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At Alta, Snowpine Lodge is a new option that opened in 2019 in a beautifully remodeled historic building that has been a mining building, general store, and even a post office. Some of the original building's walls are still visible in parts of the lodge, but the hotel is crisp, bright, and modern, with warm, inviting common sitting areas that are unique on every floor, gorgeous curated artwork by local artists throughout, a full-service spa, game room, restaurant, bar, and outdoor pool and spa. Ski rentals and storage are available in the winter, and skiers need only to step outside the back of the resort to hit Alta's slopes. Because of its unfortunate opening just prior to the pandemic, the hotel feels even newer than its four years, giving those who've discovered it a sense of being the first to know. Still, everyone here seems just as enthusiastic to welcome guests to the property in its modern form as they are to share its deep connection with the region's past. Of course, Park City and its next-door neighbor, Deer Valley, are resorts that are synonymous with Utah skiing, and they await on the back side of the Wasatch Range. ough farther than the Salt Lake resorts found on the Wasatch Front, eager skiers catching the first direct flight out of San Diego can still easily be on their favorite run here well before lunchtime. Both have undergone or are undergoing massive expansions (the ski-only Deer Valley is in the process of adding 3,700 skiable acres to more than double its current size) that make these two the behemoths of Utah ski resorts, and with crowds swelling year-over-year despite lift ticket prices that rise in step, who's going to complain about more terrain to explore? Off the slopes, Park City's historic Main Street has always been the place to go for a true taste of mountain life, and it's as charming today as it's been in the decades I've been coming here. As this former mining town's one-time basecamp, Main Street offers a peek back in time, with historic buildings whose façades hearken to its wilder days. Dining options are abundant, as are boutiques offering everything from luxurious furs to kitschy souvenirs. And in some cases, old and new face off in oddly amusing ways. For instance, Burns Cowboy Shop, purveyor of Western attire and accessories, looks directly across Main Street to Alpine Distilling. ough Burns has a deep history here, operating for nearly 150 years, it's found new esteem as the hatmaker of many of those worn in the hit series Yellowstone, which was, in part, filmed locally. e hats are works of art, and after selecting the proper size and color, an associate will then customize each one for the perfect brim shape, hat band, decorative detail, and even add a brand so that every single one is destined to become an heirloom. MAIN Park City's 7,300 acres of skiable terrain make it the country's largest ski resort BELOW Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley was modeled after classic European alpine ski lodges RIGHT Burns Cowboy Shop on Main Street in Park City has been a source for Western wear and accessories for more than 150 years >> @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2023 123 EXTERIOR: PHOTO COURTESY OF UTAH OFFICE OF TOURISM BURNS COWBOY SHOP: PHOTO BY DEANNA MURPHY