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The city of Ogden has been working to change a reputation of crime, gangs and urban decay. Recently, in its list of best cities in America, Outside Magazine ranked Ogden No. 3.
Many people visiting downtown Ogden lately may be blown away, literally. There's indoor skydiving, indoor surfing, indoor rock climbing; enough to get the Williams family to visit. "We heard about it on TV, so we wanted to come up and give it a try," explained Trent Williams.
Trent's family is from Riverton and decided to spend their family getaway in Ogden, making them the poster family for Ogden's downtown revitalization plan.
The Williams say they know Ogden's reputation. "A bit scary. I don't know if I would've come out here that long ago -- not for a family trip, that's for sure," Mendee Williams said.
But now, that "scary" reputation is starting to turn. National outdoor companies have made Ogden home, a new high-adventure recreation center, which is unlike anything Utah has elsewhere, has set up shop, and that Outside Magazine article have all helped.
"Everybody thought it was more of a dying town, and that Ogden had come and gone," Ogden resident Brett Parke said.
Parke has lived in Ogden his whole life. He says all this new, positive attention makes him proud to call Ogden home. "It's nice to have something here we can call our own, and not the old, bad stereotype," he said.
It's stereotype that is slowly changing enough to attract a family from the suburbs to eat, play and stay in Ogden. "It's a beautiful area, and I didn't know how beautiful it was until we got out here. I'm excited to be here," Mendee said.
Ogden is the only city in Utah to make Outside Magazine's list this year.
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