Guardsman Connection In Park City To Be Renamed "Wheaton Way"

By a unanimous vote, members of Park City Council approved the official renaming of Guardsman Connection Road to “Wheaton Way,” in honor of Deer Valley Resort's former President and Chief Operating Officer, Bob Wheaton.

The renaming of the existing public street, in the vicinity of Deer Valley Resort, was recommended by the Park City Area Lodging Association and approved by the elected officials at the City Council meeting on December 20, 2018, in order to publicly honor Wheaton’s decades of community contributions and retirement.

“There is no one more deserving of this prestigious honor than Bob Wheaton, whose impact on our community and the international ski industry will be felt for generations to come,” said Andy Beerman, Park City Mayor. “On behalf of the Park City Community, we couldn’t be prouder to bestow this recognition to a man who has dedicated his life to his love of the outdoors.”

In nearly 40 years, Wheaton has been an influential figure in the ski industry as well as the greater Park City Community. He was appointed Deer Valley’s General Manager in 1988, Vice President of Operations in 1989 and President in 1997 where he skillfully led a world-class organization with a personal and professional reputation for honesty, integrity and humble leadership.

Under his leadership, Deer Valley earned a spot in the top three ski resorts in North America by the readers of SKI Magazine for 20 consecutive years and had the prestigious privilege of being a host venue during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, in which Wheaton worked closely with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to ensure all facets of the events were carried out with the highest standards. Wheaton now serves on the Olympic Legacy Board and has been instrumental in Deer Valley’s reputation as a mecca for Freestyle skiing by hosting over 20 years of Freestyle World Cup and World Championship events.

Wheaton has been very active in community organizations during his tenure at the resort. He was a past member and president of the Board of Directors for the Park City Chamber and Visitor’s Bureau, as well as president of the Intermountain Ski Areas Association Board of Directors and a two-time past president of the Utah Ski & Snowboard Association. He has served on the Board of Governors for the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the Utah Symphony and Opera.

In addition, Wheaton has also received the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Intermountain Ski Areas Association; the Park City Rotary Club’s Professional Citizen of the Year award and was inducted into the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame in 2011.

In 2015, Wheaton successfully led the negotiations and purchase of Solitude Mountain Resort by Deer Valley Resort Company, acting as their President until October of 2017 when Deer Valley was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company. Alterra Mountain Company then purchased Solitude Mountain Resort in July of 2018. Bob Wheaton retired from his role as Deer Valley’s president and COO and transitioned into an advisory role at Alterra Mountain Company in January 2019.