BRECKENRIDGE – Among the biggest changes patrons witnessed at Breckenridge Ski Resort’s grand opening Friday was the new look at the base of Peak 8, including the newest on-mountain lodging facility, One Ski Hill Place.

The combination hotel and condominium complex oozes luxury from every angle and is unlike anything else on the mountain. Built by Vail Resorts Development Company and operated by Vail Resorts Management Company, One Ski Hill place represents what Vail Resorts does best – the development and management of luxury resorts.

“As soon as people walk in, they crane their necks and look straight up to see the two-story stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings,” said Vail Resorts spokeswoman Amy Kemp. “As they walk up the steps, they continue to look up as they see the slopes and Peak 8 framed in the windows.”

One Ski Hill Place carries Vail Resorts Management Company’s RockResorts banner – one shared by luxury resorts in Vail, Miami and the Dominican Republic, among other destinations. RockResorts are not always owned by Vail Resorts, but on-mountain facilities like One Ski Hill Place are typically both owned and operated by Vail Resorts’ Development and Management companies, respectively.

One Ski Hill Place sits on perhaps the choicest real estate on the mountain. Guests can ski-in and ski-out to Peak 8 or hop the BreckConnect Gondola to other peaks or to Breckenridge’s downtown area. Guests and owners also have access to a laundry list of amenities, including a bowling alley, a rejuvenation center, a gourmet cafe, an open living room area, locker rooms, an outdoor hot tub area, an indoor pool and an exercise facility.

Owners get a few perks that lodging guests do not. A separate locker room for owners includes built-in boot dryers, and a continental breakfast is served exclusively for owners in the “Living Room” area each morning.

One Ski Hill place isn’t just for owners and guests. After stepping off the gondola at Peak 8, skiers and snowboarders will see the old Bergenhof Restaurant is no longer open. Instead, the back side of One Ski Hill Place offers a pair of new establishments: The Ski Hill Grill and the T-Bar.

The Ski Hill Grill offers the casual, cafeteria-style dining often found at ski areas and resorts. Customers can order food and sit outside in the open patio area to watch fellow skiers and snowboarders finish their runs on Peak 8.

The indoor T-Bar is aimed at the apres ski crowd. Flat screen HDTV’s line the walls, and the T-Bar has over 40 beers on tap. The backs of the chairs even have baskets and hooks for customers to stow their gear while they relax after a day on the mountain. Along with drinks, the T-Bar also has a limited food menu.

The indoor cafe, called the Living Room, offers a full bar and gourmet menu and is technically open to the public, but it’s more targeted at guests and owners. But non-skiers in groups with skiers could utilize the cafe and living room area to relax while waiting for their party.

Not even Vail Resorts is immune to the current stagnant economy. Vail Resorts brass said not all of the units available for sale at One Ski Hill Place have been purchased – a rarity for on-mountain Vail Resorts developments. Vail Resorts Development has not lowered the price on the units in order to maintain the property value for current owners. Units layouts range from studios to four bedrooms.

As a means of attracting lodging guests to stay in the early season, One Ski Hill Place is offering an introductory special of 60-percent off the typical rate.

For more information about One Ski Hill Place, visit its website at http://oneskihill.rockresorts.com/.

SDN reporter Drew Andersen can be contacted at (970) 668-4633 or drewa@summitdaily.com.