Deer Valley Resort has cultivated a reputation among ski aficionados as an upscale mountain, where daily capacity is capped, lift lines are modest, snowboarders still aren't allowed and "hosts" are stationed across the mountain to answer questions and provide directions.
But coming soon, the Park City, Utah, resort will have another calling card: its size and diversity of terrain.
Last month I had the opportunity to see the first open sections of the resort's East Village, a massive expansion area of more than 3,000 acres that will more than double Deer Valley's skiable terrain and make it the fourth-largest ski area in the U.S.
The East Village opened on Jan. 1 with two lifts and a handful of slopes, then added a third lift later in the month. Currently, 20 East Village slopes covering more than 300 acres are open and accessible from the rest of the resort via a lengthy extension to a beginner run called McHenry. A new, six-seat bubble lift with heated seats called the Keetley Express serves as the launching point for skiers to return to Deer Valley's main Snow Park base.
Carved East Village slopes that are set to open in the coming years will widen the variety of runs at Deer Valley, which now is known mostly for its intermediate terrain. Photo Credit: Robert Silk
New runs and lifts on tap
Much more terrain is slated to open next year, including nearly 100 new runs, along with a gondola and five other lifts. Phase 3 of the expansion, the date of which is not yet determined, will include eight more lifts and 800 more acres of skiable terrain.
The slopes on much of that unopened terrain have already been carved and are visible from the East Village base and from the Keetley Express. Though it has its share of challenging black runs, Deer Valley has a reputation as an intermediate-catering mountain. As I rode Keetley, my mountain guide, Colleen Chytka, pointed toward the steep pitch of many of the tree-carved expansion runs and noted that they'll diversify the terrain, adding appeal for expert skiers.
Sitting in clear sight of some of those nascent runs is the new Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, which opened at the base of the East Village shortly before Thanksgiving, with 381 traditional rooms and suites as well as 55 condominium-hotel residences.
The new Grand Hyatt Deer Valley sits just below the slopes at East Village. In front of the hotel is the construction site for a Four Seasons hotel. Photo Credit: Robert Silk
One afternoon, marketing director Jarrod Finley took me on a tour of the property. He highlighted some of its fun dining and entertainment offerings, including the Hidden Ace lounge, a windowless room that has a performance stage and the feel of a classy, old-time nightclub.
At the Double Blacks coffee shop, I was able turn a selfie from my phone into a foam art imprint atop my hot chocolate, courtesy of a specialized 3D printer. Pretty cool.
For lunch we went to The Lounge at Remington Hall. Finley described the cuisine at the casual lunch bistro and at the adjacent Remington Hall breakfast and dinner space as "internationally inspired and locally sourced."
In front of the Grand Hyatt, construction is also underway on a Four Seasons. Both will eventually be joined at the East Village base by other hotels, more than 1,000 residences and more than 300,000 square feet of retail, commercial and recreational space.
As the ski area expansion comes to fruition, one of my biggest questions is whether Deer Valley will be able to maintain the personal touch that is among its biggest differentiators.
When I posed that question to Chytka, she told me that the mountain is overstaffed this year by design, all the better for easing next year's much larger ramp-up.
Riley Elliott, a Deer Valley spokesman, said that offering a luxury experience was the vision of mountain founder Edgar Stern.
"With how fast we're growing, we want to make sure that isn't lost," he said.
The cozy lobby at The Lodges at Deer Valley. Photo Credit: Robert Silk
High-end mountain dining
In the meantime, on my hosted visit to Deer Valley I was treated to several of the luxury experiences the resort already has on offer.
An especially exciting offering is Ski With a Champion, in which guests can ski with one of seven Olympic or Paralympic athletes. My champion guide was four-time Olympian Ashley Caldwell, who won a gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in the mixed team aerials competition. The service starts at $1,470 for a half day. If that's too pricey for clients, every Wednesday morning one of the Olympians joins a free Mountain Host tour.
Off the mountain, I enjoyed a mix of upscale dining. One highlight was a six-course Andalusian meal prepared by Michelin-starred chef Paco Morales and served at Fireside Dining, where on more typical nights, the giant fireplaces are used for fondue.
That dining experience was an installment of Deer Valley's Taste of Luxury series, in which decorated guest chefs prepare prix-fixe meals that are carefully paired with wines.
My favorite meal that week was at the upscale Cast & Cut seafood buffet within the Snow Park Lodge, highlighted by an extensive raw bar.
During my Park City visit, I stayed at The Lodges at Deer Valley, a midsize property a short shuttle ride from the mountain. It has a combination of standard units and multiroom apartments as well as a general store, The Brass Tag Italian restaurant and cozy public gathering spots.