The Lodge at Spruce Peak: A Luxury Ski Getaway at Stowe Mountain Resort

If you are looking for the most opulent ski experience in New England, the Lodge at Spruce Peak delivers mountain luxury on a grand scale. Located at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort and owned by Vail Resorts, this five star property draws skiers from all over the world. With Mount Mansfield towering above, the tallest mountain in Vermont and home to some of the best skiing in New England, it is easy to see why this destination has such a strong reputation.

Often compared to the upscale ski scene in Jackson Hole, the Lodge at Spruce Peak is about as close as you can get to a western luxury ski resort without leaving the Northeast.

Arrival and First Impressions

One of the biggest advantages of staying at the Lodge at Spruce Peak is how seamless the ski experience becomes. The moment you arrive, the valet team takes over. They unload your luggage and deliver it directly to your room. The ski valet collects your skis and poles and places them on a trolley so that the next morning your gear is waiting slopeside.

Another plus, valet parking is actually less expensive than self parking, which is rare at a luxury resort.

I had booked a room with two queen beds for our family of four. After noticing a disclaimer that bed types are not guaranteed, I called ahead and was reassured that it would not be an issue. However, upon arrival during busy February vacation week, we were told only a single bed room was available. Cue: instant stress.

We were “upgraded” to a studio with one king bed and a pullout sofa. While that may sound like a perk, after paying premium rates, sleeping on a pullout sofa was not exactly the experience I had envisioned. The kids were exhausted, so we made it work, but it was not the strongest start to our stay.

Rooms and Resort Amenities

Despite the rocky beginning, there is no denying that the Lodge at Spruce Peak is stunning. The decor feels refined and alpine inspired. The grand lobby is warm and inviting, with oversized fireplaces and rocking chairs that practically beg you to sit down with a glass of wine.

Breakfast the next morning was a lavish buffet. It was excellent, though also quite expensive ($40pp). That theme of luxury paired with high price tags continued throughout the stay.

The heated outdoor pool was a highlight. The kids loved swimming through a passageway to the heated outdoor pool, even in winter. I enjoyed sitting in the hot tub with views of the mountain peeking between the trees.

The Village at Spruce Peak

One of the most charming aspects of the Lodge at Spruce Peak is the European inspired village just steps from the hotel. Twinkling lights hang over the outdoor skating rink, surrounded by boutique shops and restaurants. It truly feels like you were whisked away to Switzerland.

We rented skates and spent the afternoon gliding around the rink before heading to WhistlePig Pavilion to warm up with hot cocoa and watch raclette being prepared over an open fire.

We later took the shuttle into downtown Stowe to explore local shops and restaurants. For dinner, we enjoyed a fantastic meal at The Tipsy Trout before returning to relax in the grand lobby.

Skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort

The true reason people travel from around the globe to the Lodge at Spruce Peak is the skiing. Staying here eliminates much of the stress that typically comes with a ski trip. You simply walk outside, grab your skis from the ski valet, and step onto the gondola that carries you straight to the mountain.

Skiing at Stowe is world class. However, lift tickets were a shock. At $250 per person for a single day, it only truly makes financial sense if you are skiing on the Epic Pass.

You can save about $80 per lift ticket if you purchase at least four weeks in advance, but we usually fly by the seat of our pants. Ooh look, I’m a poet!

I spent much of the day skiing with my daughter Lizzie, who is still a beginner. The mountain on the Spruce Peak side offers more beginner friendly terrain, which was perfect for her confidence. We took a break at lunchtime and enjoyed tacos by an outdoor fire before heading out again.

The ski valet service was outstanding and truly one of the best perks of staying at the Lodge at Spruce Peak.

Overall Value of the Lodge at Spruce Peak

Another important detail about the Lodge at Spruce Peak is that it is a Hyatt property, meaning you can book rooms using World of Hyatt points. If you are savvy with travel rewards, this can significantly soften the financial blow.

That said, nearly everything on property comes at a premium price. From meals to lift tickets, it is undeniably expensive.

Unfortunately, our experience ended on a stressful note. The valet team somehow damaged our parking brake, which resulted in our car being towed over an hour away. We had to Uber to retrieve it the following day and were left with a $500 repair bill. We requested a late checkout due to the unexpected delay and were denied. When we notified the hotel about our experience, did eventually receive a response and they refunded half of our points, but that was time we will never get back.

I will admit, that experience significantly impacted our overall impression.

Final Thoughts on The Lodge at Spruce Peak

There is no question that the Lodge at Spruce Peak is gorgeous, luxurious, and incredibly convenient for skiing at Stowe Mountain. For those visiting on the Epic Pass, booking on Hyatt points, or planning a once in a lifetime New England ski trip where budget is not a primary concern, it may be the perfect fit.

For our family, however, the value simply was not there. We recently visited Jay Peak and paid less for lodging, lift tickets, and waterpark access COMBINED than we paid for lift tickets alone at Stowe. The experience at Jay felt more relaxed and far more cost effective.

The Lodge at Spruce Peak was a memorable one time experience, but it is not somewhere we would personally return.

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