Utah is known for its top-rated ski slopes, mountain resorts, and vast natural landscape that lends itself to a slew of outdoor activities.
Park City in particular, located east of Salt Lake City, especially optimizes the exhilarating outdoors, housing three of the best ski resorts in the world as well as Utah Olympic Park. However, skiing doesn’t fully encapsulate the essence of Park City. The terrain also allows for mountain biking, horseback riding, golfing, and paddle boarding, just to name a few.
Park City also specializes in luxury resort living, which blends sumptuous indoor facilities with the expansive outdoors. Promontory Club, a private residential community that is the epitome of luxury living, spans over 6,400 acres and offers a myriad of indoor and outdoor amenities. Chris Messick, the director of real estate sales at Promontory Club, describes it as a four-season private club, with relatively less humid summers and lighter winters.
“As people started spending more time here in the summer, people figured out Park City has more of a four-season feeling than some of the other spots. Summer is as important to us as winter,” Messick explained.
Messick credits Promontory’s appeal to its diverse selection of amenities, all of which occupy 190,000 square feet. Among them are a world-class equestrian center, a clubhouse and spa, multiple golf courses, a beach club, an Outfitter’s Cabin, from which members can embark on a number of outdoor adventures, and over 30 miles of trails.
According to Kerry Oman, associate broker at Summit Sotheby’s International Realty, this lifestyle along with the ongoing pandemic has yielded a booming real estate market in Park City.
“Because of COVID-19, we’ve seen an increase in out-of-state buyers coming and spending longer periods of time or even relocating to Park City. The last 12 months in Park City has been phenomenal with unprecedented growth. The demand has
been extremely high and properties sell really fast,” Oman said.
Along with Promontory Club, Oman speaks highly of Glenwild Country Club, which is rated the No. 1 golf course in Utah, and Deer Valley Resort, one of the world’s best with breathtaking mountain views. The opulence of these resorts are juxtaposed with Park City’s small-town charm. Visitors can venture to Main Street for quality shopping, fine dining, and historic attractions. Both Messick and Oman reiterate that Park City surprises people with its beautiful summers and the accessibility of outdoor activities during the season, making it an ideal, year-round retreat.
Photos courtesy of Promontory Club.
This story originally appeared in Unique Homes Fall ’21 issue. Click here to see the digital version.
Chalets originated in Switzerland and other alpine regions and are best known for their wooden features, prominent eaves, and convenient proximity to ski slopes. These cozy yet high-end chalets have something for everyone.
The careful decor paired with ultimate comfort is ideal for a secluded vacation among the mountains and nature. The spacious rooms and added details are also perfect for entertaining family or friends.
Photo courtesy of Ultimate Luxury Chalets.
Photo courtesy of Ultimate Luxury Chalets.
Choose a chalet for a romantic getaway, a cozy family gathering, or an exciting stay away from home with friends.
Chalets usually offer stunning views of the mountains and easy access to world-class skiing, but it is becoming more and more common for chalets to include a pool or spa area as well. Whether it’s a hot tub, jacuzzi, infinity pool or other water feature, they are as luxurious as a resort. Outdoor pools and spas are nestled among the finest views, offering a truly serene experience.
Why Choose a Chalet
Chalets are great for entertaining family and friends. The spacious homes allow each guest to have their own privacy while keeping everyone together. The large rooms are perfect for relaxing after a great meal or a long day on the slopes.
Surrounded by mountains, nature, and most likely plenty of snow, chalets are a world away from the hustle and bustle. Whether you’re escaping the city or trying to reconnect with nature, the gorgeous views and surrounding wilderness is sure to impress.
Find Unforgettable Chalets Around the World
Options for chalets are plentiful, but these are the top locations that offer luxury and more.
Verbier, Switzerland
Les Gets, France
Courchevel Tourisme, France
Megeve, France
Oberlech, Austria
Aspen, Colorado
Davos, Switzerland
Photo courtesy of Ultimate Luxury Chalets.
Start planning your next dream vacation in a luxury chalet!
FOR ISLAND HOPPING FAMILIES
Kukui’ula
Kauai, HI
Located on the sunny south shore, Kahalawai #38, a contemporary home designed by Dean Sakamoto and Kelly and Stone Architects and inspired by the designs of mid-century Hawaiian modernist Vladimir Ossipoff, embraces the island landscape with spaces for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Why it’s a fit for the holidays: With warmer temperatures year-round, Kauai continues to be a popular family destination for the holidays. This home’s open floor plan allows families to enjoy their time together both indoor and outdoor. The ample outdoor space overlooking the lush landscape of the island makes for the perfect backdrop during a Thanksgiving meal with friends and family.
Montage Residences Kapalua Bay
Lahaina, HI
This fully-furnished 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom residence, which is currently on the market for $5,950,000, offers incredible sweeping ocean views.
Why it’s a fit for the holidays: Perched above the famed Kapalua Bay, Residence 1404 offers some of the best views at Montage Kapalua Bay with enough room to comfortably host and entertain the entire family. Additionally, the lanais offer prime viewing to Maui’s world-famous sunsets. The home is just steps away from a variety of activities for all ages including, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, or simply relaxing beachside. Groups of any size can also enjoy two world-class golf courses, hiking, walking and biking trails and so much more.
FOR FAMILIES AVOIDING THE COLD
Maravilla Los Cabos
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Casa Higuera is one of the only fully turnkey custom homes currently available at Maravilla Los Cabos, a private residential community situated between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez. The community spans both Las Viudas Beach and the renowned Santa Maria Bay, encompassing two of the few year-round, swimmable beaches in Cabo. The five-bedroom, 6.5-bath home features 4,059 square feet inside and 4,908-square feet of outdoor space, as well as a 951-square-foot garage.
Why it’s a fit for the holidays: Built with familial holiday celebrations in mind, Casa Higuera offer multiple spaces for entertainment. The full gourmet kitchens (both indoor and out) boast SubZero, Miele and Wolf appliances, along with a fire pit, barbecue and Kalamazoo pizza oven. The property’s private infinity pool features a floating dining palapa for al-fresco gatherings, while the home’s lower-level basement features a family room equipped with a full bath, 85” flat screen TV, shuffleboard and pool table as well as a walk-in 180-bottle wine cellar.
Montage Residences Palmetto Bluff
Bluffton, SC
Tucked into Montage Residences Palmetto Bluff is 119 August Lane. This charming three bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home priced at $1,889,550 is inspired by low-country architecture and features timeless, comfortable design inside and out. Among many features, this home allows for year-round living afforded by expansive porches and Carolina room with fireplace.
Why it’s a fit for the holidays: Ideal for multi-generational families, couples with young children and groups looking to entertain, the residence features spacious gathering areas, including an open living and dining room, expansive kitchen, Carolina room and a fully-appointed screened-in porch.
FOR FAMILIES WHO LOVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS
Nakoma Resort
Cilo, CA
Nakoma Resort is located in Northern California’s eastern Plumas County, a region known as the “Lost Sierra.” Surrounded by mountain peaks and the Plumas National Forest, Nakoma offers an escape from the traffic and crowds around Lake Tahoe. The modern resort is home to a minimalist 42-room Lodge, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Clubhouse, 18-hole championship golf course, Altitude Recreation Center, 12 Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired villas and Ascend Residences at Nakoma, a collection of mountain-modern homes.
Why it’s a fit for the holidays: The snow-capped Lost Sierra is your destination for family winter play away from the crowds. Ascend Residences offer open floor plans with ample space for entertaining family around the annual Christmas tree plucked from the surrounding landscape. Families can avoid the lift lines, whip down the tubing hill or jump on a fat bike to ride atop the snowy trails. Snow permitting, Nakoma will groom 2.5 km of cross-country ski trail steps from a crackling fire in the Wigwam Room. Families who want to explore further into the Lost Sierra can plan an adventurous snowmobiling tour.
Grand View Lodge
Nisswa, MN
Spread over 750 acres, Grand View Lodge offers a variety of private, luxury lodging options with cabins, townhomes, villas and clubhouse suites dotting the shores of popular Roy and Gull Lake. Owners and guests enjoy access to 2,500 feet of sandy beaches along two glacier formed lakes, several tennis courts, an indoor pool with waterslide, 54 holes of championship golf and the award-winning Glacial Waters Spa.
Why it’s a fit for the holidays: The Lodge becomes a winter wonderland during the holidays with ice skating, hockey, skiing and snowboarding nearby, tubing, sleigh rides, ice fishing and snowmobiling. There will also be an abundance of holiday festivities for families, including Santa Elf Tuck-ins, stories with Mrs. Claus, wine tastings and s’mores by the bonfire. After a long day of winter activities, families can gather together in their cabins near the fireplace to share gifts and spread some holiday cheer.
Skiingproperty.com acknowledges the Winter Olympics’ history in the French Alps by highlighting four essential ski resorts.
South Korea’s hosting of the 2018 Winter Olympics in February offered an opportunity to promote winter sports to the world while demonstrating the diversity of today’s skiing destinations, according to Skiingproperty.com.
“The Winter Olympics is always exciting and it will be no different in PyeongChang,” said Skiingproperty.com director Julian Walker. “This hugely popular quadrennial event was in fact born in the French Alps, specifically in Chamonix in 1924. It returned to France in 1968, to Grenoble, and then again in 1992, to Albertville. For those French resorts that were fortunate enough to participate, the Olympics helped put them on the map and have become an important part of their history.”
Les Arcs — Speed skiing
Part of the Paradiski ski area in the Savoie region, Les Arcs hosted the exhilarating speed skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics. The event involves skiing as fast as possible down a straight downhill run, such that competitors often exceed 200 kilometres per hour. The resort’s Olympic speed run, known as the ‘Kilometre Lancé’ (Flying Kilometre), is in the Aiguille Rouge area of Les Arcs 2000, where the slopes are especially steep. Pro speed skiers still use it today while the public can use it under supervision. Skiingproperty.com has new-build apartments in Les Arcs, available from €200,000.
Méribel — Ice hockey and Alpine skiing
Picturesque Méribel, a favourite with British skiers, is located in the centre of the vast Trois Vallées ski area, making it ideally placed for hosting two events at the 1992 Olympics — the ice hockey and women’s Alpine skiing. A legacy of this is the resort’s impressive indoor ice rink, the Patinoire Olympique, built for the Olympics and which now includes a swimming pool and restaurant. Skiingproperty.com has luxury property for sale in Méribel, including the newly built 4-bedroom chalets from €2.9 million.
Val d’Isère — Alpine skiing
Testament to the quality of the slopes around trendy Val d’Isère, the resort played a key part in the 1992 Olympics. Part of the Espace Killy ski area, which includes Tignes, the resort hosted all bar one of the men’s Alpine skiing events, including the downhill, super-G, giant slalom and combined. The resort’s famous Face de Bellevarde, a thrilling black run, was integral to these events and today remains a highlight of skiing at Val d’Isère. Skiingproperty.com has luxury off-plan apartments in Val d’Isere, available from €1.3 million.
Courchevel — Ski jumping and Nordic combined
Internationally exclusive Courchevel played its part in the 1992 Olympics by hosting the jumping and Nordic combined at its Le Praz (1,300) village. The Courchevel Valley also benefited from the creation of accommodation for competitors in the village of La Tania. Skiingproperty.com has new luxury apartments in Courchevel, available from €825,000.
Photos courtesy of SkiingProperty.com