location using more than 200 data points covering physical, cognitive, and sensory needs.
The Chamber/Bureau now plans to at least double the count to 60-plus verified businesses by the beginning of 2027. The longer-term target: more than 250 verified businesses by 2034, when the Salt Lake City region hosts the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
"It's a verified third party that comes in with their measuring tape, and they actually measure how wide the windows are, how high the steps are, how accessible your business is," Chamber CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff said on KPCW's Local News Hour on Sunday, July 20, previewing the program launch.
Becca Gerber, the Chamber/Bureau's senior director of government and community affairs, said the program documents existing accessibility rather than requiring businesses to renovate.
Verified locations span breweries and dining, lodging, history, arts, and outdoor activities. Named sites include the National Ability Center's main campus, the McGrath Mountain Center at the base of Park City Mountain, and lodges at both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort. Park City Mountain's lift team is trained to assist adaptive skiers and riders, and summer chairlifts are fitted to carry adaptive bikes.
The Mountain Trails Foundation is expanding universally accessible trails starting in the Round Valley area, using grant funding for new technology and adaptive cycling expertise. Trail width, grade, parking, and restrooms must all meet standards. Several trail systems are already on the verified list, with more planned for verification in 2027, according to the Park Record.
At Friday's ceremony, Midway residents Matthew Heimburger and Anna Dance spoke about what accessible recreation means for their family. Heimburger, a parent of a daughter with a disability, said it matters that she feels included in activities alongside others rather than separated.
The initiative was led by the Chamber/Bureau in collaboration with the Mountain Trails Foundation and the National Ability Center. Mesa, Arizona, was the first city to receive Wheel the World's Destination Verified seal; Park City joins Colorado Springs, Travel Oregon, and Lexington, Kentucky, on the verified list.
Approximately 612,000 adults in Utah experience a disability, roughly one in four, according to CDC estimates.
Businesses interested in joining the next round of verifications can contact the Park City Chamber/Bureau. The goal is to add about 30 businesses per year, reaching 250-plus by the 2034 Games.
