Wildwood Snowmass Is a Throwback to Ski Lodges

Leopard carpets, geometric stools and funky bold prints aren’t what one would expect from a ski lodge, but the hip Wildwood reopened its doors recently with just that. The retro redesign gives guests at the Starwood Property resort a playful twist on the modern ski hotel, putting the emphasis back on public spaces while the 153 rooms are still cozy and fun.

Lead by young New York-based designers Carlton DeWoody and Eric Adolfsen, of Reunion, the duo worked to make it a unique property.

“It’s really designed for families and people who want to have fun,” says designer DeWoody, in a video about the hotel. “Whether it’s our conference room that’s hidden behind faux bookcases, or our underseat cubbies that have Mall Madness, Monopoly and lots of other board games.”

Whimsical elements include ski-sweater covered big-game heads and vintage litho prints for the rooms. There’s an Arcave, with pinball and video games, for off-the-slope entertainment, and common spaces with Wi-Fi let people plug in–if they want. European-style hot tubs soothe sore muscles at the end of the day.

The Bar at the Wildwood is a beer-hall style gathering place, serving 10 types of New Belgium at long, community tables. Serving lunch and dinner, it’s traditional bar food, like Fat Tire Battered Alaskan Cod.

Next door, sister property the Westin opened its doors after a redesign of what was formerly the slopeside Silvertree. The Wildwood was built in 1969, and both properties were in need of a makeover. Walk inside the new Wildwood, and it will be a change so fresh that you don’t even recognize the old.