Pioche Village by Park City Vacations

The room we had felt pretty bare bones, with laminate floors, plain white walls, IKEA furniture, and no extra blankets. The hall walls also carry sound, so bring a white noise machine. The front desk shuts at seven. If you arrive later, you’re supposed to use the lockbox, but entering the wrong code can freeze it completely. Then you have to call after-hours maintenance and wait for them to respond and figure things out. Bring a jacket for that wait. The hot tub and sauna might be nice, but they’re across a big parking lot, separate from the buildings. I didn’t want to walk over in a swimsuit in freezing weather.

The management company was extremely responsive whenever we had questions, and parking onsite was free. Our studio had the appliances, dishes, and cutlery we needed, plus a well-stocked bathroom and a walk-in closet with plenty of room. For a longer stay like ours, bring your own toiletries. We also appreciated the laundry room on our floor. Getting the keys was easy, and the lobby had a dining area, a cozy fireplace, and a gym. The guest lodging is on the first floor, with an elevator, and towels are provided at the outdoor area with about four hot tubs, I think. The biggest drawback was noise from above. The tenants who arrived for our last three days stomped around at all hours when we were in the room, almost like they were wearing ski boots. At one point it sounded like heavy construction was happening directly overhead. We nearly went up to ask them to tread lightly, though we know this wasn’t building management’s fault. It made the relaxing trip we wanted pretty stressful. We could also hear TVs and noise from other rooms, though our floor’s neighbors respected quiet hours and it was quiet after 10. Pioche itself is new, and construction is still going on around the area, including the development near the new Grand Hyatt. It was interesting to see what this side of the mountain is becoming. The Jordanelle gondola is closest. The stop sign is a short walk away, and the DV shuttle takes you through the switchback parking lots to the gondola. You can put your boots on at the base, on the nearby bench, or outside Rime. There are easy green runs to reach the main side of the mountain. You can return by gondola to the base, where the shuttle drops you at your building. With enough snow, you can ski back instead of downloading. We also had a shuttle directly to and from our building, though they were still deciding whether to keep running it based on having enough volume. Having both options was nice. We really enjoyed the stay and would recommend it. Just know the units aren’t fully soundproof from above. We’d come back and hope there’s enough snow to ski to and from Jordanelle. One afternoon we had to take an Uber back, which was a pain driving around the mountain. Skis trump cars! 😂

My north-facing room in the Baton building was quiet, with no highway noise, and getting there was easy despite my late arrival. I got clear self-check-in instructions by text. Room 1239 was spacious, spotless, and well furnished for one or two people, with one of the better vacation bathrooms I’ve had. I’d suggest adding bathroom hooks for towels and clothes. If you’re staying longer, bring your own toiletries. People seemed to enjoy the spa, too. I was visiting friends nearby and the location worked well. The Grand Hyatt has now opened down the road, with dining and a great speakeasy bar, The Hidden Ace. Jordanelle lake is close for summer visits. Restaurants, Main Street, and more were about 13 to 20 minutes away, and the airport was around 45 minutes to an hour. Highway access was easy. A few brochures or local visitor details in the room would help people who are new to the area. I stayed three nights in December and had a great experience. I’m glad I hadn’t seen the mixed reviews before booking. I’d definitely stay here again.

The office is really hard to find. Google and Apple Maps get the last turn wrong, it’s a right, not a left. Look for the faded flag pointing to the office. More importantly, the office closes at 7 p.m. If you arrive after that, there seems to be no way to get into your room. The number tells you to text maintenance, but they don’t answer. Don’t count on coming up after work. I’m not even sure when they open in the morning, and there’s no one to talk to or information anywhere. Good luck.