When the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History was officially announced April 8, the group laid out its plans to restore mining-era structures all over Park City Mountain and Deer Valley. Since then, work has continued behind the scenes, and while things continue to move forward, Sally Elliott, former Summit County councilmember and historian, joked that it sometimes feels a little slow for her.

“I’m a jack rabbit,” she said. “And I live in a world of turtles.”

Kidding aside, she said she knows from her time in public office that the wheels move slowly on big projects like the mining restoration effort.

“It sometimes feels like it’s moving at a glacial pace,” she said. “These things just take time, and they always take more time than you imagine they will.”

Elliott said the California-Comstock mine site is still the first major project the group plans to tackle, and the plan is still to begin work on it this summer. She said the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History is focused right now on raising money to ensure once the restoration is underway it can stay underway.

“I think we’re looking at $750,000 or so for this,” Elliott said. “And the faster we can come up with it the faster we can get work done. Because Clark Martinez, who Vail Resorts hired as their contractor for this, he has pretty much devoted himself to us. He will work on it as long as we can pay him.”

Elliott said the group had hoped to host some kind of event in June but that has now been pushed back. She said they are targeting sometime in August for a major community celebration.

“We will wait until people are back in town to get their kids back in school,” she said. “A big celebration at either the Town Lift Plaza or Rotary Park. Pay $30 to get in, have a high-end hot dog and a s’more with specialty chocolates and talk with us about why this restoration effort is important. A big party.”

Elliott said the group is also hoping to tantalize high-dollar donors with unique and exclusive experiences. She said the first they are targeting would be in September and would include a look inside the Spiro Tunnel, which has its own rich history.

The tunnel is named after Solon Spiro, who dug looking for ore from 1917 until he went bankrupt in 1924, always convinced he would hit pay dirt but never finding anything. Elliott said, he eventually had to sell out to the Silver King.

“They kept digging, and in only 40 feet they found ore,” she said. “Only 40 feet, can you believe it?”

Elliott said the group is hopeful people will pay to get a look inside the Spiro Tunnel and, more than that, that these kinds of stories will hook people and get them even more invested in the success of the restoration.

“They won’t be able to go more than a few feet in, but it’s the opportunity to be inside a mine tunnel and to see how it’s shored up and timbered and to see the layers of rock and the railroad track and the water rushing underneath,” she said. “It’s really very interesting.”

Elliott was careful to add that the restoration effort progressing slowly at the outset is not a bad sign. She said the parties involved, from Vail Resorts to Park City to individual residents, are as committed as ever.

“They’re invested in this more than they’ve ever been,” she said. “People in this community love their history. They love the authenticity of Park City. This is about maintaining that history and telling that story.”

For more information and to stay up to date on the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History restoration effort, or to make a donation, visit http://ParkCityHistory.org/friends-of-ski-mountain-mining-history.