Blue Sky and Goldener Hirsch up the Posh Ante
Mixology Hour at Blue Sky Ranch
The new angle for luxury lodging: iconic. Start with something classic and already upscale—say, a Western ranch or a beloved Austrian-style inn—and branch out into even posher terrain. That trend is playing out locally with new, swanky lodging at Blue Sky Ranch and the Goldener Hirsch.
Since 2004, Blue Sky Ranch has welcomed guests to its 3,500 acres of gentrified cowboy experience in neighboring Wanship. Now, the whiskey-tipping, horseback-riding, yoga-breathing, fly line–casting outpost is adding bunks for city slickers—well, not exactly bunks. The Lodge at Blue Sky (27649 Old Lincoln Hwy, Wanship, 435.336.2646, bluesky.aubergeresorts.com)—the newest addition to the Auberge Resorts collection—features 46 rooms that marry clean, contemporary design with authentic Western experience. And we mean authentic. Folks can partake in a gen-u-ine ranch experience with everything from horseback rides and sporting clays to guided meditation, according to COO Stuart Campbell. Not to be missed is a tour of on-site High West Distillery. Dining and live music are also on tap. Giddyup.
Moving from home on the range to slope-side, Goldener Hirsch (7570 Royal St, 435.649.7770, thegoldenerhirsch.com/residences), owned by The Eccles family, is expanding from a relatively petite, Alpine-inspired inn to an additional five-story residence club. Architect Olson Kundig describes the new space as “a quiet building that feels like it’s ahead of its time and, in particular, of its place.” Located on the last remaining parcel in Silver Lake Village (formerly a popular Deer Valley Resort parking lot), this mountain-modern evolution is slated to include 40 condominiums, plus all the bells and whistles synonymous with Deer Valley: valet and concierge services, pool and hot tub, ski locker room, après-ski lounge, “konditorei,” and spa. A Bridge Plaza provides an outdoor gathering space and connects the inn and residences. The original 18-room “Hirsch” and its restaurant are closed for the summer but will reopen this December along with the new residences.
