NYNext Information to: Ski Journey
Positive, everybody from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos to Prince Harry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been frolicking within the snow — or lack thereof — in Aspen in current weeks, however different boldfaces are trying past the same old winter locations in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Switzerland.
New — and newly invigorated — ski resorts close to and much are attracting energy gamers and celebs with recent powder and recent perks, from luxurious golf equipment, non-public mountains and Michelin-starred cooks.
Take a look.
Denali Nationwide Park, Alaska
Key gamers: In 2019, Julia Roberts reportedly took husband Danny Moder to this ultra-isolated resort to rejoice his fiftieth birthday. Reachable solely by helicopter, it sits within the shadow of Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak and beforehand often known as Denali, on a 33-acre nunatak deep inside a nationwide park.
“There isn’t a different approach to expertise the mountain until you’re prepared to pitch a tent, eat freeze-dried meals, and survive the weather,” proprietor Marne Sheldon advised NYNext. “So we put you in a wonderful 2,000 square-foot chalet, with a chef getting ready gourmand meals, heat and fluffy down beds — all of the options that you’d discover at any ski resort, after which some, within the essentially the most attractive place on all of Earth.”
The land itself is a part of the legend: Sheldon’s father-in-law, Don Sheldon, a bush pilot and surveyor, claimed the location beneath the Homestead Act a long time earlier than Alaska achieved statehood and the world grew to become a nationwide park.
Constructed to understand Don’s imaginative and prescient of a real refuge on the fringe of the world, the chalet spares no consolation. The 2-story, hexagonal lodge hosts simply 5 bedrooms (10 company max), a rooftop sauna and a kitchen run by Neil Younger’s former private chef. Each keep is an entire buy-out, with nights priced at $32,000.
Two resident mountain guides tailor each keep — from heli-skiing and glacier trekking to fly-fishing — and few locations on earth supply a greater seat for the aurora borealis.
Fljót Valley, Iceland
Key gamers: Former Blackstone actual property govt Chad Pike opened this distant spot in 2016 — it’s one among eight lodges all over the world operated by his Eleven Expertise, a luxurious journey journey firm. In Might 2025, Justin Bieber reportedly spent per week right here recording music and having fun with the gorgeous surroundings.
Set close to the Arctic Circle on a former sheep farm, Eleven Deplar presents excessive terrain with out even a semblance of crowd. Company are ferried by helicopter to untouched runs — huge snowfields stretching all the way in which to icy Atlantic waters. The ski season lasts effectively into June, at which level the solar doesn’t set a lot earlier than midnight.
Adventurers also can decide to go snowmobiling or attempt Arctic-surfing. Extremely-thick wetsuits can be found on-site.
The luxurious inn options simply 13 visitor rooms, one restaurant and a geothermal spa.
Given the terrain, the resort might be greatest suited to knowledgeable skiers who don’t thoughts a little bit of a drive. The outpost takes four-hours to achieve by automotive from Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, or two-and-a-half from Akureyri, a regional airport.
Most winter weeks are booked up years upfront.
“It appears day by day goes to be the most effective day ever, even on days we thought we knew what to anticipate,” one reviewer wrote.
Hokkaido, Japan
Key gamers: Japan’s ski scene is booming. Niseko, a mountain city on the nation’s idyllic northern island, has drawn comparisons to Aspen and St. Moritz and attracted celebs corresponding to Hugh Jackman and Sam Neil, in addition to builders corresponding to Malaysian billionaire Francis Yeoh and Charlerm Yoovidhya, the Thai billionaire and co-owner of Pink Bull GmbH.
Whereas there are a rising variety of upscale motels, the six-star Seasons Assortment Niseko on the quiet aspect of Mount Niseko-Annupuri stands aside.
To succeed in the one-of-one non-public property, you ski by means of the timber on the little-known Seasons Chairman’s Run. You’ll be able to’t miss the multi-level villa, and also you shouldn’t miss its in-house Michelin-starred chef.
The lodge, which appeared in Netflix’s “The World’s Most Wonderful Trip Leases,” additionally boasts a house theater, indoor heated swimming pool and 1,000-bottle wine cellar.
“With [all that], you won’t wish to hit the slopes,” one reviewer wrote.
Windham, NY
Key gamers: Hospitality gurus Kemmons Wilson Jr. — inheritor to the Vacation Inn empire — and Sandy Beall — founding father of Tennessee’s five-star Blackberry Farm — acquired the beforehand low-key ski space in 2023. They’ve spent $70 million remodeling the as soon as humble Catskills spot into a personal, amenities-packed membership.
Members pay $200,000 to hitch, plus $9,000 in annual dues, for early entry to “first tracks” on the mountain, which had surprisingly good snow (for the East Coast) final season and this previous December. Whereas components of the mountain are nonetheless open to the general public, there are members-only carry strains, non-public locker rooms, valet service and unique eating choices, together with a steakhouse and 15-table sushi restaurant.
New boutique motels like The Henson — which contains a vacation spot restaurant, Matilda, from the crew behind fashionable Wildair on NYC’s Decrease East Facet — add to the upscale vibe.
“Can we beat Vale or Aspen or Jackson on snowboarding? In all probability not,” Beall advised NYNext. “However, we’re operating an elevated resort — we are able to beat them on meals and beverage, on hospitality, on expertise.”
Dolomite Mountains, Italy
Key gamers: In years previous, everybody from Tom Cruise to Prince Albert of Monaco have stayed on the storied Rosa Alpini, which dates again to the Thirties. This previous summer time, after a two-year, $69-million renovation designed by famous architect Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston, the historic resort reopened because the Aman Rosa Alpina.
“This new chapter with Aman is one thing we strategy with nice pleasure, because it brings collectively our historical past with a shared imaginative and prescient for the longer term,” Hugo Pizzinini, the resort’s managing director and co-owner, advised Journey + Leisure.
Tucked within the quaint village of San Cassiano, the resort is only a quick stroll from the Piz Sorega gondola and the adjoining mountain, elevation 6,565 toes. Snowboarding occasions within the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics might be happening about an hour’s automotive trip away in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
A few of unique Rosa Aplini’s charms — such because the longtime piano participant and the ski butler, who can assist newcomers navigate the mountain’s terrain — stay. Aman did away with different options, together with the previous three-Michelin starred restaurant, Hubertus, in favor of a extra relaxed grill, with standout objects together with cotaletta alla Milanese and Piemonte rib-eye steaks.
A refurbished spa boasts two out of doors infinity swimming pools, a heat thermal bathtub and a lap pool. The resort will prepare for helicopter switch from the native airports in case you don’t wish to drive the twisting mountain roads.
Park Metropolis, Utah
Key Gamers: The favored mountain has reportedly drawn visits from everybody from Taylor Swift and Gwen Stefani to the Kardashians — however lately, it’s maybe been greatest often known as the place of birth for an alleged accident that landed Gwyneth Paltrow in court docket.
Deer Valley beforehand ranked because the fifteenth largest ski resort within the nation with over 2,000 skiable acres, however, previously 12 months, it has added ten new lifts and greater than doubled in dimension. The outgrowth, dubbed “Expanded Excellence,” brings the mountain to 31 lifts, 202 runs and 4,300 skiable acres.
Lodging enlargement lags behind mountain enlargement, so this winter could be one of many least crowded in Deer Valley’s historical past. Come 2026-27, the present five-star choices — Montage Deer Valley and Stein Eriksen Lodge — might be joined by a 4 Seasons, which is presently beneath development.
Regardless of all of the adjustments, a minimum of three of the resort’s hallmarks stay. Deer Valley nonetheless caps each day capability to handle crowds, snowboarders are nonetheless banned and day classes with an Olympian can nonetheless be had for about $3,000.
“This isn’t a reinvention,” President of Deer Valley Resort Todd Bennett advised NYNext. “It’s an enlargement of what has labored effectively — we’re persevering with with that.”
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Wolf Creek, Utah
Key gamers: Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings acquired Powder Mountain in 2023 and began growing this $300 million semi-private housing group on it shortly thereafter.
Whereas public skiers can nonetheless use a lot of the mountain, proudly owning a Powder Haven dwelling — costs start at round $2.5 million — unlocks entry to unique lifts and uncrowded, un-groomed strains reserved for members.
This winter marks the primary operational season of the mountain’s non-public aspect with the debut of the Primetime carry. It’s opened roughly 1,200 acres of north-facing powder within the mountain’s newly expanded Davenport territory.
That’s only the start. Two extra non-public lifts are set to open within the coming years, and a 73,000-square-foot members-only summit clubhouse with an in-house gymnasium, omakase, heated out of doors pool and pickleball courts is presently beneath development.
With a lot to supply, it’s no shock that Hastings bought almost all 39 build-ready tons earlier than a single street was paved. Thirty-four further customized homesites at the moment are accessible, with common itemizing costs round $4 million.
“The demand has been large,” he advised Robb Report.
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