Info:       

Stowe Mountain Lodge
7412 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT 05672

Web:
www.stowemountain lodge.com

Phone:
888-478-6938
802-253-3560

Room Pricing:
$199 - $3200/night

Stowe Mountain Resort
5781 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT 05672

Web:
www.stowe.com

Phone:
800-253-4754
802-253-3000

Stowe Area Association
PO Box 1320
51 Main St.
Stowe, VT 05672

Web:
www.gostowe.com

Phone:
800-GO-STOWE

Stowe Mountain Lodge—All Luxe All the Time                 

by Mitch Kaplan
photos by Mitch Kaplan

Opened in autumn 2008, Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, was created with a goal—be five-star all the way: rooms, dining, service, amenities.

Firstly, let me admit it: I'm not particularly enamored of ultra-fancy hotels at which only the upper crust can afford to stay. It's true that my travel writer's status has allowed me to lodge in many such a comfortable haven, but I've always suffered a nagging sense of unease in those surroundings.

Still, not even a full-blown naysayer could deny that the Stowe Mountain Lodge goal has been achieved. It has. No matter what reservations an observer might harbor, the Lodge impresses.

And, it fits snugly within the destination's history and reputation.

Historic Stowe                                

Stowe has a storied past as a special place to vacation. And it began with skiing.

The steep and nasty "front four" ski trails, first cut in the 1930s and famed in the snowsports world, established Stowe's, reputation as a place to find downhill challenge. Celebrated inns and lodges soon elevated the town into a snowsliders' Mecca.

The town's identify as an iconic Vermont place to play in winter was cemented by a well-circulated photo of the town's white church steeple set against snow-covered ski mountains.

By the 1970s, restaurants of all stripes, along with myriad other activities ranging from tennis and hiking to horseback riding and autumn leaf peeping, helped to transform the little town into an irresistible four-season lure.

Along the way, Stowe has exuded the kind of rustic sophistication and upscale ambiance that's always been popular with the smart set. Now, the redevelopment of Spruce Peak Base, with facilities ranging from new ski lifts, a mountain-to-mountain gondola, new base lodge facilities the Stowe Mountain Golf Course and, especially, a new hotel, has raised the aura here to something akin to royal.

Stowe Mountain Lodge                       

The skeptic in me was pushed aside immediately upon entering the Lodge's lobby. Guests are greeted by an expansive space with marble floors, impressive stone- and woodwork walls, and window walls that reveal the base area courtyard backed by the surrounding mountain peaks. A wood-burning fireplace reminds you that you're in northern New England, while plush leather couches add the final clue that you've entered luxe territory.

The commitment to high-quality permeates the building, from the spa and fitness center on the ground floor through the standard guest rooms and up to the nearly decadent four-bedroom "Front Four" penthouse suites.

Consider physical accouterments like

• extensive marble flooring in the public areas, room entries and even the elevators
• bamboo fabric bedding with anti-bacterial properties
• kitchen facilities in all rooms
• a fitness room outfitted with the same equipment used in the Beijing Olympic village
• heated outdoor pool, of course
• 16-treatment-room, full service spa, of course
• fine dining and a snug pub
• slopeside access to skiing/snowboarding
• close proximity hiking, bike trails and fly fishing

Super Service                         

That takes care of your shelter needs. The service side also rises to top rank.

Something the hotelier calls the Alpine Concierge® highlights the ways in which guests are spoiled. Personal profiles are created for every guest well before arrival, noting preferences and including assistance with travel plans, itineraries, any special needs and even pre-stocking the room fridge.

Some other ways in which needs are filled?

• Ski valet: pre- and post-stay equipment shipment, ski/board and boots storage, boots dried and pre-heated, equipment tuned, and gear brought up to the lift or gondola by "ski sherpas."
• Lift ticket/lessons advanced purchase: no waiting in lines.
• Golf concierge: pre- and post-stay equipment shipment; pre-arranged tee times, carts, and retail purchases.
• Fly Fishing: pre- and post-stay equipment shipment, pre-arranged fishing licenses, Orvis-certified professional guides and transport to spots where they're likely to be biting.
• In-house naturalist to arrange outdoor activities
• Children’s adventure program
• Camp K-9 for four-legged guests.

Eat Your Heart Out                               

Sad to say, I didn't get to sample the hotel's dining. But, I was able to snoop around and get a taste of whats happening.

The Lodge's highlight dining is found in its Solstice Restaurant, self-described as "an elegant, yet casual and comfortable" a phrasing that's often used in mountain destinations these days. Here, too, superb stone- and woodwork are revealed and accented by a wall of windows, and an open-kitchen design augments the informal feel.

The service appeared to be deferential and responsive. The menu utilizes the increasingly popular local farm-to-table concept, highlighted by locally-grown produce, artisan cheeses and all-natural meats.

Among the entree selections you might find local lamb campanelle, grilled Vermont farm steak and pan roast tofu. For those seeking a full gourmet experience, the à la carte menu is complemented by multi-course tasting dinners.

Between the lobby and Solstice nestles Hourglass, a warm and intimate bar named for one of Stowe’s most venerated backcountry ski trails. It would not be difficult to settle in here for an apres-ski/golf/hike/fishing drink. The specialties include seasonal cocktails, rare wines by the glass and regional microbrews. Too sated to rise from your chair, you could readily stick around to dine from a lounge menu of creatively topped flatbreads, soups or a burger.

So, the bottom line is this: Stowe Mountain Lodge meets its creators' goals. It's a very comfortable and pleasant, albeit pricey, place in which to be spoiled rotten.