Communities
Brian Head is a small ski resort community located in the heart of southern Utah’s national parks and monuments. Located at 9,500 feet, Brian Head is the highest ski resort town in North America. In the summer and fall the temps hover in the mid 70’s making it a perfect destination to escape the heat of the valley below. During that time, Brian Head offers Utah’s premier mountain bike park with chairlift and shuttle service that whisks you to the top of Brian Head Peak. Over 200 miles of downhill mountain bike trails await and you can rip down incredible roller coaster cruisers and some popping vertical descents. If mountain biking is not your scene, the weekend chairlift service is also available to hikers and sightseers in search of Utah’s famous red-rock vistas. Plus, Brian Head has ATV tours, horseback rides, and free summer concerts on most weekends.
In the winter, Brian Head is a great ski and boarding destination. Brian Head Resort has been rated one of America’s best ski values because there are virtually no lift lines, the slopes are un-crowded, and daily lift passes are less than $50! Brian Head’s winter adventures also include snowtubing, snowbikes, snowmobile tours, sleigh rides, cross country skiing and a full service day spa.
Brian Head is a festive community with several fun and unique events held throughout the year including: Fireworks and torchlight parades during the winter holidays, holiday bonfires, live summer concerts, Thunder on the Mountain motorcycle rally, Oktoberfest, NORBA Nationals Mountain Bike championships, Epic 100 Mountain Bike Races, and an Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration. Click on our calendar of events for more information.
Brian Head History
The story behind Brian Head begins with the most basic element of folklore: the naming of the place. No one really knows the origin of Brian Head's unique name, but the stories of the names are often as interesting as the people that tell them.
Brian Head was originally known as Monument Peak and was used by early surveyors and expedition leaders as a point of reference. The name changed in the early 1900s. Exactly why the name changed, however, is subject to conjecture.
One story claims that famous explorer John Wesley Powell saw the peak above all the other mountains and named it after an official in the Geological Survey Office by the name of Bryan.
Another story claims that residents of neighboring Parowan changed the name in 1890 to Bryan Head in honor of an American politician named William Jennings Bryan. Still another claims that the wife of a United States government official visited the area, didn't like the name of Monument Peak, and wrote letters to prominent government officials to change the name to Bryan Head (the spelling now obviously having changed to "Brian" Head).
As Brian Head area grew, so did industry. Soon the area was teaming with farming, grazing and logging. There was even a small section of town known as Little Ireland that became famous for its world-class butter and cheese.
In Brian Head's early days, there was a hotel, restaurant and dance hall that were operated by Minnie Adams Burton. "Minnie's Mansion" became the gathering place for people from all around. On the 24th of July, an annual celebration commenced at Minnie's that brought sheep and cattle herders from miles around for huge breakfasts, horse racing, potato sack races, fireworks and dancing.
In more recent times, local resident Burt Nichols saw something in the beautiful slopes surrounding the town, and in 1964, he opened the Brian Head Resort with one chairlift, a T-bar and a warming house. The town of Brian Head incorporated in 1975. In 1990 Brian Head Resort was able to expand their season when they added snow making technology and terrain parks for snowboarding. That same year, Brian Head became a premier mountain bike destination utilizing the over 200 miles of existing livestock trails that lend to superb mountain biking downhill. In late 2007, the resort will complete an expansion effort that will increase their skiable terrain to over 650 acres and will include a new snowmaking system and an interconnect bridge.
Community Links
Brian Head Chamber of Commerce
PO BOX 190325
56 N. Hwy 143
Brian Head, Ut 84719
435-677-2810 or 1-888-677-2810
www.brianheadutah.com
Brian Head Town
P.O. Box 190068
56 N. North Hwy 143
Brian Head, UT 84719
435-677-2029
www.brianheadtown.utah.gov