The Lodge at Spruce Peak

A new-build ski resort could be a dicey proposition — typically it’s all about proximity to the slopes, with little time for the traditional virtues of building. But that sort of thing would be out of place at Stowe, which is, if not the East Coast’s biggest ski resort, certainly one of its most highly regarded. Here the Lodge at Spruce Peak comes with its design bona fides in order, and construction that makes intelligent use of high-quality local materials, with stone from local quarries and timber from local forests.

It’s a year-round resort, as they all must be these days, with facilities for golf, spa treatments, and fly-fishing excursions in addition to the main ski-season event. But it’s in winter that the Lodge at Spruce Peak will really shine — the massive stone fireplaces and the oversized rustic furnishings feel more natural in sweaters than in shorts. Rooms and suites are spread about the village-style resort, from studios and suites in the main lodge to freestanding mountain cabins. And for all the rustic charm of the place, this is very much a high-end experience — but for ski-in/ski-out eco-luxury at Stowe we’re willing to pay a certain price.