From majestic mountains to verdant river valleys to red-rock canyons, nothing beats Utah for its affordability, superb year-round sports and wide open spaces. Savvy sports lovers seeking second homes are finding that they can have it all in communities like Promontory in Park City and for a fraction of the price – and in half the time – of Colorado resorts.

A lone skier enjoys Utah’s legendary powder while taking in the magnificent views of Upper Deer Valley

A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with culture and history, even a little celebrity-watching thrown in for good measure, Utah is everything Colorado once was…only better. With over 70 percent of its land designated as federally-protected park, wilderness, recreation area or trust land and an extraordinary history dating back millions of years, no wonder Utah has captured so many people’s imagination.

Best known perhaps, for extraordinary, dry-powder skiing – no ice like back East or in the French Alps – the most famous places are up north. Park City and Deer Valley, the two premier ski resorts, are nestled in the foothills of the imposing Wasatch Range, part of the spectacular Rocky Mountains. Famous for the Sundance Film Festival that takes place each January, Park City is also favored for its quaint boutiques, fine restaurants and easy access to hiking and biking, fishing and boating, horseback riding and ballooning. Close by are Snowbird and Alta, most notable for black-diamond trails and challenging moguls.

Promontory members enjoy horseback riding through Utah’s undeveloped back country

One of the most prestigious communities in the area is Promontory, right next to the slopes of the Deer Valley Ski Resort and named for the historic spot in Utah where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads converged. A logical alternative to Vail and Aspen, Promontory offers a country-club lifestyle highlighted by world-class golf and skiing, an equestrian center, spa facilities and gracious, eco-friendly homes. “Land at Promontory costs between $600 and $800 a square foot, as compared to $3,000 to $4,000 in otherwise comparable Colorado communities,” says Promontory’s Director of Marketing, Melissa Garland. “And as our members often rave, it’s an easy direct flight and a 30-minute highway drive to get to the heart of it all from Salt Lake City airport.”

No matter what your interests, there are dozens of exciting things to do and see. To the northeast is the Dinosaur National Monument near Jensen, with fossils from 150 million years ago. Similar exhibits exist throughout the state along with petroglyphs and pictographs created by the Native Americans some 10,000 years ago. Natural and manmade lakes abound as do rivers for tubing and rafting, trails for ATVs and horseback riding and rock formations for rapelling.

Deer enjoy the wide open spaces and natural vegetation found in the rolling foothills of Utah’s Rocky Mountains

In the southern half are such natural wonders as the wind-carved sandstone arches and twisting waterways of five national parks, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. Introduced to many in the dozens of movies filmed there, like Thelma & Louise and 2001: A Space Odyssey, they are within easy driving distance of one another, along with the northern rim of the Grand Canyon, making it possible to take in all of the grandeur in one fell swoop.

Utah also has six national forests, seven hot springs and enough mountains and river beds to explore to earn it the nickname of “Rock Hounding Capital of the US.” With festivals celebrating everything from the snow-geese migration in Delta to the running of the salmon in Strawberry, one simply can’t be bored.

When the body gets tired and it’s time to exercise the brain, all one need do is turn to Utah’s provocative past. From the ancient Pueblos who lived here from about 1 A.D. to 1300, to the Mexican traders and Spanish explorers of the 1700s to the pioneers, cowboys and miners of the 1800s, their lives take on rich, new meaning with a visit to the aboriginal ruins and well-preserved ghost towns that dot the land, as well by the pageants and plays put on in many cities today.

On top of a mountain, whooshing the rapids, or exploring prehistoric caves, it’s easy to get “high” in Utah. A modern-day land rush is on and you don’t want to miss it.

For additional Information, visit www.promontoryclub.com or call 888.458.6600.

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