GETAWAYS • Utah
Blending alpine chalet charm with sleek minimalist design, The Lodge at Blue Sky is an elegant retreat on a 3,500-acre private ranch that’s a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City’s airport. Though part of a larger hotel group (the Auberge Resorts Collection), the property exudes a warmth and intimacy — a reflection of the personal touch of its hands-on horse-loving owners, Mike and Barb Phillips. Their presence and care infuse the Lodge with a welcoming, home-like energy. It’s a place that feels personal, grounded, and deeply connected to its surroundings.
The low-slung equestrian-themed retreat blends into its mountainous landscape, offering 46 rooms, suites, and houses, which come wrapped in honeyed blonde cedar wood accented with local stonework. Soaring floor-to-ceiling windows lead to private terraces that offer panoramic views of the Wasatch Mountains, some with fire pits (ideally deployed for the house-made s’mores kit). Minibars stocked with complimentary Ritual Chocolate, bath products infused with mineral-rich salts from the Great Salt Lake, and even Coterie diapers for unpotty-trained guests further sweeten the deal.
The hotel proper, with its main lodge and New American signature restaurant Yuta, claims a comparatively small footprint on the sprawling property. Panning out, there are horse stables (Barb rescues neglected horses and other animals), a sheepskin-adorned yurt equipped with lavender and wildflower honey-laced hot toddies (in partnership with The Macallan), a sporting clay range, and even acclaimed whiskey-maker High West Distillery.
Food is a major focus here, with produce, eggs, and more coming from its own nearby Gracie’s Farm. Last year, the team debuted WildKitchen, a seasonal, open-fire dining experience available from May through October. At the heart of this setup is a custom-built grill (available for home purchase) and oven designed by British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, who featured an early version in his 2019 film The Gentlemen. The meal takes place under a tent about five minutes from the main lodge, where guests gather around a multifunctional dining table for an elevated twist on rustic live-fire cooking (like a souped-up take on Korean barbecue). There are also special events, like next month’s California kaiseki 12-course omakase with SingleThread Farms, visiting from Sonoma.
The resort also maintains an exclusive lounge at the base of the Silver Star chairlift at Park City Mountain, about a half-hour drive away. As an escape for skiers — or those simply seeking a peaceful mountain retreat — The Lodge at Blue Sky embodies the ultimate home-away-from-home destination. –Kat Odell
→ The Lodge at Blue Sky (Wanship, UT) • 27649 Old Lincoln Hwy • Rates from $2089/weekend night.