Review: One Ski Hill Place

Spend just a day in Breckenridge and one thing becomes abundantly clear: this is one of the friendliest, most laid back ski towns in Colorado. The locals are quick with a smile and directions, and the level of pomp and circumstance is pretty low.

But casual doesn’t equal inelegant. Look no further than the thriving year-old One Ski Hill Place, a Rock Resort, and you’ll discover that luxury has a place, even in relaxation central.

Located at the base of Peak 8 and accessed either by road or the Breck Connect gondola, One Ski Hill Place opened in the winter of 2009. They say it was the dawn of a new era, and they’re not exaggerating. Home of the T-Bar, Breck’s only slopeside watering hole and the Ski Hill Grill, in the hotel’s ground level, serve as the central gathering place that had been missing from the expansive, four-mountain resort. 

But if the grill and bar are the equivalent of the public square, the hotel’s lobby and beautiful rooms are more like a private VIP lounge. Built in the fashion of old park lodges, the grand entrance of the lobby is elegant, impressive, and decidedly western.

There’s the exposed rock on the triple sided fireplace, wrought iron detailing, and a winding staircase. The professional staff is trademark Rock Resort: friendly and attentive without fuss or pretensions.

At One Ski Hill place, you won’t find a mere hotel room. Their options range from studio to four-bedroom condominiums. Shared features include full kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel Bosch appliances, flat screen televisions, Blu-Ray disc players, and rooms range from studio and sofa sleepers in addition to king or queen beds.

The luxury interiors are designed to pamper and relax. The design trends toward modern. You might not want to leave.

But if (when) you do venture out, make sure to stop for a round-or five-of bowling at the Mine Shaft Bowling Alley. Two lanes of pins and balls await, and the resort will even deliver food directly to the party.

After bowling it’s time to hit the spa and outdoor pools or one of the two movie lounges, or the game room, or the rejuvenation canter, or one of the many on-site eateries. You get my drift — there are a lot of things to do here. And that’s before you even step outside to Breck’s alpine slide or mountain bike and hiking trails.

Better yet, One Ski Hill Place has one of the best ongoing rate specials in the mountains. The Give and Getaway gives guests a 20 percent room discount in exchange for volunteering on environmental restoration projects. The hotel’s partnered with Friends of Dillon Ranger District, and the projects range from tree planting to trail maintenance to more.

All of which is to say there is no place in Breckenridge like One Ski Hill Place. Its opening anchored the ski resort like nothing else could have and the hotel offers guests one of the most unique experiences in town.

— Rachel Walker