Snowcat Tacos and 4 Other Amazing Ski Resort Amenities
-
Taco Beast, Steamboat, Colorado
-
Ski-in, Ski-Out Distillery, Park City Mountain, Utah
-
Gondola Fondue, Vaujany, France
-
Heated Gondola Seats, Vail, Colorado
-
J.E. Henry Railroad, Loon, New Hampshire
A roving taco truck that brings food to you, a gondola that serves up fondue, and more—is this a ski fever dream? These amazing ski resort amenities are a reality at mountains around the world.
You’re skiing at Steamboat when you start to get hungry, but the powder’s good, and you don’t want to stop to eat. Then, like magic, through a flurry of snow, a tricked-out snowcat appears in front of you, bearing tacos. No, it’s not some kind of mountain mirage; it’s the Taco Beast, and it’s real. This snowcat-turned food truck roams Steamboat’s slopes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, serving up four different kinds of tacos, esquites, and drinks.
Need to warm up from the inside? Ski right into High West Distillery, the world’s first ski-in, ski-out gastropub distillery. Here, you can grab a glass of house-made whiskey (with plenty of varieties, including a double rye) that will leave you feeling nice and toasty before you head back onto the slopes. Just don’t have too many, lest you fall off the chairlift.
How amazing would it be if, at the end of a long lift line, you stepped into a gondola and were offered hot, gooey fondue? At Vaujany in France, this dream almost comes true—sadly, the gondola fondue isn’t available during ski hours, but you can reserve this after-hours experience throughout the winter season. The gondolas get kitted out with tables and stocked with fondue, aperitifs, dessert, and hot beverages for riders to enjoy while the gondola traverses the mountain.
Vail’s luxury gondolas might be nicer than your hotel room, but unfortunately, you’re not allowed to sleep there. Inside, heated seats warm you up in between runs, and free Wi-Fi means you can look up a trail map or post a smug Instagram during your 7.5-minute ride.
Sure, you could ski or walk between the Octagon Lodge and the Governor Adams Lodge at Loon Mountain, or you could take a train. This wood-fired, steam-powered engine runs 900 feet back and forth each winter, shuttling skiers in a unique fashion.