 Following the end of World War I and the Great Depression numerous small ski resorts were developed in Utah's snow-packed mountains, and Weber County wanted to join in.They decided to redevelop the area in and around Wheeler Basin, a deteriorated watershed area that had been overgrazed and subjected to aggressive timber-harvesting.Lands were restored and turned over to the US Forest Service, by 1938 the Forest Service and Alf Engen had committed to turning the area into a recreational site.