PARK CITY, Utah — A well-known landmark at one of Park City’s busiest intersections is undergoing a transformation. The towering “Olympic Flame” sculpture, a fixture since the 2002 Winter Olympics, is temporarily missing its flame as restoration work begins on the upper section.
The massive 35-foot metal piece, located at the corner of Kearns Boulevard and Bonanza Drive, was never intended to be permanent. Originally commissioned by General Motors as a temporary art installation for the 2002 Games, the sculpture has stood for over 20 years, becoming an unexpected symbol of the city’s Olympic legacy.
Created by artist William Kranstover and his daughter Malia Denali, the piece was designed to represent themes of unity, rebirth, and community.
“The idea behind it was bringing people together,” William explained while revisiting the sculpture’s history at the site. “It was supposed to be up for three months — 90 days — and here we are more than two decades later.”
Before their Olympic commission, the father-daughter duo had been creating and displaying metal sculptures guerrilla-style — placing their experimental artwork around town under cover of night. Malia recalled those days fondly.
“We’d weld pieces together and sneak them out late at night,” she said. “After a while, people started to really notice. It gained a kind of cult following.”
That underground buzz eventually caught the attention of General Motors, who asked the pair to develop a sculpture for the 2002 Games. Malia drafted several concepts, and after some back-and-forth, they merged two designs into what would become “Olympic Flame.”
Though William jokes that he undercharged GM for the project, the experience helped launch Malia’s career — and even paid her way through art school.
“It was worth it,” she said, smiling. “The sculpture took on a life of its own.”
Now owned and maintained by the city, the sculpture is being refurbished — specifically the flame at the top, which has been removed for repairs. Park City hopes to have the artwork fully restored and reassembled by July.
Looking ahead, Malia has bigger plans for the sculpture’s legacy. She’s proposing the addition of a time capsule to commemorate both past and future Olympic moments.
“It could include memories from the 2002 Games, and we could invite local kids to write letters imagining what the 2034 Olympics might look like,” she said.
With Salt Lake City in the running to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, the artwork could once again take center stage. For William, the hope is that the sculpture’s message continues to resonate.
“The Olympics were about coming together — something we could use more of today,” he said. “Maybe this next one will remind us how much stronger we are united.”
As Park City restores this iconic piece of its history, it may once again become a beacon of Olympic spirit for a new generation.
