In 1872, Alta, Utah, drew thousands of seasonal residents during a silver boom; by 1920, George Watson was reportedly its only resident

Once a bustling mining hub fueled by silver, Alta, Utah saw its fortunes decline in the 1920s. The last resident, George Watson, relinquished his land amid tax woes to the U.S. Forest Service, paving the way for ski area development. In 1938, the first chairlift was erected, marking the dawn of the Alta Ski Area. This transformation highlights how towns reliant on a single industry can adapt and thrive.