Remembering Utah's Legendary 1960s-Era Snowball Express Ski Train: A Rolling Party That Bypassed Strict Liquor Laws

Union Pacific operated the Snowball Express ski train from 1965 to 1971, offering an alternative to the usual Salt Lake City to Park City drive. The service began as the “Hootspa Special” on December 4, 1965, partly connected to Salt Lake City’s bid for the 1972 Winter Olympics and rooted in earlier regional winter excursion traditions. After a successful promotional run, Union Pacific rebranded the excursion as the Snowball Express and typically ran it once a year. The train traveled a circuitous route via Ogden and through Weber Canyon, taking several hours longer than driving. That longer trip became the attraction, with modified cars for music and dancing, live local jazz bands, and bar cars that could serve alcohol under federal railroad jurisdiction despite Utah’s strict liquor laws.

"In the mid-1960s, a journey from Salt Lake City to the burgeoning ski slopes of Park City, Utah, typically meant a straightforward drive. But for six winter seasons, Union Pacific offered an alternative that turned a simple commute into a legendary, rolling celebration. Known as the “Snowball Express,” this special ski train operated between 1965 and 1971, capturing a distinct era when Utah ski culture and railroad history collided in a flurry of live music, winter sports promotion, and surprisingly loose liquor service."

"The roots of the Snowball Express trace back to December 4, 1965, with an excursion originally dubbed the “Hootspa Special.” Organized in part to support Salt Lake City’s bid for the 1972 Winter Olympics, the train was a deliberate nod to a regional tradition of winter excursion trains that dated back to 1936. The promotional run was a success, and Union Pacific subsequently rebranded the service as the Snowball Express, running the special excursion usually once a year."

"While intended to transport winter sports enthusiasts to Park City’s slopes, the journey itself quickly became the main attraction. The train followed a circuitous mainline route, departing Salt Lake City and heading north to stop in Ogden before winding through Weber Canyon and eventually arriving in Park City. Because this rail route took several hours-far longer than a direct drive-the onboard environment evolved to keep passengers entertained."

"According to historical records from the Park City Museum, the Snowball Express earned a reputation as a raucous party train. Union Pacific modified cars specifically to accommodate music and dancing, featuring live performances from local jazz bands. Most notably, the train’s bar cars managed to bypass Utah’s notoriously strict local liquor laws because Union Pacific operated under federal railroad jurisdiction. Since the interstate rail network was subject to federal regulations rather than state rules, the Snowball Express could serve alcohol in ways that would have been restricted on roads."

Read at SnowBrains