The Town Lift is like the road less traveled, or in this case the lift less ridden.

Correct me if I’m wrong (comment below) but aside from the Gondola at Telluride, Park City is the only town that has a lift which leaves from within the town and ascends to the slopes above. It seems all other resorts I know of have a base area that is separate from the town where lifts begin.

So it was that this past Monday found me headed to ski the afternoon at Park City Mountain Resort  with family. Since they were already on the mountain I considered my options of how to meet up with them.

Since they were skiing the upper mountain area of Thaynes and McConkeys and said that Payday was quite busy in addition to the parking lots looking full, I schemed up a plan.

I had the idea to try the Town Lift, the only lift of any of the three Park City area resorts (The Canyons, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort) that I had not ridden. I’d driven under the town bridge hundreds of times but never slid across it nor ridden above the houses of Old Town. Today would be the day.

Getting to the Town Lift is easy. You can walk if you’re fortunate to be staying in town, particularly if you’re at the Empire #1 3 bedroom home that sleeps 8 which is nearly ski in ski out to the town lift.  If you’re elsewhere in the Park City area take one of the many free town buses that service all of the Utah Vacation Homes’ Park City lodging options.  Or if you’re driving in like I was you could be lucky enough to score a great parking spot on Park Avenue just a block from the lift.

As I walked up the lower main street plaza there were a handful of skiers and snowboarders with a few more skiing across the bridge from the mountain. It felt like a private ski resort and the afternoon sun had many sitting on restaurant decks enjoying a respite from the skiing.

Rising above the streets and houses of Old Town, the Town Lift starts from lower Main Street and terminates near the bottom of the Bonanza Lift. It’s a “short cut” to the upper mountain for those in the know. At 10 minutes the ride goes by quickly enough to enjoy the unique vistas and old mining relics along the way.

When your day is done, head down the mountain on runs like Creole and Quit N’ Time which descend from the Payday area. They are east facing runs so on sunny days when the sun has set behind the hill they may be a little icy. On snowy days your chances are good that you’ll score one last powder run before sliding across the bridge into the plaza.

Years ago I remember popping into the old Watson Shelter at Alta to grab a drink and to allow a buddy to de-fog his goggles. It was a low key ramshackle of a place but the vibe was pure and the feeling one of a true skiers hang out. Indeed, it was a shelter, not a lodge.

So when Alta determined that they’d tear down (they burned it, actually) the old Watson’s and rebuild it they had a lot to consider given the history of Watson’s. But it seems that the only thing remaining from the old to the new is the name. Everything else is improved, including the views.

Moving the location of the shelter just 50 yards to the east gives Watson’s Shelter a commanding view of Mount Superior and the peaks of the central Wasatch Mountains. On a sunny day, this Europeanesque view is unmatched in Utah as a place to relax, have a meal and enjoy the company or quite serenity of the mountains.

The Food

The prices at the Watson Shelter are roughly the same as the other offerings at Alta but the views can’t be beat. There are two options at Watson Shelter; the first is the Collins Grill which is sit down restaurant style. The menu for the Collins Grill can be found online. They have daily specials in addition to the menu.

The other option at Watson Shelter is the cafeteria style which despite the visual “cafeteria” may create the food is good by any standard. I had the Baldy Burger which is one of the biggest burgers I’ve ever eaten. Think everything on it, everything. Add to that a bucket of fries which can easily be split between a few people and you’re set. Two Baldy Burgers and a med bucket of fries set me back $21. While not cheap like McDonald’s it’s worth the stop.

The Sundance Film Festival has once again come and gone from Park City. But not to worry, the dates for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival have been announced - January 15-25, 2009.

This year, like last, seemed like it was bigger and more widely attended. Crowds were big, parties even bigger and the stars were seen throughout the festival. True to form, it also snowed like crazy during the festival which is something locals look forward to each year as Sundance seems to usher in a solid string of storms.

Although Park City is still the headquarters for the festival, some screenings have migrated to Salt Lake City where the Beehive Cafe acts as the HQ for Salt Lake screenings and festival info. The Kimball Art center (known as the Sundance House during the festival), located on Heber Avenue just steps away from Historic Main Street in Park City, is the place to be to get all the info.

Lodging for Sundance

One of the things that can make or break your visit to Utah during the Sundance Film Festival is getting the right lodging, especially if you’d like to catch some films in addition to some time on the slopes. Of course booking early is ideal but booking the right spot is key.

Many of the homes and condos through Utah Vacation Homes are on the public bus system in the town of Park City with a few of the homes like 459 Woodside Avenue which has 4 bedrooms and sleeps 8 (seen on the right) or the Park Avenue home which is a stones throw from a couple of film venues. With a complete renovation including a private hot tub in back it’s bound to be the ideal spot to host your own Sundance party.

Giving Suite

A standout of the festival this past year was the Giving Suite. Rather than the typical “Gifting Suite” where starts and film makers walked away with tons of stuff they likely didn’t need, the Giving Suite was set up by Joe Tomlinson of Re:volve which is a local clothing company. Of the Giving SuiteENN said:

It [Giving Suite]is not the title of a fledling film, but rather an exclusive boutique of eco-friendly goods where companies that would potentially have given away mountains (no pun intended) of schwag to Sundance-going celebrities, chose instead to sell it. 100% of the profits went to one of seven charities.

History of the Sundance Film Festival

In 1981, Robert Redford, one of Utah’s resident celebrities, helped to form the Sundance Institute which is an organization dedicated to enhancing the artistic quality of films. He has since been instrumental in one of Park City’s major annual events, the Sundance Film Festival, which is based in Park City, Utah.

What is the Sundance Film Festival?

Each year, the Sundance Film Festival team reviews thousands of independent films from all across the world. These films are made in many different languages and span any and all topics one could imagine, representing many different genres — from animation to documentaries to cult films. The mission of the Festival programming team is to find features and documentaries that “inspire, challenge, delight, startle, move and thrill” viewers.

Each year, thousands of fans and artists alike eagerly greet a lineup of films. Many of these may make their way into mainstream society.

The Sundance Film Festival is a great way to take in the world of independent film regardless of if you’re an aspiring writer, actor, director or simply a fan of good cinema. It’s a great time to be in Utah to catch a film, a powder day at a nearby ski resort or if you’re lucky, both!

This ski season has been unbelievable! You need to get out to Utah now. Reserve your vacation home now with us and enjoy the best ski vacation of your life.