“We are 100% organic. It’s amazing what these women do, they do it all by hand. There's no machinery. It’s all muscle and all hard work, and the guests love to see that. They see what that produces and the value in doing it the way that we do it. I think a lot of people take that home with them. That's an experience that really can transform the way you do things when you learn where your food comes from.”
We’re in great company with Barb Phillips, Owner of The Lodge at Blue Sky, a member of the Auberge Resorts Collection, where she and her husband Mike transformed their working ranch outside of Park City, Utah into a luxury nature retreat, wanting to share the peace of their land with the world, deciding to invite guests along their adventure.
Set on 3,500 private acres surrounded by dramatic soaring peaks, high alpine fields, lush elk-dotted hillsides and a spring-fed creek, the intimate resort invites guests to reconnect with the natural environment in understated elegance, with organic architecture and cuisine that showcases the majesty of the land.
In this episode, Barb shares how her whirlwind of worldly travels and career experiences left her in the hands, or should we say, hooves, of a neglected horse named Gracie, and how this chance connection led to her calling in creating The Saving Gracie Foundation and Gracie’s Farm, the spirit behind The Lodge at Blue Sky.
Top Takeaways
[1:45] Barb Phillips blissfully shares memorable life lessons of how things didn’t go to plan but instead happened organically, and with that how a bit of naiveté and perseverance got her through.
[6:40] The story of a “Horse Thief,” her connection with a young horse named Gracie, and the series of events that changed their futures for good.
[15:00] Cowboys and whiskey…what could be more Wild West? That’s exactly what the Phillips thought as they invited High West Distillery to build out their business on their property.
[21:30] No matter where you stay at the lodge, if you look out your window or soak in your patio view, there’s a chance your neighbors could be mountain lions, deer, moose, oh my!
[24:30] Some of the most bountiful flavors and favorite guest experiences are curated at Gracie’s Farm where a female-led team of ‘FarmHers’ cultivate deep, profound connections with the land, animals and people of Blue Sky.
[33:30] Take your pick or try them all - from horseback riding to a 1800’s tavern to planting seeds and harvesting vegetables, from hiking with a biologist in search of elk to snowshoeing, skiing, and dogsledding through fresh fallen snow, from culinary and charcuterie classes to craft cocktail, wine and honey tastings.
[37:10] It’s a winter wonderland at The Lodge at Blue Sky with horse drawn carriages, a cozy yurt dining experience amidst the snow, exclusive helicopter access to back country skiing, and a private hideaway on the slopes at Park City.
Notable Mentions
Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers Band
Katina & Kyle Connaughton of SingleThread Farms
Visit For Yourself
The Lodge at Blue Sky Website | @blueskyauberge
