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    The Most Over-the-Top Luxury Things I Saw on a Trip to Park City

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    • The luxury ski hub of Park City is the most expensive city in Utah.
    • It’s home to world-class skiing, slope-side mansions, and five-star public bathrooms.
    • I spotted signs of wealth all around Park City, from the downtown area to the ski slopes.

    In Park City, Utah, large estates dot world-class ski slopes on epic mountain ranges, locals are decked out in expensive winter sports gear, and the richest of residents have spas in their houses and more bathrooms than bedrooms.

    The 20-square-mile ski town east of Salt Lake City has 8,000 residents, many of whom live in luxury.

    According to a Realtor.com study published in April, 84060 (Park City) is the most expensive ZIP code in the state, with a median listing price of roughly $3.5 million.

    I spent one day in Park City in January to get a taste of how millionaires live and vacation in this popular ski hub. Wandering from the downtown streets to the slopes, I clocked five signs of wealth.

    Perhaps the most obvious sign of wealth in Park City, Utah, is the ski-in, ski-out housing.


    Luxury homes on a ski slope with trees surrpounding the path

    Homes sit on the slopes in Park City’s Deer Valley neighborhood.


    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

    Park City’s most expensive listing on Realtor.com is a $39 million mansion with 9 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and ski-in, ski-out access.

    Real-estate agent Derrik Carlson, who has lived in Park City for over 20 years and began selling homes in the area in 2012, told me that many of his clients buy houses in the Colony and Deer Valley, as well as the Canyons, located in Park City’s 84098 ZIP code. All three neighborhoods are popular choices for incoming residents who want direct access to the slopes.

    “You just go right out the door and pop on your skis, and you’re on the slopes,” he said.

    The luxury amenities in these homes go beyond skiing. Many have lap pools, spas with saunas and massage rooms, and even movie theaters.

    It might not scream wealth like a fleet of fancy cars, but the free public transit felt like a luxury you wouldn’t find just anywhere.


    A funicular moves down a snowy mountain with a mountain topped with trees, housing, and snow in the background

    A funicular moves down the mountain in Deer Valley.


    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

    Living in NYC, free public transportation is a luxury I’m not used to. In addition to the city’s free bus system, I found another costless ride that felt like an activity.

    At the St. Regis Deer Valley, a free funicular takes patrons to the slopes at Deer Valley Mountain Resort. And you don’t have to be a hotel guest to use it.

    I marveled at the views as the wide-windowed car trekked up the mountain. At the top, there was an outdoor lounge overlooking the slopes. From the deck with firepits and glass walls, skiers sliding down the trails looked like toy action figures in the distance.

    In downtown Park City, I found more upscale public amenities.


    An outdoor fire pit in front of a red bench with trees and buildings in the background

    A communal fire pit sits in a courtyard in Park City.


    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

    Downtown Park City was full of shops, restaurants, and public courtyards where I found large, electric lit firepits that were round and made of stone. Wide benches surrounded each pit.

    It was a pleasant place to warm up and rest.

    I also saw a public bathroom in downtown Park City — a rarity for a New Yorker. Although I didn’t go inside, I checked Google Maps and found that most public restrooms in Park City have five-star reviews.

    I also saw private dining globes on outdoor restaurant decks.


    Three enclosed dining globes in an outdoor courtyard with snow on the ground

    Alpenglobes at Butcher’s Chop House & Bar in Park City.


    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

    Winters are harsh in Park City, so it made sense to me that the wealthy would want to enjoy the views without the weather. Park City has many restaurants with private, heated igloos and Alpenglobes. These enclosed spaces are designed to give guests views of the mountains and night skies while feasting with friends and family.

    The experience isn’t cheap. The Alpenglobes I saw at Butcher’s Chop House & Bar cost about $100 to book, with a minimum dinner bill of $500, according to the restaurant’s website.

    If dinner in a globe isn’t your vibe, you’ll find plenty of fine dining establishments along Main Street.

    The downtown area also housed luxury boutiques and celebrity-loved shops.


    A street shot from the sidewalk lined with shops and resuarants.

    Kemo Sabe and other shops in downtown Park City.


    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

    The downtown streets were lined with art galleries and upscale boutique stores selling fashion lines from international designers, locally made goods, and luxury furniture and decor.

    The store I instantly recognized was Kemo Sabe — a celebrity-loved western apparel brand with other stores in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and Texas.

    Kemo Sabe is best known for its hats that cost up to $900, as seen on icons from the Kardashians to Rihanna and Shania Twain. The hats can cost thousands with customizations like leather and diamond bands.

    In Park City, it’s almost impossible to forget you’re in a wealth enclave.


    The author sits on a ledge next to a street with snow on the ground and houses in the beckground

    The reporter enjoys a day in Park City.


    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

    After spending just one day in the affluent ski town, I found signs of wealth and luxury around nearly every corner.

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