Upping the Ante at Stein Eriksen Lodge

By Yeti Oct 25, 2018
Stein Eriksen Lodge not only raises the bar, but proves once again, how this venerable ski lodge invented it.
Upping the Ante at Stein Eriksen Lodge

For many, just uttering the words ‘Stein Eriksen Lodge’ evokes fairytale-like images of sitting inside a Norwegian-style chalet in front of a crackling fire while big, fat snowflakes blanket the ski slopes outside. And if you ski into Utah’s most well-known and beloved hotel on most winter days, chances are good the scene you’ll witness there will be just like that.

This winter, however, guests at Stein Eriksen Lodge are in for an unprecedented treat.
But while Stein’s owns the market on old-school rustic charm, all that rough-hewn coziness is consistently and amply balanced with the highest standards of service and super-luxe amenities. Just a few of the kudos received by the lodge recently include the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award, defining it once again, as Utah’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel and spa; the hotel’s Glitretind Restaurant was named Utah’s “best brunch” restaurant by the Food Network; and the World Ski Awards named the lodge the US’s Best Ski Hotel in 2016. As such it would be easy to think that the management at Stein’s might choose to rest on the lodge’s well-earned laurels, at least for a bit. 

This winter, however, guests at Stein Eriksen Lodge are in for an unprecedented treat: a showstopper, $14-million expansion that checks all the boxes from convenience and entertainment to luxury and multigenerational appeal.

For families, the biggest wow factor of Stein Eriksen Lodge’s expansion will likely be the Champions Club, a deluxe game room where parents will surely want to hang out in just as often as their kids will. This all-new 3,500-square-foot space is outfitted with modern and retro arcade games, including what’s billed as the “world’s largest” Pacman game; pool, foosball and air hockey tables; dual Skee-Ball; and a casual eatery serving beer and wine. Better yet, the space opens out onto a new plaza furnished with firepits where parents can settle in on comfy loungers while their kids roast marshmallows for s’mores.

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A close second to the impressiveness of the Champions Club is the lodge’s new pool area. Previously the property had just one pool, which Communications Manager Jessica Turner says was one too few. “We realized that offering a single pool for use by both our spa guests and families didn’t really offer either group the best possible experience,” she says. The new family pool—complete with a graded-slope entry, adjacent hot tub and waterfall feature—along with an expanded lounge area are located close by the first outdoor, heated pool (and the Champion’s Club), but far enough away to keep everyone happy. 

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The skier services area of the hotel was both expanded and reconfigured to better serve guests as well. Lodge guest locker rooms were moved to the same level as the rental shop—no more awkward clunking downstairs in ski boots! The same area still conveniently houses a Deer Valley Resort ticket sales counter and the all new Kaffe First Tracks, an espresso bar open through breakfast and lunch serving coffee, hot chocolate, house-made pastries, sandwiches and more.

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Finally, in a town known for hosting the Sundance Film Festival, the final component of Stein Eriksen Lodge’s expansion is the Freestyle Theater, a 56-seat screening room outfitted with a high-def screen and state-of-the-art sound system. Family-friendly movies—including the famous Warren Miller films—will be screened here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the winter season, while sports events like football will air in the space during the day. The theater is available for private events as well. 

If you’re already a Stein Eriksen Lodge devotee, rest assured: all the attention to detail that cemented the lodge’s worldwide reputation is still in place; things like how the housekeeping staff addresses guests by surname, two sommeliers tending to a 14,000-bottle wine cellar, rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and freshly cut evergreen trees placed in your room on request over the holidays. The Stein Eriksen Lodge experience is just as fabulous as it’s ever been. But now, it’s just a little better.

 

Words by Melissa Fields
Paid for by Stein Eriksen Lodge