USA — There’s no better feeling like going inside to warm up after getting some quality laps in, followed by paying way too much for a soda. Across the country, several ski resorts added new lodges that allow guests to take a break from the slopes in a comfortable environment. Here are five ski resorts that opened nice on-mountain lodges this winter.
Please note these are not overnight lodges, so this isn’t referring to hotels like the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, which opened in November.
1. Hatley Pointe: While technically not a new lodge, the base lodge at Hatley Pointe underwent an impressive renovation, giving it a like-new appearance.
Some of the new features include a front desk with concierge services, several dining options, a rental shop, a retail store, fancy locker rooms, and a VIP lounge.
2. Brundage Mountain: The latest step in Brundage’s transformative ten-year development plan was the opening of a sleek new Mountain Adventure Center. While it’s a decently sized building (18,000 square feet), its low-profile design doesn’t spoil the views of Brundage.
Opened earlier this winter, the two-story building features a coffee shop, bathrooms, a rental/demo shop with new gear, a retail store, a tuning shop, a daycare, a new home for the Mountain Sports school, and an expansive locker room. It also has helped make accessing the slopes easier for drivers with a drop-off loop that’s located right next to the lodge’s front entrance.
3. Tamarack Resort: After being stuck in limbo for over a decade (Tamarack has had an interesting history) the Mid-Mountain Lodge made its debut this winter. Situated next to the top terminal of the Tamarack Express chairlift, the Mid-Mountain Lodge provides lots of seating and various food/drink options for guests. The food choices include soups, a noodle station, grilled foods, and grab and go options. There’s also a members-only lounge for The Club at Tamarack members.
4. Sundance Resort: For a long time, Sundance Resort was without skier services at the Jake’s lift. That changed in January when Sundance opened the Mountain Camp Day Lodge. The Sprung structure features classy interior touches, including reclaimed wood for the tabletops, and glass from the ski resort’s glassblower studio for the light fixtures.
This lodge features a ticket office, the headquarters for their snow sports school, rental shop, lockers, and ski patrol services. For dining, there’s the Mountain Camp Cafe, which features a cheap $5 breakfast daily special and an affordable $10 lunch daily special.
5. Snow King Mountain Resort: The modernization of Jackson’s local ski resort continued this winter with the partial opening of a new lodge at the summit. It opened with a fancy new restaurant. Called Aurora, this restaurant features artwork of the ski resort and the adjacent planetarium. Some of the menu items include Grilled Octopus, Bone-In Ribeye, Fondue, and Lamb Chops.
The building also has a coffee shop, which features hot/cold drinks and grab and go options. Some of the other amenities at this facility include public restrooms, an area for the ski school, and a ski patrol office. Another highlight is a rooftop deck, which gives breathtaking views of the Tetons. As mentioned above, parts of the facility opened earlier this winter, but the full facility is scheduled for its grand opening later this spring. This move follows the debut of a planetarium situated at the summit of Snow King, which opened last summer.
Image/Video Credits: Sundance Mountain Resort, Hatley Pointe, Brundage Mountain, Idaho News 6, Tamarack Resort, Snow King Mountain Resort
