If you spend any time skiing on the east coast, You’ve undoubtedly heard about what’s been happening at Stowe over the past few years. What was once a sparsely populated base area at the foot of Mount Mansfield has been transformed by a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation that has brought it up to par with some of the biggest name western resorts. We spent a little off-season time checking out Spruce Peak at Stowe to see just what all the hype is about.

If any mountain on the east coast deserves such an expansion, it’s probably Stowe. The resort has a broad appeal, attracting nearly as many duct taped, dyed in the wool Northeastern career skiers as it does exurban New Yorkers on weekend getaways. The skiing is tough to beat, as is the thriving shopping and dining scene that lines the access road up to the base area.

The one thing that’s always been conspicuously absent, though, are on-hill lodging options. With the exception of the Inn at the Mountain (a small hotel served by a painfully slow lift), there were never any truly ski in ski out hotels, until now.

Stowe Mountain Lodge VT // The Spruce Peak Expansion

Opened in 2008, Spruce Peak at Stowe is the completely revamped base area at Spruce Peak, Stowe’s detatched intermediate mountain that stands across the street from Mount Mansfield. Stowe has pumped millions upon millions of dollars into a sprawling new base lodge, quick gondola that ferries skiers from one base to the other, and – wait for it – the Stowe Mountain Lodge.

The Stowe Mountain Lodge is, in every sense of the word – upscale. I was greeted by name as my bags and car were whisked away from the imposing entrance to the hotel (I’m still not quite sure how they knew it was me.)

The lobby (pictured below) was, in every sense of the word, stunning. I was handed off to the friendly front desk staff who were cheerful and not the least bit pretentious, something that I really appreciate. The check in was painless – I was offered full use of the hotels’ line of new Mercedes vehicles during my stay, and off on a brief tour of the property on the way to my room.

It’s a good thing that a tour is included, because this place is huge. From the lobby, the ski valet and boot warming room is off to the right down a long hallway of shops, including Ralph Lauren and a couple of well known local boutiques. Also in this direction is the spa (which I didn’t get to experience, unfortunately) and the massive outdoor pool.

The pool is a spectacle within itself. While parts of it remain under construction, it’s a sprawling body of water with an indoor entrance that opens up like the shore of a lake. The pool is surrounded by tall grasses and river rocks, and the two hot tubs are the size of small swimming pools themselves.

Also on site is Solstice, a top tier dining experience with a connected bar that’s slightly less dressy. The food, all locally sourced, is fantastic – just be sure to make reservations early, as it often fills up far in advance.

All in all, Stowe Mountain Lodge and the Spruce Peak expansion have forever changed Stowe. What was already somewhat of a tony vacation destination now has a hotel in the class of those found at Beaver Creek and Whistler, which will propel it into the realm of other national skiing destinations.

Expensive? Undoubtedly. But it’s about to become a Northeastern institution, so do it at least once. Did I mention how great the skiing is?