Competition for America’s most exclusive ski resort seems to get stiffer every year – and Deer Valley is upping its game. As an official venue for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City-Utah, the resort has big plans to shine in the global spotlight.
Luxury stalwarts of ski area, the St. Regis and the Montage, are both fresh off major renovations. And the resort’s Expanded Excellence initiative will refresh existing ski lodges, including mid-mountain Silver Lake and Snow Park Lodge located at the base, refine the on-mountain dining options, and invest millions in state-of-the-art snowmaking and grooming technology.
Deer Valley’s largest expansion of skiable terrain in resort history is also underway. An additional 2,900 acres serviced by nine lifts, including a gondola, and 110 ski runs will open in winter 2025/2026. Another 800 acres, seven lifts, and 25 ski runs will follow. Upon completion, the expansion will double the resort’s terrain and provide ski access across four new mountain peaks.
An ambitious new village and portal area, East Village, will anchor the new terrain. Skiers will be able to access existing terrain from the new village for the first time this season, with new parking and lift access into Bald Mountain. The area will be a bustling hub with a ski school and rental building, new restaurants and shops, luxury hotels, and more than 1,800 private residences. One of the most exciting additions is the Marcella Club.
Insider access and on-mountain living take on new meaning here. Members will have access to club services on the slopes, on Park City’s historic Main Street, and on Jordanelle Ridge. Membership will be restricted to just 500 people who own lots, costing from $750,000 to $8 million. There will be 150 ski-in, ski-out lots and the remaining will be at Jordanelle Ridge, home to the first mountain golf course created by Tiger Woods and his golf course design company, TGR Design. Development company, Reef Capital Partners, says this will be North America’s first world-class alpine village to be developed since 1981.
“The intimacy of our club sets us apart,” says the Marcella Club’s managing director, Beth Armstrong. “With just 500 members, we’ll have 250 per (golf) course. Most clubs host 395 to 425 members per course.”
Whether you’re a golfer who likes to ski, like Woods, or a skier who likes to golf, this is the ultimate investment. “There is no other place in Park City or the surrounding outskirts that is a ski-in, ski-out golf community,” says Armstrong. “We’re totally unique. Our members will actually be able to live on the mountain similar to the Yellowstone Club.”
Marcella Club also stands out for its unique partnerships. For example, members will have the opportunity to join Snow Society, an elite ski club that gives access to custom international trips, experiences with decorated athletes like Julia Mancuso and Chris Davenport, and VIP snow sports events.
Part-time Deer Valley resident Tonya Cumbee is already a member of the Deer Crest Club, and she’s also joined Marcella Club. “The club’s access to the new Deer Valley East Village and its high-touch ski concierge services are so appealing. It’s such an exclusive community of interesting people,” she says. “I know my membership will enhance my life. The overall feeling so far is excellence in all aspects of the operation.”
The ski-in, ski-out mountain lodge, designed by acclaimed Seattle firm Olson Kundig, will debut this ski season. Members and their guests will profit from the lodge’s concierge, an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub, pickleball courts, a fitness and yoga studio, a golf simulator, and a lounge and bar.
Members can also enjoy the amenities offered at Marcella on Main, walking distance to the Town Lift. “We know some of our families include snowboarders,” explains Armstrong. “Because snowboarding is not allowed at Deer Valley, we decided to offer this unique amenity in downtown Park City.” Marcella on Main will have a rooftop club and bar, private chef’s table, and a skiers’ lounge with a more casual restaurant and bar. Debuting this winter will be a French brasserie, Le Depot, and a coffee and pastry shop, Union Patisserie, both open to the public.
James Beard Award-winning chef Galen Zamarra, recently of the Lodge at Blue Sky, an Auberge Resorts property just outside of Park City, has been tapped to oversee the club’s food and beverage program. “Think lots of game, freshwater fish, all prepared in a New American style,” says Zamarra. “We will have many family-friendly venues, casual and fine dining options, as well as a strong private event program for entertaining both in the public spaces and private homes.”
In the Deer Valley East development, the private mountain lodge will offer complimentary pre- and après-ski snacks as well as poolside snacks. “We have planned a great beverage program here with a full bar, which will include a focused non-alcoholic beverage program, treated with the same effort as our traditional cocktail program,” says Zamarra. “We recognize how having creative, zero-proof offerings appeal to a growing number of drinkers and non-drinkers alike.”
“The Marcella Club is going to raise the bar for mountain member clubs,” says Armstrong, noting interest from Mexico, Hong Kong, and beyond. “It’s going to be a very exclusive group of global members who all share a passion for the mountains.”
