Where Living the “Best of Both Worlds” Dream is Reality

words by Melissa Fields

Tucked into a ruggedly picturesque valley just minutes from Utah’s best-known ski destination, Park City, is Red Ledges. This 2,000-acre, private community is renowned nationwide for its stunning setting, beautifully master planned layout and a friendly, laidback mountain lifestyle. Some of the impeccably operated amenities residents enjoy there include its 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, Jim McLean Golf School and the Cliff Drysdale Tennis School, an Equestrian Center and the nation’s first-ever Golf Park. But what definitively sets Red Ledges apart from other private mountain communities is how residents there can partake in Park City’s rich culture, dining and nightlife scene and bustling, world-class ski town energy and then, after just a minutes-long drive, can be back in their own, comfortable home with elbowroom to spare. Following are a few more ways Red Ledges lets residents live the “best of both worlds” dream.       

While Red Ledges’ is, by definition, a golf community, when winter arrives in Utah residents there revel in the community’s close and hassle-free proximity to Park City’s famously snowy slopes. Deer Valley Resort Deer Crest/Mayflower Base Area is just 15 minutes away from Red Ledges along the lightly traveled Highway 40. From there, the Jordanelle Express Gondola whisks skiers directly to the heart of Deer Valley’s award-winning runs in just seven minutes. (Though services at the Mayflower Base are relatively limited now, the development vision for that area calls for a half-dozen more ski lifts, three hotels and 250,000-square feet of retail space to be completed by the 2023–24 winter season.) What’s more, with advance reservations through Red Ledges’ concierge, residents can valet their vehicles at the The St. Regis Deer Valley Hotel, and enjoy refreshments, boot dryers and ski-in/ski-out access within the hotel’s Deer Crest Club Lounge during their ski day. Interested in experiencing Utah skiing beyond Park City? Robert Redford’s iconic Sundance Mountain Resort is just 25 minutes south of Red Ledges along the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway; Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton, Snowbird and Alta Ski Area can be reached within just an hour’s drive. 

Of course, winter in Utah is not all about downhill skiing. Red Ledges’ location gives residents stone’s throw access to three state parks, the Soldier Hollow Nordic skiing and tubing complex, the uber-cute Swiss-themed hamlet of Midway and dozens of award-winning dining options. And thanks to its proximity to the newly rebuilt Salt Lake City International Airport—just 45 minutes away—getting to Red Ledges from just about anywhere in the U.S. is a snap.

Fun Fact: At the heart of Red Ledges ski culture is its Ski Club, organized by the community’s Activities Director Stephanie Potempa, who leads weekly group outings to Deer Valley, including Rippin’ Wednesdays and Cruiser Thursdays. “Skiing is very popular here at Red Ledges,” Potempa says. “We actually have more skiers than golfers here. Our ski club and weekly ski groups offer skiers of all levels a great way to not only get together with friends on the mountain, but to get to know new trails and new resorts, to push limits, become more confident skiers and to learn all of the best spots to stop in for a hot chocolate and warm up.”  

In the winter, Utah’s “Greatest Snow on Earth” is, of course, not limited to the ski slopes. From December through March, Red Ledges’ 2,000 acres is transformed into a winter wonderland flocked in the lightest, fluffiest snow you’ll find just about anywhere. Residents make the most of winter by snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and hiking on property. The five-mile and open-to-the-public Red Ledges hiking, snow/mountain biking and horseback-riding trail connects directly to Heber Valley’s robust public single track trails system as well. And, of course, Red Ledges offers plenty of opportunities for residents to work on their golf and tennis games year-round, even when there’s snow on the ground. The Jim McLean Golf School features heated winter training facilities with a state-of-the-art golf simulator. Red Ledges’ tennis courts are enclosed in a bubble to keep the winter outside while the courts are being used and enjoyed. While the on-site Clubhouse’s enormous outdoor pool is closed in the winter months, many of its other programming is open year-round, including the Fitness Center—which offers group classes like yoga, Pilates, Zumba and ski conditioning; ample Kid’s Club activities; the outdoor hot tub; and dining and après ski at the Juniper Grill. Potempa also organizes frequent “off-campus” guided adventures for Red Ledges residents as well, including fly-fishing along the nearby Blue-Ribbon Provo River and snowmobile tours. “Our fitness classes are very popular with members,” Potempa says. “To allow social distancing during the pandemic, we’ve moved many of the classes from the fitness center into the tennis bubble where there’s plenty of room to space out.”  

Fun Fact: Red Ledges is situated at about 5,700 feet above sea level meaning that, in the spring the golf course is generally ready for play before the local ski resorts close, allowing residents the delicious same-day opportunity of skiing in the morning followed by hitting the links in the afternoon.    

Red Ledges encompasses 2,000 acres of some of Utah’s most compelling real estate—the ideal place to make the dream of living in the mountains a daily experience. There, building sites have been meticulously oriented to take advantage of the amazing mountain views of the 11,700-foot-tall Mt. Timpanogos. The options for building within this private community encompass a wide specification and price range. The design and construction process at Red Ledges has been streamlined by Red Ledges Homebuilding (RLHB), established to deliver an exceptional homebuilding experience for property owners while raising the level of value in this master-planned community. With a team of some of the best architects, designers and luxury home builders in Utah, RLHB offers the highest quality construction, effective communication and a highly personalized level of service throughout the process. So, instead of just dreaming about a mountain retreat where your family can make a lifetime of memories—with an in-house ski tuning room and patio hot tub with views of snow-covered peaks, of course—you can live it.

Fun Fact: The Red Ledges Equestrian Center provides residents with a variety of ways to enjoy horses, including guided trail rides, lessons, a boarding program for residents’ personal horses and even a horse-leasing program, allowing the joy of horse ownership without the full-time commitment.

From its inception, Red Ledges has pursued a mission of multigenerational appeal. There, even during these challenging times, a carefully nurtured communal atmosphere has thrived. Throughout 2020, Red Ledges residents were able to safely come together thanks in large part to one of this community’s most unique amenities: the Jack Nicklaus’ 12-hole Signature Golf Park—the first facility of its kind in the country. Sure, you can play a relaxed version of golf there, but the rules at the Golf Park are very un-golf like—dogs, frisbees and picnic blankets are all welcome there during the spring, summer and fall; during the winter, it becomes a popular sledding and dog walking venue for residents. The Golf Park is really one part golf, and three-parts sweeping communal open space where residents can emphasize the social part of social distancing. Other ways Red Ledges has maintained its unique sense of community during the pandemic include both live and virtual meetups and events, frequent communication with residents and thoughtful and reasonable protocols focused on both residents’ and staff safety.

Fun Fact: Family fun at Red Ledges’ is centered around the Village Center, equipped with a resort-sized swimming pool with a 144-foot, slide, playground, corn hole, ping pong tables, family-friendly dining and immediate access to the Golf Park.  

In short, Red Ledges checks all the living-the-mountain-dream boxes—including some you might not have known you had. Few other communities in Utah offer the unique advantage of bucolic, outdoors-immersed living with such immediate access urban and resort amenities. 

This post is sponsored by Red Ledges.