Alta Peruvian Lodge

Utah’s iconic Alta Peruvian Lodge delivers a nostalgic European-style ski holiday experience, minus the frippery of many modern-day ski villages. Minutes from the Wildcat base of Alta Ski Resort, along Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, the vistas served up here, including the sun setting behind Mount Superior, are hard to beat.

Alta Peruvian Lodge is a former World War II nurses’ barracks that was hauled up the mountain in 1948, reconstructed, reconfigured and re purposed. If you’re all about five-star travel, the communal culture – eating on your own isn’t an option here – and kooky surrounds may not be to your taste. But if it’s life-long memories teamed with hearty, all-inclusive food and oodles of charm that you’re after, you know what you have to do.

The warm, open atmosphere at the Peruvian makes it ideal for solo travelers and small groups looking to get social, as well as families with children of all ages. It’s the kind of place where you meet people over breakfast, ski with them until lunch, then stay friends for years. If the little’uns get restless, there’s a game room complete with ping pong and foosball, plus an outdoor pool. Adults, rest your tired legs in the sauna and two hot tubs.

There’s a large living room featuring comfy couches and chairs, a fireplace to cosy up to, and a machine that makes coffee and hot chocolate. Need something a little stronger? We hear you. The bar on the second floor is a firm favourite amongst locals.

Alta Peruvian Lodge’s accommodation includes dorms, twin rooms with shared bath (but own vanity and basin), queen rooms with private bath, and suites. All have internet access.

If you’re anything like us you’ll have forgotten to pack at least one basic item. The rental and ski shop in the basement will soon see you right, selling everything from socks and toothpaste to jackets, gloves and other ski swag.

Book your next Utah ski vacation at Alta Peruvian and what starts as a one-off adventure could well turn into a life-long fascination. Testament that the lodge has struck upon the magic formula, some 75-80% of guests are reportedly return visitors.

One of just three skiers-only resorts in the US, Alta’s home to an excellent mix of terrain and loads of light-density snow, but not much in the way of shopping and restaurants. Prefer your skiing with a side order of skiing, washed down with more of skiing? You’ve found your snow Mecca in Alta Ski Resort.

Skiing Alta also means easy access to neighbouring Snowbird, which does allow snowboarders. The combined Utah ski spots were voted Skiing magazine’s #1 resort in the US for five consecutive years.