Accessible Lodging and Accommodations in Park City, UT

There is a festive feel when Park City buzzes with enthusiastic visitors and celebratory locals. Muddy tires, activewear, and ski goggles blend gracefully with summer dresses or fur coats to create that distinctly Park City flavor of rugged mountain past times and luxurious après. Finding a place to stay during these cheerful, busy periods can be challenging for visitors, and people with disabilities can face even more significant obstacles to comfortable and adequate lodging.

Fortunately, Park City is home to the National Ability Center, one of the nation’s leading adaptive recreation organizations. The Quinn’s Junction campus features an accessible accommodation solution: The Lodge. Nestled amongst sagebrush and the rolling hills of Round Valley, it combines 25 guest rooms with impressive amenities and an inspirational location.

The Lodge at the National Ability Center

“Yesterday, I was looking at my office window and saw 100 elk,” Shay Blackley, The Lodge Manager, exclaims. “I can’t imagine anything more beautiful and rustic.” Beyond the inspirational scenery, The Lodge is a ride/ski-in-ride/ski-out building with Round Valley hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trails hugging the parameter.

Shay explains The Lodge operates a bit differently than a standard hotel. “Our requirements are that guests have to participate in NAC programming to some capacity or be advancing the mission of the National Ability Center.” Most importantly, The Lodge is a space for empowerment and creating opportunities. Every guest’s lodging request is reviewed on a one-on-one basis. And the obligations are flexible. “A guest can come out for an entire weekend and have one ski lesson,” Shay explains. “There can be a family of seven, and only one person needs an adaptive ski lesson. That's fine. That whole family is welcome to stay in The Lodge, and they can have their ski holiday.”

Guests at The Lodge range from annual group retreats to resident athletes participating in the NAC competitive programs to individuals or families. “A lot of our groups are repeat customers… We have groups that have been out here for over 30 years in a row,” Shay describes one annual group called Camp One Step. “We have 52 people from an oncology unit in Chicago. There are a whole bunch of kids that are in remission or currently have cancer. They come out here, and they go on a week-long ski trip. They have medical professionals, and sometimes kids receive treatment while they're out here.”

The Lodge is the only accommodation in Park City where each of the 25 guest rooms is ADA-compliant. Shay describes the room’s standard amenities. “The bathrooms are large enough that a wheelchair can go in and fully pivot around. There are grab bars around the toilets, showers, tubs, and doors.” Plus, eight of the rooms feature roll-in showers.

Breaking Down Costs

Rates to stay at The Lodge are aligned with the NAC’s mission – that recreation opportunities are for all people, and restrictions should never be an obstacle. That’s why nightly fees are competitive: $135 during the shoulder seasons (spring/fall) and $175 during the peak seasons (winter, summer). “We are a nonprofit, and we will not turn anybody down for financial reasons,” Shay says. The NAC will work to support guests if the nightly rate is a barrier. “We have a scholarship application… We can make it affordable for everyone.”

Shay advises groups hoping to stay at The Lodge to book six to twelve months in advance. “The earlier they reach out to us, the better because a vast majority of our rooms are booked by groups and military programs.” The Lodge’s popularity with groups can make making reservations easier for individuals and families. That said, if you miss your reservation window and are looking for ADA-compliant lodging, all hotels in Park City are required to have at least one ADA room. If a guest who doesn't have ADA requirements books the room and a person who requires ADA accessibility calls, the hotel is required by law to give the room to that person. Also, some guests without financial restrictions have successfully booked ADA-accessible private homes. Contact the NAC for availability at The Lodge or for tips on where to book other lodging and accommodations in Park City.

“Those [group] programs traditionally operate from Monday through Friday or Monday through Thursday. We typically are empty during the weekends,” Shay explains it’s ideal for families and individuals to make reservations about three months in advance. “That process usually starts with guests contacting us, figuring out what days they want to come out, and availability and needs. If that works, then we figure out programming.”

Amenities at The Lodge

The host of other amenities at The Lodge steers guests towards group socializing. The family-style gathering room on the second level includes a foosball table, comfortable spaces to lounge, and a large TV complete with streaming services. A fully ADA-compliant dog park with paved access and one of Utah’s first ADA-compliant playgrounds on premises ensures that kids and furry family members will enjoy the stay, too.

“We have a large cafeteria attached to a commercial kitchen,” Shay says many of the groups dine in this area and often utilize catering services. Open to any guest, resident athletes most often use the smaller communal kitchen upstairs. That’s where I met Hailey Griffin, a mono skier who trains with the NAC High-Performance competition team.

A Personal Experience at The Lodge

Hailey, who is in her third year of seasonal residence at The Lodge, has ambitions of competing in the Paralympics. She paints an image of resident life. “Now that I've been here for three years. I feel comfortable here. It is like a home, and it's nice to be around other people. You get to meet the groups that come in.”

One reason Hailey continues to return as a Lodge guest is the proximity to the McGrath Mountain Center and ease of training. “As an athlete, having that gym right there (in The Lodge) is huge… To roll down the hall and use the gym has been great.”

Hailey explains the NAC scholarships are equally valuable as the excellent training opportunities and reliable coaches. “Scholarships are based on how many hours you put in,” she explains. The more dedicated you are to training, the more financial help you will receive. “I could not be here without this [scholarship opportunity]. I couldn't afford it.”

And she notes that when she and Deccard stay in The Lodge together, he gains a more comprehensive understanding of her training and ambitions. “It is huge because he gets to see what I'm doing. He knows the team; he knows the coaches.”

Park City is for Every Body

A memorable and empowering experience staying at The Lodge is the NAC’s mission. The support during every step of the booking and commitment to overcoming financial barriers through scholarships ensure that the opportunity reaches the most people. The focus is on spreading the word. “The challenge is getting people to know that we're here,” Shay exclaims.

More Adventures in Park City

Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Programs in Park City

The McGrath Mountain Center at Park City Mountain

Accessible Transit in Park City