One- and two-bedroom cabins offer woodsy privacy at One&Only Moonlight Basin.
Skiers and snowboarders have been flocking to the slopes in record numbers ever since the pandemic, with the last three winters being the three biggest in history. Several major resorts, including Aspen, Big Sky and Keystone, have responded with new high-tech lifts, gondolas, trams and significant terrain expansions, accompanied by a wave of luxury hotels. This is a huge winter for new lodging, and there are more great choices at some of the nation’s most desirable ski resorts than ever before. Here, we spotlight our top four picks for slopeside haute hospitality.
Moonlight Basin is One&Only’s first mountain property and has a gondola that brings guests to the mountain’s main lifts.
One & Only Moonlight Basin, Big Sky, Montana
America’s second-largest ski resort has added the world’s first mountain property from One&Only. The new hotel sits just below the Madison base in Moonlight Basin, the latest area of the mountain to be developed. This side is less crowded than the main base, and the One&Only has its own short gondola that ferries guests to the Madison lifts. The property features a state-of-the-art wellness facility and spa with indoor pool, hot and cold plunges, steam, sauna, and a vast array of treatments. Accommodations are a mix of hotel rooms and suites, as well as contemporary one- and two-bedroom freestanding luxury cabins and larger private homes. There are multiple dining options; the highlights are a signature namesake eatery from acclaimed Michelin-star chef Akira Back, and the Prohibition-inspired Whiskey Shack, hidden in the nearby woods.
The lobby at the White Elephant Aspen is contemporary in design with a nod to the town’s mining roots.
White Elephant, Aspen, Colorado
The original White Elephant has been Nantucket’s most famous and venerable luxury hotel for over a century. In 2020 the ultra-boutique brand expanded to Palm Beach, and in February a third location will debut in Aspen. It sits near the Hotel Jerome in the heart of town, near many of the best restaurants and shops. Taking a contemporary approach to Aspen’s Victorian mining town style, it features custom leather furniture, lots of hand-rubbed brass and copper, clay-washed Italianate walls, and carefully chosen fixtures. Aligned with the other locations, there is an extensive collection of original artwork, more than 125 pieces throughout the contemporary-designed space. There are ample guest ski lockers with boot and glove heaters, private shuttles to and from the slopes, and a house car, including complimentary airport transfers. Many of the 54 rooms feature private balconies: The finest is a 1,660-square-foot three-bedroom Penthouse Suite. Fitting the brand’s New England roots, the signature eatery, LoLa 41, showcases fresh seafood and sushi.
The cozy living room in one of Kindred’s three-bedroom suites.
Kindred Resort, Keystone, Colorado
One of the closest major ski mountains to Denver, Keystone was likely the most visited resort in the country without a luxury ski-in/ski-out hotel—until this season. The new Kindred Resort is a sister property to the acclaimed Arrabelle at Vail Square, a combination hotel, residences, and membership club, with rooms and residences available to overnight guests, who also enjoy club amenities, from coveted valet parking to VIP ski concierge. But the biggest appeal is the unbeatable location right at the main lifts. Last winter, Keystone had one of the biggest terrain expansions in the country, opening 550 acres of amazing above-treeline bowl skiing with a new high-speed six-passenger chair. It is also very close to Breckenridge, the second-most visited ski resort in the nation, sharing a lift ticket. Kindred Resort is now the top lodging choice at either resort, making it ideal for skiers and snowboarders who want to experience two big mountains in one stylish trip.
Limelight Mammoth leans toward a highly social vibe.
Limelight Mammoth, Mammoth, California
Another large US resort that lacked top-shelf lodging, 3,500-acre Mammoth now has the newest member of the Limelight family, the hip mountain brand from Aspen Skiing Company. The new hotel has nearly 150 rooms and suites, including fun and unusual bunk- equipped rooms for families with small children, plus 15 more opulent residences. It sits near the Village Gondola, within walking distance to many shops and restaurants, and also offers complimentary transportation to the other Mammoth base areas. Continuing the Limelight tradition of a high-energy “living room”–style lobby with live music, cocktail bar, and daily après specials, the hotel has a highly social vibe. It also features a full Therabody recovery suite with massage guns, recovery compression leg boots, vibrating wave rollers, and smart goggles with red light therapy, in addition to a very well equipped (Peloton, Tonal, etc.) fitness center. The ski valet doubles as an adventure outfitter and is stocked with loaner snowshoes and bikes.
