How fancy US ski resort eliminates Aussie skiers’ biggest frustration
There is an obvious reason this American ski resort is a favourite among the rich and famous – and it wants Aussies to visit next season.
With its luxury accommodation and impeccably groomed runs, Deer Valley Resort has long been known among American celebrities and billionaires.
But the posh Utah ski resort – one of the most expensive in the United States – was thrust into the global spotlight last year when a 2016 ski crash involving Gwenyth Paltrow became a courtroom spectacle (The jury sided with Paltrow, awarding her a symbolic $1 in damages, as the star requested in her countersuit).
The ski-only resort is determined not to fade back to being a name mostly known only by Americans.
Marilyn Stinson, Deer Valley’s senior tour and travel/international manager, told news.com.au about 7 per cent of skiers at the resort are international visitors and she wants it to be double digits.
“I’d like to be 15 per cent,” she said.
The ski resort is expanding its reach, literally, too.
There is a multi-year project to almost triple its size and add a whole new base village.
The first phase – 874 acres of new skiable terrain and seven new runs – is expected to be introduced in the 2025/2026 winter season.
The complete expansion will see Deer Valley increase from 2026 acres of skiable terrain to 5726 acres, 103 runs to 238, 21 lifts to 37 (including a ten person gondola), and six mountains to ten.
How Deer Valley eliminates the pesky parts of skiing
It is no wonder why the rich choose to ski at Deer Valley.
The resort sets out to combat the not-so-enjoyable experiences associated with a day on the slopes, like waiting in long lift lines or lugging your ski gear back and forth from your hotel.
Hitting the slopes in February, it was the first thing this writer noticed.
“Where are all the people?” I found myself asking my ski instructor realising it wouldn’t matter if I had access to the Ski School express lane or not.
It was the middle of the week so I braced for the queues on the weekend, however, while there was certainly an influx of skiers and a longer wait, at no point was I really itching for the queue to move faster (with maybe the exception of the first chair lift away from the base village).
If anything, I was pushed to my limits having little time to rest between runs. I even felt comfortable enough heading up the mountain the morning of my flight home to Australia to get in a few last minute runs.
Deer Valley have an uphill capacity of more than 50,000 per hour – every lift loaded going up for an hour – but they generally only operate at about 50 per cent of that to give guests the best experience.
Steve Graff, vice president of mountain operations, said if skiers wait longer than nine minutes in any line then they consider themselves not doing their job properly.
In Australia, huge queues last season sparked debate about whether Australian ski resorts should cap the number of passes they sell.
Of almost 800 news.com.au readers who voted in a poll last winter, 94 per cent were in favour of the move, saying far too many people were on the slopes.
Deer Valley limits skiers on the mountain by restricting Ikon pass reservations and day lift ticket sales when it is reaching capacity.
Capacities are dynamic and are determined by taking into consideration weather, terrain available, food and beverage outlets, and historical visitor data.
A Deer Valley spokeswoman explained to news.com.au: “For example, this year we had so many pre-sales and reservations in the December holiday that we closed reservations and 1-day ticket sales over a month in advance.”
The Ikon Pass network, which Deer Valley is a part of, also includes Thredbo and Mt Buller in Australia, and Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt in New Zealand, among other destinations worldwide.
Access to Deer Valley is included on the 2024/25 Ikon Pass ($US1359 / about $A2120) for up to seven days and the Ikon Base Plus Pass ($US1219 / about $A1900) for up to five days.
A one-day lift ticket at Deer Valley can cost up to $US289 (about $440).
Remember when I said the resort wants to get rid of the pesky side of skiing? That includes offering complimentary ski and poll storage at the base area.
All guests at Deer Valley Resort-managed accommodation also have access to a complimentary on-call skier shuttle service to get to the base and back, and through a partnership with Range Rover, complimentary in-town transportation.
You can also find Ski Butlers at Deer Valley, who will fit you with ski equipment at your accommodation and pick it up once you check out – but this convenient service comes at a cost.
A highlight of the service is that they offer full support during the rental, meaning when my boots didn’t feel right after the first day I was refitted at the base of the mountain.
Another great add-on to your skiing experience is the option to ‘Ski with a Champion’ which going out for a ski with an Olympic snowsport athlete.
Deer Valley hosted the freestyle moguls, aerial, and alpine slalom events during 2002 Winter Olympics.
Off the slopes
Deer Valley recognises a trip to the resort is as much about the experiences guests have off their skis as it is about what they do on them.
There is the traditional cafeteria-style lunch (where you fill your tray with meals and sides and then pass through a check out) at Snow Park Lodge, Empire Canyon Lodge and the mid-mountain Silver Lake Lodge.
But there are also impressive restaurants like Silver Lake Lodge’s Royal Street Café or the 21 and over The Sticky Wicket upstairs. (Note: You will need your passport to get in no matter how old you look due to Utah’s strict drinking laws).
The bar celebrates ‘the Golden Era’ of skiing in a vintage atmosphere. If you opt to do the iconic Shotski (shots off a ski), a cow bell will ring as everyone watches and cheers you on.
At Empire Canyon Lodge, guests can find Fireside Dining, a unique next-level buffet dining experience serving up favourites from the European Alps like raclette cheese.
There are four stone fireplaces throughout the restaurant with chefs ready to serve the food when you approach. It costs $US110 (about $170) per adult.
While the ultra rich likely stay in the private mansions on mountain, which skiers can get a peek of while riding the chair lifts, Deer Valley offer a range of luxury accommodations for guests without a private residence.
If you are looking for a five-star ski-in ski-out hotel with a fancy room and butler service, they have you covered.
But even the lodges that require a short shuttle ride to the slopes like the Silver Baron Lodge (where I stayed), has small thoughtful touches to make guests feel special.
Silver Baron Lodge has a complimentary breakfast buffet, cookies and hot cocoa in the afternoon, and après-ski with complimentary afternoon snacks and beverages. Some rooms have private hot tubs.
While Deer Valley Resort itself has everything one would need for a holiday, it is certainly worth using the complimentary car service and venturing into Park City’s historic town.
You will catch plenty of people walking around in ski gear here because it is possible for skiers at Park City Mountain to ski right into Main Street and take a chair lift back up again.
Park City is home of the Sundance Film Festival, which attracts big celebrities to town every January.
But just a walk around Main Street and Park Avenue will have foreigners feeling like they are in a movie.
There are many galleries in Park City but you’ll even be able to spot a Banksy or three in the streets.
This writer was a guest of Deer Valley Resort and Alterra Mountain Company
Dire future for Aussie ski seasons
Even if damage is reined in, one of Australia’s key tourism drivers faces a bleak future, new research finds.
Detail that totally transformed family trip
A relaxing holiday with a child under five is a rare find – but this destination has managed to work out the magic formula.
Epic pictures Aussie skiers need to see
It is two months out from Australia’s ski season and our biggest resorts are celebrating the first snowfall for the year.