While Utah’s reputation as a destination for recreation is nothing new, its resort communities have long lagged behind places like Vail or Jackson in terms of available luxury amenities. That may be changing in some corners of the state since the pandemic, according to Big-D Signature Group President Michael Kerby.

The state’s resort communities were already experiencing a growth trend when Covid-19 hit, Kerby said. With the pandemic encouraging people to spend more time outdoors while seeking space and distance from other people, interest in communities like Park City boomed.

“We refer to it as the mass migration to mountain communities,” he said. “There was probably two to three months of pause wondering where this was going ... and then the sales kicked off from there—everything from single-family homes to condominiums. And that continues today. Even with a recession lurking, we’re not seeing a slow-down yet in the resort communities.”

And it isn’t just that the total number of projects is increasing, Kerby said—the dollar amount of the average project in Park City or around Utah’s resorts has also increased. Some of that is due to the increased cost of materials, he said, but the expectations around materials and amenities have also increased.

“Utah has always done a good job of trying to maintain family accessibility, but we’re finally catching up to the Vails and Aspens,” Kerby said.

Digging Down, Building Up

One of the projects that typifies this trend, he said, is the recently completed Talisker Club expansion and residence tower addition. The $42.7-million project, which Big-D kicked off in July 2019 and completed in December 2021, saw the addition of a six-story residential tower with 14 ultra-high-end, custom condominiums. Big-D also expanded the club’s fitness area, dining room, and lounge; renovated the commercial kitchen and the children’s area; and added a new lap pool, two spas, and a water feature.

The Talisker Club, an exclusive, members-only private community in Park City, was already unique for the area in terms of the amenities and activities it offered, according to Ryan Bulloch, Project Manager for Big-D Signature on the Talisker tower. But the quality of the construction that went into the new residence tower and expansion was unparalleled for the area—even before the condo owners got involved and began to request customizations. 

Some of the condo owners requested humidified or dehumidified areas for wine and other storage. Others from low-elevation areas had oxygen systems installed to prevent altitude sickness. And the penthouse unit at the top of the tower asked for radiant heating in their patio so they wouldn’t have to shovel to remove snow.

On top of this, Bulloch said, Big-D had to surgically remove the club’s existing fitness center and restaurant to rebuild and upgrade them. They also added a spa on the second floor with completely different finishes than those used in the rest of the building, and the overall quality and craftsmanship that went into every aspect of the project, Bulloch said, had to be exceptional.

The actual construction of the project, he said, also spanned the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought additional challenges alongside the level of craftsmanship and the project’s location.

“It was an awesome project, but really tough conditions,” Bulloch said. The team had to dig down 30,000 cubic yards of dirt to essentially cut the tower into the side of the mountain, working with a short season and winter conditions and drawing an enormous amount of man hours for a single structure. But ultimately, he said, he believes the team succeeded in delivering something “that’s different from anything else you can find in Park City.”

The Talisker Club Expansion and Residence Tower showcases the level of high-end finishes and vast amenities that are becoming more common in resort living (photos by Endeavour Architectural Photography).

The Snake Creek Lodge at Brighton is a resourceful design using two yurts connected by a pair of shipping containers to provide a small day lodge midway down the Snake Creek Run (images courtesy Big-D Signature).