“The red button behind you is unfortunately not for drink service,” announces the champagne blonde with a Pomeranian stuffed in her backpack. We’ve just snuggled into a sled attached to snowcat and are making our way to one of the most famous yurts in Utah – the Viking Yurt in Park City. Though we’re barrelling along at a fairly substantial clip at a seemingly precarious angle, there is no need to hit the alarm – though naturally, we would very much appreciate drink service.
Yurts in Utah
You won’t find yurts at every ski resort, but in Park City there seems to be an abundance of them. And certainly, this ski town boasts the most entertaining and luxurious of all the yurts in Utah.
Take the Viking Yurt. It sits 1800 m (6,000 ft) up Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States. We’ve just spent a fantastic day exploring the ski terrain and after a quick change, it’s back to the mountain to party like Medieval Times.
The Viking Yurt
Truth: arriving at the Viking Yurt feels like we’ve been transported back to another era. It’s pure magic with twinkling lights festooning the yurt exterior and a million stars peeping through the velvet night sky. Inside is just as charming with a wood burning fireplace and long tables filled with hungry skiers. The Nordic regions know how to make the most of winter, and this four-hour European dining experience is majorly memorable.
The party errr dinner, gets kicked into gear the way I imagine most Viking feasts go down – with Glogg! This glogg happens to be a non-alcoholic berry cider. But not for long! Our waitress recommends spiking it with Aquavit. Of course I do just that and I’m feeling oh-so merry in no time at all.
Viking Yurt Park City
Before you begin dining at the Viking yurt in Park City, a bearded red headed Viking doppelgänger named Michael will come out to introduce the menu. We began with a fantastic lobster bisque accented with long threads of saffron and chunks of salmon. Next, a paper bag is passed along the table, and we’re instructed to grab fistfuls of warm garlic bread.
There’s salad, a sorbet palate cleanser and our main is braised short rib, cooked for seven hours before being set atop a bed of Jarlsburg mashed potatoes. It’s followed by a cheese course (I tried that fragrant Gjetost and didn’t hate it!) and dessert (still swooning over their cardamon ice cream).
At some point they break out the Viking hats and ULLR, a digestif named after the Norse god of snow. It’s hyper mentholated and tastes like Scope, but at least I’m assured I’ll have minty fresh breath after much Glogg and pungent cheese.
Reservations for the Viking Yurt must be made months in advance, as they pretty much sell out every night. Get on it!
Veuve Yurt AKA the Après Lounge at Montage Deer Valley
Yurt #2 is a bright orange tent (that just happens to be in the Veuve Cliquot signature colours!) at Deer Valley Ski Resort. Yes, my friends, there is a god and it has made a Veuve champagne yurt. This is the ultimate après spot at one of North America’s swankiest ski hills.
You’ll find the Après Lounge AKA Veuve Yurt next to the posh Montage Hotel and between the Express and Ruby chairlifts at Deer Valley Resort. Interiors are super chic – just as you’d expect after being kitted out by lifestyle brand Gorsuch. There are little wood burning fireplaces, cozy nooks, chandeliers and zebra rugs.
Pop in for a glass of champers or perhaps some cognac from Hennessy. At $32 US for a glass of yellow label it isn’t cheap, but you’re paying for the ambiance and let me tell you, it is #worthit. And there are gourmet nibbles, too! All the hors d’oeuvres (think caviar, charcuterie and white truffle popcorn) are designed to pair perfectly with the Champagnes featured.
The Après Lounge is open to the public every afternoon. Groups can rent it out for private functions and apparently a fair number of elopements take place here. I can see why.
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Have you ever been in a yurt? What was your experience like?
Jody, thank you for this post. Its very inspiring.
Pleasure!
A yurt! How fun! Would be such a cool experience to stay in one. The champagne yurt would be even better. It sounds great there in Park City. Your photography skills are spectacular by the way.
I’ve always wanted to stay in a yurt, too!
This sounds like an incredible experience. Champagne, glogg, and a fancy ride? I’d love it.
How can you not, right?!
I agree, every ski resort (or even otherwise) we need an Apres Yurt because the experience looks so exciting! I don’t ski really but I’d still want to stay in one of these. So warm and cosy, with such great views. Thanks for suggesting the yurt in Park City!
Anytime! So great there’s a lot of options at ski hills for non skiers.
Sounds like lots of fun! How cold was it though? xxx
Not at all! This is a really good comment, because I think there’s a huge misconception about winter resorts. The sun is often shining and the cold isn’t an issue 99% of the time.
A champagne yurt! Now that is glamping in style – actually all this sound pretty stylish, no wonder it sells out way in advance.
I wish there were glamping yurts like this everywhere, too!
This looks like so much fun! They are so stylish here. We’ve only ever been in a tradition yurt in Mongolia. I find it fascinating how they’re popping up all over the place now as trendy accommodation and venues.
Oh, I’d be so curious to hear what the traditional Mongolian yurt experience was like.
I had no idea these existed in Park City! I would love to visit, and it would be so much fun to stay in one if they could keep it heated well! Glamping at its finest!
It is totally glamping at its finest!
holy crap this sounds off the hook! You had me at spiked berry cider….well you spiked it which makes you guys rock! I actually have it on my bucket list to stay in a yurt in Mongolia but what a great way to get an american style taste test in Park City. I tend to hate the cold and am not a snow skiier at all but Yurt partying is right up my alley!
I have the Mongolia yurt on my bucket list, too!
OMG! Both of these sound amazing. I’m googling how far away Park City is right now, I think this is drivable and I’m going!
You should! Let me know how you found it if you did end up making it there.
Oh wow, that yurt is amazing.I’ve never been on one before, and I hope my first experience will be as glam as this one 🙂
I hope so, too!
Yurt! We never had done that till day and it looks like a must do experience. Lovely pictures and write up. I loved that Apres yurt and would never be interested in leaving that place too. Thanks for introducing us to this place
Pleasure! Hope you pop by again soon.
nice sharing, I also spent a really good time there during my last journey and came back with many pleasant memories.