It’s no wonder people are drawn to Park City. Easily the most accessible and largest ski destination in the country, Park City is just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, which allows jet-setting residents and visitors to enjoy breakfast on the California coast and lunch amidst the peaks of Utah’s Wasatch Range. Plus, snowsport enthusiasts can enjoy Park City Mountain Resort, including Canyons Village, and Deer Valley Resort, which offer endless terrain as well as scenic trails for hiking, snow biking and snow-shoeing.
But there are important factors to bear in mind before investing in a mountain escape.
Here, The Agency Park City agent Sean Railton—who represents local gems including 143 White Pine Canyon Road, a modern ski chalet just west of the city near Iron Mountain—highlights five things to consider before purchasing a second home in this world-renowned mountain paradise. Seek Out (or Invest in) an Oxygen Enrichment System
“If you are prone to altitude sickness, you may want to look for a home that has this new air system or that it can be installed. Lots of folks from New York and L.A. buy property in Park City and don’t consider the altitude. Then they spend their time not feeling well, which is no good.” The estate at 143 White Pine Road is equipped with an oxygenating unit from the Colorado-based Oxygen Company called OxySpace, which pumps oxygen-rich air through vents to help residents acclimate and avoid altitude sickness. The cost of such an at-home system ranges from $6,000 to $500,000. Know the Ins and Outs of Ski-In, Ski-Out
Owners may be good skiers, but if they are planning on entertaining guests, some of who may not be as advanced, they likely won’t want to shuttle them to the base area. Owners should understand the appropriate level of ski-in, ski-out access for their home. Both the ski-in and ski-out should be designed as lower intermediate (Blue) if not beginner access (Green). “Close to Skiing” vs “Ski-In, Ski-Out”
Many people market properties as ski-in ski-out when they are in fact just ‘close to skiing.’ You should be able to ski to the house and out of the house without having to hike, push or cross a road. Some large developments have transportation lifts that will get you to the slopes and back to the house—so make sure you are paying accordingly. See Everything in Natural Light
Generally, the best ski slopes in Park City are north-facing, which will get dark early in the afternoons. In order to see how much daytime skiing your prospective property can provide, it’s important to see it in natural sunlight at different times of the day. Imagine the Property in Bad Weather
Driveways that do not seem steep while there is no snow can be difficult after a storm. Try to envision all the obstacles that inclement weather could bring to a property before you buy it.