Luxury Winter – Deer Valley Resort in Park City Mountain

The resort was designed by the same creator of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Arizona, Bill Nassikas, who is a hotelier and proven expert in developing luxury resorts. Besides being an impressively designed and skier-friendly mountain for all ages, Deer Valley also has a unique Olympic history.

It was a 2002 Winter Olympics venue site because of its spectacularly soft snow and accessibility to Salt Lake City. The region is also home to the Utah Olympic Park, which takes guests through an interactive museum and lets them try their hand at the iconic bob-sled track.

We have highlighted this wintry oasis as a top spot to take memorable turns this winter. Read on for the most iconic ways to sleep, dine, ski and explore Deer Valley Ski Resort.

Stein Erickson Lodge

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STAY
The name Stein Erikson may ring a familiar bell for avid skiers and mountain enthusiasts. The late Erikson was a gold medalist alpine skier from Norway known for his distinct style that helped progress skiing into the modern day. As the Director of Skiing at Deer Valley for more than 35 years, he became a local celebrity remembered for treating everyone like a friend and neighbor. His fervent passion for the winter sport and his influence on the Deer Valley Ski Resort even inspired a luxury hotel named after him.

Stein Erickson Lodge

Erikson was the voice of the company for years and represents the sport’s history in the community, which is why a stay at the infamous Stein Erikson Lodge is a must. The resort’s $14 million-dollar renovations include an outdoor pool and a movie theatre that warmly welcomes well-heeled travelers into a high-altitude hotel smack dab in the heart of the mountain. Flanked by the resort’s groomed ski runs, the inclusive hotel offers an on-site restaurant, wine cellar, entertainment lounge and game room that looks out to the Deer Valley Ski Resort beyond.

The European-style, 700-square-foot luxury bedrooms are designed with fireplaces, plush beds, hot tubs and killer views of the forested landscape. The lodge is also Utah’s only Forbes Five Star Spa, offering hardened athletes and pleasure-seekers alike the chance to rejuvenate with their selection of healing massages. Other treatment options include a Vichy shower, giving spa-goers the ultimate in hydrotherapy. The “waterbed” is fixed with a series of showerheads for a deeply relaxing massage. Melt away the pain from sore legs after shredding the slopes or just those persistent stresses from life.

Montage Deer Valley

A stay at the Montage Deer Valley Ski Resort is proof that wandering off to Utah’s Rocky Mountains is no rural camp in the woods. Perched at the base of the Empire Express chairlift and in the shadow of Wasatch Mountain, the hotel offers some of the most accessible ski-in/ski-out accommodations around. The space evokes a regal design with excellent hospitality that may only be rivaled by the impressive views of Deer Valley Ski Resort.

Elegance opens up to guests at first sight of the luxury hotel that boasts sprawling outdoor and indoor pools, a 35,000-square-foot spa sanctuary and fabulous on-site dining, including Park City’s best stop for fresh Japanese-style seafood, Yama Sushi. Accommodations include guestrooms, suites and residences adorned with sophisticated, yet ultra-comfy interiors such as wood fireplaces, heated bathroom floors, soaking tubs and private patios to take in the crisp winter air.

Montage Deer Valley

Skiers amped to get up on the hill will appreciate the full-service ski concierge at Compass Sports. Premium equipment is offered as well as complimentary boot-warming, so popping on your boots in the early dawn is a breeze. Another highlight that we love is the Canine Ambassador program that adopts Bernese Mountain Dogs that are at the hotel ready to greet guests with a furry embrace.

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Plus, there are some of the best off-piste glades in the west, letting you cut fresh tracks in-between narrow aspen trees. With 21 chairlifts and 103 runs, the mountain delivers a variety of riding for guests around the world. In between fast runs and tranquil traverses across the sweeping hillsides, you are greeted with a type of hospitality that is typically reserved for off-mountain experiences.

Snowshoe Tommy's

Deer Valley Ski Resort is one of three resorts in America that is strictly for those looking to do some skiing in Deer Valley – no snowboarding allowed – and features some extremely luxe amenities. Its free ski concierge holds your skis and poles overnight at the base of the mountain, the ski valet helps load and unload bulky equipment and a Cadillac shuttle service takes lodging guests to town. With an assortment of high-end eateries and hideaways on the mountain, guests can take a midday break at Snowshoe Tommy’s, relax in a cozy cabin on Bald Mountain, or indulge at the Brass Tag for brick oven cuisine.

For an elevated experience to shred with the best, take the fam on a ski day with the resort’s Ambassador of Skiing, Heidi Voelker. The Ski with a Champion Program connects you to one of six world-renowned skiers, like Olympic alpine skier, Voelker, who will spend the day riding the enchanting terrain alongside you and your crew.

The Après Lounge

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DINE & DRINK
Deer Valley Ski Resort is celebrated for its famed dining options that escort you from rugged riding through untouched powder to tableside—where you can swap your black-tie attire for ski jackets and Sorel boots.

The Après Lounge at Montage Deer Valley Ski Resort is a champagne-fueled experience that takes place on the hotel’s property beneath the snow-kissed mountains. The resort’s Veuve Clicquot Champagne tent is splashed in the iconic orange color scheme, from a pair of downhill skis hung on the wall to plush throw pillows, the place is begging to be photographed while guests sip on their champs while staying warm inside the luxe lounge.

A step inside leads you to a cozy abode where twinkle lights drape from the ceiling and fur-lined furniture welcomes skiers and travelers to take a load off. Truly, there is nowhere else in the world you can have this Veuve-approved experience.

The Après Lounge

For a dinner to remember, consider booking a horse-drawn sleigh ride to the restaurant, Fireside, nestled at the base of the mountain. Yes, it’s as romantic as it sounds, with the glittering flakes falling overhead as you journey across the snowy foothills of Deer Valley Ski Resort towards a dining experience that will leave you happily stuffed.

The four-course dinner invites guests to taste a range of handmade delicacies served at different stone fireplaces throughout the spacious restaurant. Expect a roasted leg of lamb glistening against the hot fire paired with a Swiss veal and mushroom stew along with smaller dishes such as a pecan and apple salad and a plate of perfectly charred vegetables.

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Fireside

The highlight of the evening may very well be your trip to the raclette cheese outpost, where a pound of cow-milk cheese melts beside a crackling fire. Don’t forget to top your plate off with a selection of meats, vegetables and crackers to dip into your liquid gold. Finish the meal on a sweet note with a visit to the chocolate fondue station before stepping out into the illuminated winter wonderland that is Deer Valley Ski Resort by night.

Located at the Deer Valley Ski Resort is the Goldener Hirsch Restaurant. This must-visit dining destination is the recipient of the AAA-Four Diamond Award and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, showcasing its affinity for Alpine cuisine that tempts even the strictest of dieters. Locally sourced and organic ingredients offer finely crafted dishes, including seared meats, fresh fish, fondue, Bavarian bread and decadent pastries made in-house. The setting is a sophisticated yet down-to-earth vibe that invites in the classic feel of dinner in the High Alps.

High West Distillery

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EXPLORE
Looking for other things to do in Utah during your ski trip? While staying at the Deer Valley Ski Resort, a jaunt through the charming downtown of Park City reveals a once thriving mining town that is now home to rustic architecture renovated into modern hideaways. The Old West makes an appearance through the street’s traditional facades housing cafes, restaurants and breweries ready to welcome curious—and equally thirsty—visitors.

Whiskey aficionados can’t miss a tasting at Utah’s very first legal distillery since 1870, the High West Saloon. Located on the main drag, it’s a hot spot to enjoy handcrafted whiskey in a dynamic bar with a variety of rooms for both diners and drinkers. Sipping on Campfire Whiskey introduces a rare blend of scotch, bourbon and rye whiskeys into one powerful yet smooth libation. Ask the barkeeper for an original house-made cocktail, like the Madame Pattrini, crafted with Double Rye, sherry and a Tawny Port brewed with a chamomile tea bag and fresh lemon.

Deer Valley Resort

Deer Valley Ski Resort brings a quiet and romantic setting to a vacation in the peaks. To get a taste of the culture in the Wasatch Range, head to Park City where fifty restaurants dot the downtown with a variety of options from white tablecloth fine-dining spots to relaxed coffee shops and a selection of art galleries to peruse.

The high-end retailer, Gorsuch’s, is an essential stopover for skiers who don’t want to sacrifice fashion on the slopes. Swing into their Park City location to discover luxury brands like Moncler, Brunello Cucinelli and Bogner all debuting current collections of ski attire and fashionable winter accessories.

Those looking for more adrenaline-pumping activities can head over to All Seasons Adventures, the outfitter for all of your outdoor pursuits. Cross-country skiing, fly-fishing and snowshoe tours through the towering aspen trees are just a few of the offerings. For a full-throttle cruise, book a snowmobiling tour through Deer Valley Ski Resort’s own Summit Meadows Adventures.

Photo by Beate Rohmberg /Shutterstock

All Seasons Adventures offers a very unique expedition: a dog-sledding experience that connects you to rescued Siberian and Alaskan huskies who take you gliding through the snow-covered terrain led by a professional musher. For those who choose to opt out of the downhill skiing, the more tranquil and accessible Nordic skiing is offered, where you can flex your physical abilities on both groomed and untracked trails to get some extraordinary views of the sweeping hills and surrounding mountain peaks.

A family affair for all ages is their Snowshoeing to S’mores experience where guests will traverse the local ponds and afterward arrive to a gourmet s’more roasting over the open fire. Round out your trip to the legendary Deer Valley Ski Resort by ascending the mountain by snowshoe under a full moon where you will take in the vistas under a wintry and star-speckled sky.