Published: September 20, 2018 |

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Five years after a major landslide wiped out the Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper Mine, the visitor center there is getting ready to re-open to the public.

People will once again get to tour the impressive Bingham Canyon Mine pit — but this time, it’s a whole new experience.

2News got a first look ahead of the official opening.

Deep into the Oquirrh Mountains, miners work around the clock extracting copper from one of the world’s largest open pit mines.

“What we do is absolutely critical to modern life,” said Kyle Bennett, a spokesperson for Rio Tinto Kennecott.

Years ago, the visitors deck overlooking the Bingham Canyon Mine was bustling. People came from all over to get a look at mine operations.

But, in April 2013, the largest landslide in mining history took out the entire northeast wall of the mine, closing it off to visitors. Now, five years later, Rio Tinto Kennecott is getting ready to unveil a new visitors experience.

“We want people to come up and take a look at what we’re all about,” said Piper Rhodes, the manager of communications and communities for the company.

The full launch will open to the public in the spring. There will be new exhibits, a shuttle service and a gift shop. People will be able to purchase tickets online.

While it’s a whole new experience, Rio Tinto Kennecott is also putting an emphasis on the mine’s past.

“The landslide was really a defining moment in our history and we don’t want to shy away from that,” Bennett said.

Visitors will get an up-close look at where the slide happened and learn more about the technology used to detect it.

“We’re really proud absolutely no one was hurt as a result of that slide,” Bennett said.

Source: KUTV

To stop by Rio Tinto Kencott’s website, CLICK HERE

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