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Whether someone in your party needs the perfect spot to chill while you ski or you’re an après-ski fireplace connoisseur, cozying up in front of a roaring fire is a quintessential ski vacation must. Although these are not the hang-your-long-johns type of hearths, the eight fireplaces at these ski resort hotels and lodges are perfect for gathering around with your favorite après warmer in hand after a day on the slopes.
The 8 Best Fireplaces in Ski Country
Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Photo: Courtesy of Whiteface Lodge
Built in the spirit of the Adirondack Great Camps of the 1920s and ’30s, rustic-luxe Whiteface Lodge, on the banks of Lake Placid a 45-minute from Whiteface Mountain, is just the winter wonderland you’re envisioning. But perhaps no space at the lodge is more evocative of the season than its grand Kanu dining room, flanked on two sides with massive stone hearths crafted with hand-hewn log beams and granite. It’s a magnificent space complemented by Kanu’s local- and regionally sourced menu.
The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colo.
Monopolizing the view from the often-empty slopes of Beaver Creek’s Bachelor Gulch area, the Ritz-Carleton is a majestic property built in the style of the grand old national park lodges. Accordingly, its Great Room fireplace doesn’t disappoint. The three-story stone hearth anchors the bar area, where you can order drinks and apps and take in live music throughout the season.
The Chedi, Andermatt, Switzerland
The stunning Chedi Andermatt has no shortage of soul-warming fireplaces, but the dramatic entryway hearth, complete with wood-carved antlers, is a work of art. This popular après spot serves drinks and light cuisine, so stake out a spot by the fire and settle in for a bit.
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Whitefish, Mont.
An authentic moose head hangs over the lobby’s double-sided hearth, where guests love to snag a comfy seat on one of the couches to read or sip or cocktail. The lakefront lodge really embodies the national park vibe and serves up a remote feel for those looking for true R&R when they’re off the slopes, plus the lodge offers a shuttle to the mountain, five miles away. A win-win.
Sebastian Vail, Vail, Colo.
Photo: Courtesy of Sebastian Vail
The sleek Sebastian boutique hotel in Vail Village boasts a centerpiece fireplace that matches its modern aesthetic. Anchoring the airy, light-stone lobby with vaulted atrium, the black steel hearth’s artsy, stacked-wood design is a modern touch. Order a signature drink from Lounge at Leonora—the Valoma, with Volcan Blanco tequila, reflects the hotel’s Mexican ownership—and sink into one of the deep couches by the fireplace for the perfect après-ski.
St. Regis Deer Valley, Deer Valley, Utah
The 40-foot-long outdoor fire garden at the ski-in/ski-out St. Regis Deer Valley puts off enough heat to keep guests toasty while they sip a glass of wine from the 10,000-bottle collection at RIME restaurant. Prefer the indoor version of après? No worries. The massive lobby fireplace is two-sided and surrounded on both by inviting couches, loveseats, and chaise lounges.
Tamarack Lodge, Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
About a mile from the base of the slopes, Tamarack Lodge exudes coziness with its living-room style hearth and log cabin sensibilities. It’s a smaller-scale fireplace than some of the behemoths on this list, but that suits folks looking for a quieter scene just fine.
The Viceroy, Snowmass, Colo.
The Viceroy‘s modern iteration of the ski-lodge fireplace in its lobby lounge is both artsy and sleek. Nestle in with a good book or gather with ski pals and order a cocktail and some lights eats from the kitchen.