Fun Places | Ontario Drain Tunnel
Hype:
On the shoulder of Marsac Ave in Park City, Utah, are some old mining ruins with interpretive signs. The site features remnants of the Ontario Drain Tunnel, completed in 1881. This tunnel, the first of its kind in the area, was designed to drain ground water from the Ontario No. 3 Shaft at the 600-foot level, revolutionizing mine drainage and facilitating deeper mining operations. The tunnel also served as a passageway for transporting ore and equipment and provided miners a convenient route to work from town. The interpretive signs at the site sheds light on the ingenuity of this early engineering marvel, making it a worthwhile stop for history buffs and curious travelers alike.
Time:
Fees: None
Recommended Ages:
 | 0-3 |
 | 4-11 |
 | 12-19 |
 | 20-49 |
 | 50-69 |
 | 70+ |
Recommended Months to Visit:
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Completed in 1881, this is the first of several tunnels that were built to drain the tremendous flow of ground water from Park City's mines. Early attempts to drain the mines with pumps were ineffective, but drain tunnels proved highly successful. Theis tunnel drained the Ontario No. 3 Shaft workings at the 600-foot level, as well as several other nearby mines. It also provided transport for ore and equipment and allowed miners to live in town and travel to work through the tunnel. Later, as mines went deeper than their drain tunnels, great pumps, such as the famous Cornish pump at the Ontario No, 3 shaft, would be employed to drain their lower workings.
Mining
Architecture
Ghost Towns
Interpretive Signs
Road Access is Paved
Access Road is 2WD Accessible
