The History of Snowpine Lodge

The town of Alta was established in 1871 but was largely abandoned after the Depression and the decline in silver mining. Snowpine Lodge is one of the only buildings in Alta that can still be traced back to when mining was the primary industry in the Albion Basin. As the town grew, the need for the building grew. Since it’s inception, Snowpine Lodge has been a gathering place for the community, and we still stand by that today.

In 1935 the old store was brought back to life by the Civilian Conservation Corps when they came to Alta to see about a new ski resort. They kept the original granite walls (which can still be found inside Snowpine Lodge today) but renovated the rest and turned it into Alta’s first public shelter for skiers who frequented the new ski area. At that time, it was known as the Rock Shelter, but would later be renamed Snowpine Lodge when they began to take guests overnight.

Stillwell Spa, our full-service spa, was named for J.G. Stillwell, the original owner of the historic general store. Here you can enjoy six treatment rooms, a relaxation room, an oxygen bar, a sauna and steam room, and a beautiful grotto, a large indoor hot tub, all set alongside the building’s original granite stone. A new general store has since opened inside the spa, located exactly where the original store once stood.

Amenities at Snowpine Lodge are top-notch and include a mountain view outdoor heated pool and two hot tubs. There is also a game room, called The Nest, featuring ping-pong, a pool table, an arcade room, and a Little Nest which includes a ball pit for the littles. Common areas can be found on every floor to encourage guests to mingle outside of their hotel rooms and share stories of the day’s adventures with new and old friends. We also offer an in-house Powder House Ski Shop for easy gear rentals and purchases along with heated ski lockers for storage while enjoying the incredible terrain of Alta Ski Area.

With unrivaled mountain recreation, incredible views, upscale amenities, top-notch restaurants, plus a fantastic full-service spa, all only 40 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, Snowpine Lodge offers something for everyone.