Hotel Snapshot
Years back, as a techie living in San Francisco, I frequently flew between SFO and IAH to see family—always with a layover in SLC. It might sound crazy, but I always left a bit of time to take in the mountain views before boarding my next flight. Over half a decade later, I finally received a triumphant invitation to step out of the SLC airport and into the beautiful city and wilderness that is Sundance, Utah.
It's a breathtaking drive from the airport to the hotel—I would arrange for golden hour next time. As the mountains draw closer, the drive suddenly feels like a Lincoln commercial, navigating curving, elevated roads through heavily forested landscapes.
A glorious, golden hotel emerges from the mountain's steep valley—a facade of vertical sheets of reclaimed timber in a warm, natural tone. Their fleet of forest green Defenders made for quite an entrance, and the friendliest staff each made a point to learn something about you and share something about themselves.
Famously stewarded by Robert Redford beginning in 1969, his motto was to "develop a little, preserve a lot." This mindset gave rise to the jewel that is Sundance Mountain Resort. The cabins are filled to the brim with Hollywood memorabilia and Native American artworks, gifted by local tribes in recognition of Redford's preservation efforts.
At the turn of the year, the team proudly opened The Inn at Sundance Mountain Resort, a 63-room ski-in, ski-out property. The stories of friendship and collaboration within its walls are astounding—and inspiring to those looking to craft their own moments of self-discovery and new connection.
Design & Character
Stepping past the expansive veranda and valet through the double doors, their extensive curation of artworks and objects truly shines—akin to the adventurous refinement of Western RRL boutiques. The hotel is a celebration of Redford’s life and a monument to his legacy. One of the editors during our trip pointed out that every single employee has a personal connection to the hotel, the city, and has happily worked there for many years. Meeting the long-time President and General Manager, Chad Linebaugh, he was quite the almanac of serendipitous stories with star-studded guests and thoughtful design considerations.
The statuous architecture is credited to BSA Architects, and the soulful interiors to Fettle over a five-year period. The Inn draws on the original scale and seclusion of Redford’s cabin in the 1960’s, blended with the prior ownership’s Scottish heritage, and subtle nods to Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Taliesin West.”
The oversized footbridge is a special element of the hotel, placing you face-to-face with the softly rushing North Fork Provo River. This leads to the Living Room, which was intuitively the gathering space of our group. There’s a lovely breakfast in the mornings with yet another outstanding espresso machine, freshly squeezed energy shots, razor-thin charcuterie—along with their full breakfast menu at the table.
Stepping into my suite, I was baffled twice over for the room design—and the storybook view. The wooden patio and Adirondack chair, the babbling brook, and the quintessential bright-red ski lift leading to the top of Mt. Timpanogos at 11,000 feet.
The Rooms
With 63 ADA-accessible suites and rooms, the overall feeling is a familiar family home. There is a true sense of personality in the geometric carpets, ultrasuede walls, patterned daybeds, custom millwork, Palm Springs-reminiscent retro clock, and hand-blown glass—from the on-site studio with guest workshops.
There are clear nods to Western, Scottish, and 1970’s cabin design with views including: the stream, ridgeline, and Mount Timpanogos—the latter of which I wholeheartedly enjoyed.
Partnering with a sleep scientist, they refined the suite and room environments for a proper slumber. Not proud of it, but man enough to say it—I woke up with drool on my pillow after the first night. Thoughtful light automations with motion sensors as you step from the bed to the floor, and around from room to room, silenced appliances, herbal beauty products, layers of filter and blackout curtains, and A-list bedding.
The outdoor patio was such a delight. The sound of the stream, faint laughter from the ski lift, and walls and pillars of reclaimed wood offering a warm hug. For a moment, I was starring in a Redford blockbuster.
The Food & Drink
Holding a MICHELIN key across the entire resort for 2024 and 2025, there is an astounding variety of high-low options for casual-to-milestone moments.
The Tree Room features an original tree from the property, which has since died, and is restored as a centerpiece of the space and homage to Redford’s original vision. Along the walls were countless BTS images from Redford sets, and Native American artworks—in particular, a historically large hand-woven rug, which was sent twice out of the state and country for museum-quality restoration.
Amongst chatter of mountain adventures and personal stories, I enjoyed the rabbit confit with kumquats, duck Caesar with quinoa crisps, the famous Tree Room Pepper Steak—a legacy passed down from chef-to-chef—rounded out with a flight of fine chocolate squares by locally-owned Ritual.
The Foundry Grill is where you go for a hearty, square meal. Just arriving from Houston, this was thankfully our first stop. The table was overflowing with locally-sourced flavors, seasonally-inspired recipes, and that innate feeling of eating fresh, nourishing food within the wilderness.
As a workaholic, the in-room menu is of notable importance to me. The Italian club was my go-to on three occasions with sweet potato fries, of course. And the steak and eggs were the perfect dish while I was getting dressed and hyped up to hit the slopes with my private trainer.
The Amenities
This is first and foremost a ski resort with a world-class lift and slopes. There is a markedly intimate feeling, in comparison to large ski resorts, with many guests comparing it to European destinations, which I can only hope to visit one day soon.
With 2,600 acres of operational land and 5,000 acres including preserved land, there is an abundance of year-round activities. I had the pleasure of hiking the Stewart Falls Trail with snowshoes and a friendly tour guide who was highly educated on the evolution of the land and wildlife with city development. We followed tracks in the snow, learned about the fascinating biology of Aspen trees, and practiced our owl hoots unabashedly.
The spa was a much-needed reset. A humble bungalow with earthen materials, heavy robes with microsuede exterior and fluffy interior, African herbal tea, and a hot stone foot soak by the crackling fire. Meeting my masseuse, we talked about where I carry stress in the body—my shoulder and neck—and she diligently got to work with permission to use force. After completing one side, she wiggled me around to show me how loose vs. tight the sides of my body were, then balanced me out through the rest of the session.
Decades ago, my father was a jeweler, and I’ve always had a heart for the craft. In particular, indie and vintage creations. It was such a thrill to stop by the on-site Art Studio & Gallery for silversmithing. I couldn’t help myself, splurging on a sizable cuff with a dinosaur bone as the gemstone.
One of the greatest amenities at Sundance is the safety team. We had the honor of meeting the avalanche response team with a furry companion in training. They selflessly jump out of helicopters in precarious conditions, camp out overnight while offering life-saving aid, and we learned that recoveries that take humans hours and days can be completed in minutes with the canine’s olfactory system and hunting instinct.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Honestly, I never once thought about leaving the property—and didn’t want to leave when the stay ended.
The Inn sits at the base of Mount Timpanogos, roughly 45-minutes from Park City and Salt Lake, and 25 minutes from Provo. The setting feels considered—far enough from major cities to feel secluded, close enough to a major airport to feel accessible, and warmly hugged by the curve of the mountain.
The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway in the summer and fall, Bridal Veil Falls, and Cascade Springs are all within an hour for awe-inspiring hikes. Provo and Heber Valley are 25-minutes away from restaurants beyond the resort.
Fast Facts
Address: Sundance Mountain Resort, 8841 N Alpine Loop Road, Sundance, UT 84604
Vibe: Robert Redford's quietly influential Utah ski resort, thoughtfully extended with a 63-room new build that honors the original cabin scale and ethos
Rating: 5-star, MICHELIN Key 2024 and 2025
Starting Rate: $650
Room Count: 63 suites and rooms at The Inn, with additional cottages and cabins available across the broader resort
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Sipping espresso in the Adirondack chair on my patio, quietly taking in the river and mountain.
Amenities: The Tree Room (Forbes Four-Star), The Owl Bar, The Foundry Grill, Bearclaw Cabin mountaintop lodge, ski valet and Boot Room, The Art Studio & Gallery with silversmithing and pottery classes, The Spa at Sundance, sleep scientist–designed rooms, Bluebird Café concert series, ski-in/ski-out access, year-round snowshoeing, fly fishing, mountain biking, and ZipTour
Nearby Attractions: Mount Timpanogos, Stewart Falls Trail, Alpine Loop Scenic Byway (seasonal), Bridal Veil Falls, Provo (25 min), Park City (45 min), Salt Lake City (45 min)
Airport: Salt Lake City International (SLC)
Sundance, Utah, United States
