I want to like downtown Ogden, UT. I really do. But I don’t. Not yet.
I’m starting to think there is hope for Ogden though. Mayor Godfrey and AmerSports are leading the way to make Ogden City an outdoor adventure town. Earlier this year Ogden unveiled The Junction at the city’s center. Inside The Junction is the Salomon Center which boasts a rock climbing center, the iFly indoor skydiving tunnel and the Flowrider an indoor wave for surfing. As impressive as it sounds on paper. It’s just a start.
I visited the center with very high expectations. I left a bit disappointed. It’s still Ogden.
I was disappointed to see the Salomon Center is anchored by FatCats, a video arcade and bowling alley. The only adventure I had that day was watching my wallet and hovering over my kids while a creepy dude was being just a little too friendly.. It felt like the scary people were out in force. I realize that can’t judge a city by a few bums but it didn’t help. It will take a while to change my impression of downtown Ogden.
Still, I believe Ogden is on the right track. According today’s guest commentary in the Standard Examiner by the officers of 3 large Ogden based construction companies, more than $1 billion have been invested in Ogden City this year. 60 acres in Ogden have been redeveloped and 120 acres are currently in some form of redevelopment. Both the Ogden River Parkway and Weber River Parkway trail systems have been improved. The article also describes a future 60 acre plan for the Ogden River Parkway including recreation opportunities and stores like Bingham Cyclery.
Ogden needs an new image and it’s current leaders are slowly creating one. Ogden voters should support these efforts. Ogden, if you build it we will come. We will support it.
Utah has more than Moab and the National Parks in Southern Utah. The top of Utah is also an outdoor gem. Powder Mountain , Wolf Mountain and of course Snowbasin are awesome mountain resorts. Developing the area commercially for other recreational opportunities will increase awareness and participation. Awareness of and participation in outdoor activities in already developed areas might increase conservation efforts in the undeveloped areas. It’s a goal we should all strive for.
Update: I was reading the Weber County Forum and it seems I’m an outsider to Ogden in more ways than one. Not only do I not live in Weber County (I live in Davis County and work in Utah County) but I also disagree with some of their outspoken residents. A forum post blasts the above mentioned construction companies for being in bed with Mayor Godfrey. Isn’t one of the jobs of elected officials to work with local and non-local business to strengthen the economics of the community? Political campaign donations are part of American politics. Individuals and businesses support elected officials with votes and contributions. As long as the donations are within the established laws, what’s the big deal? If I found a candidate that finally showed some movement in the right direction I would support him/her too.
Having said that I DON’T agree with everything the Mayor is trying to do. The gondola plan is a bad idea but his overall theme to promote Ogden as an outdoor adventure destination is in my opinion the best thing I’ve heard from an Ogden politician in a long while.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Matt Hansen // Oct 24, 2007 at 12:10 am
Well said.
While I feel the Gondola would be gambling, I believe Mayor Godfrey is giving Ogden what we all want… A higher standard of living. Hopefully the “dog eat dog” mentality will subside over time.
2 Brent // Oct 24, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Good point Matt.
3 KJ // Mar 17, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I’m actually thinking about living in Ogden next winter. I’m sick of Park City, and SLC isn’t a mountain town but a desert city, so Ogden it might be.
I’m curious: why “no” to the gondola? To an outsider, it seems like a great idea…
4 Brent // Mar 19, 2008 at 11:24 pm
It’s a complex issue that has been bantered about for years. The most recent proposal seemed overly opptimistic and as Matt said, a huge gamble. The Ogden area already hosts three resorts. Skiing is only one of the outdoor sports available. I think Ogden should diversify efforts in promoting additional outdoor opportunities. The Ogden River Parkway’s Commercial Development is a great example of efforts with broader appeal to a larger demographic.
5 ogd_snowrider // Apr 19, 2008 at 3:34 pm
try riding gondolas daily at snowbasin and then do the math. downtown ogden to the foothill base is 4.5 miles. that’s 3-4 times the length of the snowbasin gondolas. that will equate to a 30-40 minute ride to a destination that can be reached by car or bus in 10 minutes. add the fact that stations are absurdly expensive and gondola lines are inherently fixed and prohibitively expensive to upgrade to more stops and you can see the nonsense.
Don’t forget that Malan’s Basin is a mere 188 acres of steep ungroomable west facing funneling bowl. No resort will ever be built there. SUre looking at the face from Ogden looks magnificent but it is sectioned by several impassable canyons and interspersed by deadly cliffbands and faces more southwest as you consider Strong’s, Beus and Burch Creek. In this best of all snow years Taylor Canyon was only passable for 15 or 20 days.
I rode the snowbasin gondolas more than 350 times this season. They are super for moving people up a mountainside which is their design imperative. Only one urban gondola exists in the world and it serves…guess what, a mountainside community in Medellin, Colombia that cannot be served by streetcar for being too steep.
KJ, I heartily recommend you move here from the lesser lands of PC. You can actually afford a house in Ogden. The terrain at Snowbasin is unequaled by ANY of the SLC and PC resorts. Just leave the crowds there and come on your own accord and don’t spew it to all your friends. Know that there is a hardcore here and we like it the way it is.
I initially thought that a town gondola and a west face resort seemed like a great idea that should be a no-brainer. I’ll gladly take you an a hike to Malan’s or lead you down Taylor Canyon next season when the conditions are safe. You can see first hand what a crock the whole thing is. Remember that none of these gondola/Malan’s promoters are skiers or snowboarders. They are pencil pushers and flatlanders. Thay have no idea about the limitations of gondolas, west facing snow, extreme terrain, avalanche risk, etc. In short they are clueless in a state where skiing is the major industry. What makes them so belligerent that they think they know about a sport which they do not participate.
Ogden does rule, but only to those who appreciate it for the way it is.
Amer Sport was supposed to bring the surge, it hasn’t, thank jah. Descente brings half a dozen jobs to the table, Nidecker and Goode, 3 or 4 each. Rossignol is reorganizing, Kahuna makes surfboards…in Hawaii. Rita’s Bakery on Washington employs more than all but Amer.
Thanks for your interest in Ogden. Now move your ass here and make it better by investing in one of hundreds of homes that need TLC. That’s hat we need more than ice towers, hi-adventure fantasies, or community sponsored arcades.
6 Brent // Apr 21, 2008 at 5:28 pm
OGD_snowrider.
I thought that was well said. In the end, it will be the people that bring adventure to Ogden.
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