I had booked my trip to The Lodge at Blue Sky in Utah in January 2020 for the fall. I was advised it was the best time to visit since I am not an avid skier. Little did I know Covid 19 would have other plans for this year. Always the optimist, I didn’t cancel my trip. I’m glad I didn’t. I’m not going to lie; I was a little nervous about flying but Jet Blue did a wonderful job with in flight social distancing; leaving the middle seat empty. The flight was not even half full which made me feel better.
I had heard from The Lodge at Blue Sky prior to my trip confirming I was still open to traveling, an informative packet of information summarizing the safety precautions they had taken to reopen the resort and instructions how my stay would unfold while staying safe.
The Lodge at Blue Sky is the perfect destination during Covid; if I can say that. It is set on 3,500 acres with three distinct areas for rooms with a total of 46 rooms in total. You have a choice of Sky Rooms in the main building, Earth Suites which are separate structures that easily connect for families and Creek Houses located at the bottom of the hill and are extremely private. All the rooms have the same design but each category has different features. For example, the Creek House have a fireplace and outdoor shower.
The Lodge has a contemporary ranch vibe. It sits built into a mountain with picturesque views. It’s about 50 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport. The design elements throughout are sleek and elevated, featuring natural woods, glass, local stone and leather. Thoughtful details in all of the rooms include backpacks and walking sticks for on-property hikes, as well as a curated collection of books for a quiet afternoon.
Always interested in the story behind the property, I was in awe of the owner, Barbara Phillips who took every detail into curating this establishment. Barbara began by rescuing horses that were left to fend for themselves on the property. Gracie was her first rescue, who I had the privilege to meet and spend some time with. Barbara then established the “Saving Gracie Healing Equine Foundation” named after her inspiration, Gracie. Barb has since rescued 24 horses and 30 cows. The other horses that were rescued are cared for and loved in a special way to help them heal and thrive. I have always been drawn to horses. When I was little, I took riding lessons and still love to be around them. Spending time with Gracie, Big G, Lincoln, Cole and Spartan and the other horses was a powerful interaction and much more than a ride.
When it comes to activities, there is no shortage and The Lodge. There is a Whiskey Distillery on site that I highly recommend visiting and enjoying a tasting. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is hiking, biking, fly fishing, yoga classes, painting, horseback riding, a tour of the farm and plenty of activities for the kids. Guests can also take part in both the 18-stand sporting clay course or a simulated drive. Winter activities include snow shoeing, cross country skiing and, since the lodge is located only 20 minutes from Park City, skiing at the nearby mountain resorts, as well as heli-skiing directly from the property. Guests are able to hike and bike around the ranch at their leisure. There are e-bikes and complimentary vehicles available for guests to take out and explore the area.
I started my stay with a sage bundling class. It began with a walk on the property where I harvested the sage that I desired. In the native American tradition, you leave a gift when you harvest. I left lavender. We then walked down the path by the creek to an open area set up for us to create our own sage sticks. There was a choice of white rose petals, lavender and other dried flowers. After gathering everything together, I wrapped the stick with a burnable twine and added a crystal of my choice. I then wrapped it up nicely in decorative paper to travel. The sage will take about 2-3 weeks to completely dry out but then it will be ready to burn. Before the class ended, my instructor Marie did a ceremonial closing. She burned a different sage stick and “smudged” me; which is moving around me as the sage burns and the smoke envelopes me. This clears away any energy that isn’t serving you. I then took the ashes that had fallen into a shell and released them back into the earth. It was a beautiful class and great way to be initiated to the resort.
My first night included S’mores by the fire and an outdoor movie. Projecting the movie on the side of the building gave everyone plenty of room to spread out and enjoy a sweet treat and the show!
I began my next day with a quick workout in the gym. The equipment was wiped down and cleaned by the staff. Only two people were allowed in the gym at one time. They provided masks, gloves and disinfectant wipes. After my weight lifting, I went on a 5-mile hike on the property. The morning sun and being surrounded by mountains and nature was peaceful and energizing at the same time.
I had time for a quick delicious breakfast before I had to be in the lobby. It was time to meet the goats! Marie took me down to the farm which is located at the bottom of the mountain. There I met Melissa who runs the ranch with her husband. I saw the gardens where the vegetables are grown, said hi to the chickens, gave a wave to the cows and then headed to the goats. I was a little nervous at first but Melissa and Marie made sure to let me know they wouldn’t hurt me. They said “they may nibble at your clothes but they won’t bite you”. You had to get into the fenced area quickly because they like to escape. All the goats were named after spices. Pepper, Lavender, Ginger and All Spice were all vying for my attention. Pepper actually jumped up on me like a dog would. She was very exciting. It was an incredible bonding experience. Ginger was a baby and so soft. I had to get a “gelfie” with her (get it…….a goat selfie)! After we said hello and chatted for a bit, Melissa said it was time to milk the ladies. Lavender was first. She hopped right up onto the stand and started eating while Melissa milked her. After the milking was finished, Melissa sprayed her with a conditioning spray for her coat and brushed it in. Next up was Pepper. I was too nervous to milk her but I did give her a conditioning spray and brushing. It was fun.
After an action-packed morning, it was time to chill and lay in the sun by the pool. The pool is beautiful and relaxing. How could you not relax swimming in an edgeless pool looking up at the mountains. There was a big temperature increase from my morning hike. When I went for my hike it was 48 degrees but by noon, it was 78 degrees with a nice breeze.
Yuta, the main restaurant, is farm to table, serving seasonal dishes and pays homage to native American cuisine. My meals were all so fresh and tasty. I loved the open kitchen concept and was encouraged to speak directly to the Chef about any dietary requests I needed. My first dinner at Yuta, the Chef was kind enough to send over a tasting of salmon filleted and octopus aqua chili and heirloom tomatoes with jalapeno and coconut yogurt drizzle. My main course was the short ribs. I highly recommend it, served with pureed potatoes, mushrooms and spinach. It was tender, tasty and so flavorful. Your server can recommend the perfect whiskey cocktail to pair with your meal. My server paired the Horse Thief with my short ribs. It was the perfect complement; a mixture of high west whiskey, crushed blackberries, ginger, a splash of Casamigos tequila, green chartreuse and a splash of lime juice.
The extensive wellness program encompasses specialty treatments, yoga, meditation, energy healing and sound bathing. There is also the option to have services in the privacy of your room if you don’t care for the spa. I had the pleasure of experiencing the “Back in the Saddle” deep tissue massage as well as an “The Alternative Energy Journey” at the Edge Spa. I first had the deep tissue massage which helped me relax my sore muscles from all the wonderful activities at The Lodge. After 15 minutes in the quiet room enjoying a light snack and herbal tea, I was escorted to my energy journey session. My session began with my energy healer guiding me into a state of meditation. She then tuned into my energy as her hands hovered over different areas of my body. After she completed this process, she shared the intuitive findings she discovered for healing my blocked energetic pathways.
During my stay, there were 3 weddings. There are many venues to choose from on the property. The backdrop and weather were perfect for one wedding party that chose to have their ceremony outside.
If you are looking for a getaway now or in the future, I highly recommend The Lodge at Blue Sky. Those looking for a high-design, extremely accessible retreat with excellent food, a contemporary aesthetic and many activities will love this experience.
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