Schuss Olympian-worthy slopes by day and immerse in Olympic history at night at one of these hotels owned by or affiliated with an alpine Olympian.
Arlberg, Austria
Austria’s sprawling Arlberg, an Olympian incubator, is also famed as the cradle of modern skiing and for its role in the iconic ski movie Downhill Racer with Robert Redford.
- Kristiania Lech, Lech: Othmar Schneider (Aug. 27, 1928-Dec. 25, 2012) won slalom gold and downhill silver in the 1952 games. His wife and daughter now manage the five-star boutique hotel, which contains his Olympic memorabilia, as well as a museum-quality collection of contemporary art.
- Hotel Karl Schranz, St. Anton am Arlberg: Three-time World Champion Karl Shranz (b. Nov. 18, 1938) competed at four Olympics, winning silver in the giant slalom, in 1962. He manages the four-star hotel with his wife and three daughters.
- Hotel Kristberg, Lech: Egon Zimmermann (Feb. 8, 1939-Aug. 23, 2019), winner of the gold medal in the 1964 Olympic downhill, resigned from competition and began running this four-star property in 1966. It’s now operated by his nephew.
- Hotel Montana, Oberlech: After earning gold in the 1992 Olympic downhill, second-generation hotelier Patrick Ortlieb (b. May 17, 1967) went on to win the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill, marry, and take over operations of the four-star superior hotel from his parents.
Les Trois Vallées, France
Les Trois Valles, site of the 1992 Olympic men’s slalom and women’s slalom, giant slalom super G, and downhill, continues to host World Cup alpine events.
- Hotel Altis, Brides les Bains: Emmanuel Chedal (b. Jan. 15, 1983) a member of the French national ski-jumping team, competed in the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Games. The third-generation family-owned hotel, which he rebuilt with his brothers in 2013, is a five-minute walk from Meribel’s Olympic gondola.
Saas-Fee and Zermatt, Switzerland
Snugged against the Italian border, these traditional, car-free villages are only 35 miles apart. Saas-Fe has hosted World Cup snowboard, ski-cross, downhill, giant slalom, slalom, and halfpipe events. Numerous national ski teams train on sprawling Zermatt’s glacier each summer.
- Wellness Hotel Pirmin Zurbriggen, Saas-Almagell, and Suitenhotel Zurbriggen Zermatt: Often referred to as Switzerland’s greatest racer, Pirmin Zurbriggen (b. Feb. 4, 1963) won gold in downhill and bronze in giant slalom, in the 1988 Olympics. Zurbriggen usually visits with guests at the four-star Saas-Fee hotel, built by his grandfather, once each week and skis with them during special ski weeks. He skis with Zermatt guests one day each week. Both properties are within steps of lifts.
Lake Placid, N.Y.
Host of the 1921 and 1980 Olympics, Lake Placid is a frequent stop for World Cup alpine and freestyle racers.
- Mirror Lake Inn: Two-time Olympian Andrew Weilbrecht (b. Feb. 10, 1986) competed in the Super-G, racing to bronze in 2010 and silver in 2014. His medals are displayed at the four-diamond inn owned by his family since the 1930s, and if he’s in town, he’s happy to meet guests.
Olympic Gold medalist Stein Ericksen was affiliated with this Deer Valley hotel. Courtesy Stein Ericksen Lodge Deer Valley.
Deer Valley, Utah
Deer Valley hosted the slalom and freestyle events in the 2002 Olympics. Visitors here also can easily access Park City Ski Area and The Canyons, which held other Olympic events.
- Stein Eriksen Lodge: Norwegian ski phenom Stein Eriksen (Dec. 11 1927-Dec. 27, 2015) won gold in the giant slalom and silver in the slalom at the 1952 games. He later lent his name to this slopeside, five-star lodge.
Tordrillo Mountain Range, Alaska
Olympic double medalist Tommy Moe is a partner in Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, a remote, luxury, heli-skiing property in Alaska’s Tordrillo mountain range. Moe won gold in the Olympic downhill and silver in the G.S. in the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway. When on-site, he shares his passion for powder skiing with guests.
Sun Peaks, B.C., Canada
- Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge: Despite an injured ankle, Nancy Greene won silver in slalom and, with a 2.68 margin, won giant slalom gold in the 1968 Grenoble Games. Greene and her husband, Al Raine, opened the lodge in 1995. She joins guests at Sunday evening receptions and skis with them when possible.
Canmore, Alb., Canada
Constructed for the 1988 Olympic biathlon, cross-country, and Nordic combined events, this venue also hosts World Cup races.
- Paintbox Lodge: Kick back and relax at this intown, five-room inn run by Sara Renner (b. Apr. 10, 1976), who won silver in the 2006 cross-country team sprint, in partnership with World Cup Champion Thomas Grandi.
