Snowbasin is one of the oldest, continuously operating ski resorts in the United States and it provides all the style of a superior resort coupled with the excitement of a world class venue. The area was named by a Mrs Geneve Wood in 1939 after she won the contest to name the as yet undeveloped area three miles (six kilometres) east of Ogden, Utah. Development of the Snowbasin area began in 1940 at the recommendation of Alf Engen and the Civilian Conservation Corps. The resort opened for business the following year with two rope tows serving 6 runs, a ski school and a fleet of dog-sled taxis. The opening ceremony was spectacular with ski jumpers showering the crowds with flowers and racers competing in downhill and slalom events.

Earl Holding, who already owned Sun Valley acquired Sunbasin in 1984 and had big plans to develop the resort. The Sun Valley Co, began negotiations with the US Forest Service for a land exchange deal involving some 5,000 acres. $3 million were invested in on-mountain improvements and in 1986, the Becker and Porcupine triple chairlifts opened and Snowbasin's uplift capacity rose to 7,400 skiers per hour. Access to Snowbasin was dramatically improved with the construction of the Trappers Loop Highway.

Over the next few years Snowbasin proved itself in hosting several big ski events and in 1995 Salt Lake City was successful in its bid to host the 2002 Olympic Games. Snowbasin had been chosen to host the Downhill and Super G events. Congress passed the Land Exchange Act in 1996 which allowed the land swap and base-area development to proceed and Snowbasin's expansion was finally about to happen. Four major new lifts were added - two 8-passenger gondolas, a high-speed quad and the Olympic Tram. The land-exchange deal with the Forest Service was completed in 2000 and the Snowbasin Road built, providing a more direct route from the Salt Lake Valley reducing round-trip drive time by 30 minutes. On the mountain, three new day lodges were added in the build up to 2002.

Utah's positioning in the Rocky Mountains benefits from a phenomenal weather pattern which provides the area with its coveted snow conditions. Clouds filled with Pacific Ocean moisture from the west coast travel across western deserts, where most of the moisture is baked out. When those clouds hit the Rockies, temperatures cool, precipitation begins, and the snow that falls is perfect - ultra-light, dry and fluffy just like talcum powder!