Summit County is known across the state and the country for its outdoor offerings. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to mountain biking and hiking in the summer, Summit County is an outdoor lover’s paradise throughout the majority of the year. 

The prevalence of outdoor activities has attracted people from all over the country to come experience Summit County, and, as a result, many of the trails and mountains have become more crowded over the last several years.

Longtime Summit County residents Meredith Goldberg and Mike Holmes have observed this change in the county and felt inspired to open a business that offers a new space for those who love playing sports.

“We have really seen the community change and grow, and grow and change, and it seems like there is less space for people to recreate than there used to be,” Goldberg said. “Certainly with the crowds and the lines, there is definitely a lack of indoor, late-night entertainment around here.”

Wanting to address the need for late-night entertainment options, the entrepreneurial-inclined power couple obtained a lease at the old Oshkosh B’Gosh storefront in the Green Village of the Outlets at Silverthorne and started remodeling the space for The Sports Buffet. 

“Mike’s background was in baseball,” Goldberg said of the beginning of the business. “He was looking to play in college and went another direction. A few years ago, we went to batting cages in Denver just to hit the ball and play around.”

The visit to the batting cages sparked an original business idea where the duo would open a fieldhouse and turf room in Summit County with the facility also being outfitted with groundbreaking, sports-simulation technology which would allow athletes to practice their sport in front of a large screen. 

When Goldberg and Holmes failed to acquire land to build a fieldhouse on, their plans for the business shifted to just opening a sports simulation business where local athletes, visitors and sports teams can gather to hone their skills at a wide range of sports.

“We pivoted to a smaller — let’s just give people a space to go — (idea),” Goldberg said. “We are hoping to make it a training facility where you can come take golf lessons. There is also baseball pitching, baseball hitting. There is lacrosse target practice, soccer (target practice). We are hoping to turn it into where teams will come in their off-seasons and early season to start training.”

Over the last several weeks, Goldberg and Holmes have worked around the clock to remodel the space and prepare for the first guests to come experience The Sports Buffet for the first time. 

When the remodel is completely finished, The Sports Buffet will feature five private rooms outfitted with high-definition sports simulators where up to six players can come and play a sport of their choosing.

With HD SportSuite providing the technology, the Sports Buffet will offer over 12 sports and games in a single room with options for single or multiplayer experiences. 

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From golf, hockey, soccer, archery, dodgeball, bowling and cornhole — all of the game offerings at The Sports Buffet are versatile. But much of the simulation technology is being invested into golf.

“It is mostly golf,” Goldberg said. “Right now, we have five different golf courses: Jasper Park, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews Old Course, Troon Monument and Wolf Creek. Each one of these is intricate and technical.” The simulator company (HD SportSuite) got their sports with flight simulation. Their lasers and their readouts can be really technical.”

Guests are able to play a full 18 or nine holes at any of the available golf courses, allowing avid golfers to keep up on their game when the weather isn’t ideal, when they can’t get a tee time or when snow is on the ground.

Outside of the private simulation rooms, The Sports Buffet will include a lobby, where outside food can be brought in, and a community board for local leagues and sport offerings.

“It is really versatile, and we hope to host birthday parties and leagues,” Goldberg said. “We are definitely going to be having golf leagues, and we are looking into hockey and cornhole leagues.”

Pending the completion of the remodel, The Sports Buffet hopes to open to the public on Monday, Oct. 9, with a grand opening event taking place from Oct. 20-21.

A one-hour session at The Sports Buffet costs $70 for up to six players with guests having the option to book as much time as they want, pending other reservations.

The Sports Buffet will cost $35 for a half-hour session. A punch pass option will also be offered in order to save money off the full $70-an-hour rate. The Sports Buffet provides a wide-range of sports equipment but encourages guests to bring in their own clubs or gear to use.

Ultimately, Goldberg and Holmes hope that the space can be a staple in the Summit County community for years to come with guests visiting the business regardless if it is sunny or storming outside.

“The Outlets stores are looking to expand their offerings through here,” Goldberg said. “I would look for more exciting, new businesses in the Outlet stores because they really are looking to bring in more experiential stuff. They have been great landlords so far.”

The Sports Buffet will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Sports Buffet is located at 246 Rainbow Drive in Silverthorne.

To book a session and for more information, visit TheSportsBuffet.com.