A PASSION FOR GREAT SPIRITS, A LOVE OF THE AMERICAN WEST
High West Distillery and Saloon offers a truly unique experience as the world’s only ski-in distillery and gastro-saloon. They are located at exactly 7000 feet in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Old Town Park City, Utah.
Founded by prospectors in the late 1860′s, Park City became one of the richest silver mining towns in the West, and the best watering hole in Utah. Our aim is for the High West Distillery and Saloon to contribute to that reputation. We invite you to share in our passion for great spirits, and our love for the American West.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
The Ellsworth J. Beggs house was built in 1914 and is architecturally significant as one of only a few two-story Victorian style pyramid houses in Park City. The October 3, 1914 issue of the Park Record reported: “E.J. Beggs, the well known mill and carpenter, has pulled down his old home on lower Park Ave. and will erect on the site a modern 8-room, two-story house. Mr. Beggs has one of the finest building lots in the city and a two-story house will set it off splendidly.” Ellsworth J. Beggs was a master carpenter, having just built the Summit County Courthouse in Coalville, so a high quality home could be expected. Beggs was born in Pennsylvania in 1861, and moved to Park City in 1889, the year he married a local lady, Eva Jane Lockhart. Eva was active in community activities, and many functions were held in her home. Once the yard hosted a picnic for some 200 people. Beggs was a prominent citizen serving as a city councilman. He also built and operated a tailings mill north of town on Silver Creek. After Eva died in 1933, Ellsworth sold the house in 1939 to Byron F. Wilde, a banker in town. Beggs died in Pennsylvania in 1946. Burnis and Betty Watts purchased the house in 1965 and lived in it until the City purchased it in 1997.
HIGH WEST DISTILLERY
High West Distillery and Saloon started with one man’s passion to make a great Rocky Mountain Whiskey. Proprietor and distiller David Perkins married his background as a biochemist, his love of bourbon and cooking, and his passion for the American West to bring the craft of small-batch distilling back to Utah, of all places.
The new distillery is a celebration of cowboys and the American West and has the distinction of being the world’s only distillery-dude-ranch. Offering distillery tours, educational whiskey tastings as well as western-country cuisine – they welcome you to experience our distillery and refectory overlooking the mountains.
