The Josie Hotel lobby boasts modern cottage aesthetics and ski-inspired decor, including vintage chairlifts
Using the natural landscape as a canvas for hotel design, two mountain-modern refuges debut ready for check-in.
This summer, skip the heat and the overcrowded beaches in favor of the mountains for a quiet, reflective sojourn. From a modern hotel in an old mining town in British Columbia to explorer cabins in Yosemite designed as a wink to the area’s history, here are two properties on the radar now.
The Josie Hotel, Rossland, British Columbia
Destination 101 Located about a 2 1⁄2-hour drive north of Spokane, Wash., the idyllic teeny town of Rossland is dotted with coffee shops, specialty stores and galleries. At the base of Red Mountain (or Red), a ski resort for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, The Josie Hotel is quickly becoming the town’s conversation piece.
Guest Perks There are 106 guest rooms and suites, a ski concierge, a fitness facility, an on-site spa, an outdoor heated pool (set for completion in early 2020), and offerings from fly-fishing and mountain biking to paddleboarding and whitewater rafting.
Designer Redux “The inspiration came from the natural beauty of the location at Red Mountain,” says Kimberley Miller, CEO and design principal of Dallas-based Fab Studio Inc. “We wanted to celebrate the mountain and embrace how beautiful it is during all seasons. We did not want the hotel to feel old- fashioned or dated—ever. The Josie captures a comfortable, unpretentious luxury.”
Lodge Life In the lobby, Miller and her team appointed a pair of bright orange powder-coated chairlifts, a dual-sided fireplace, wood walls, knitted poufs and branchlike chandeliers. “The chairlifts really provide an Instagram moment, while the custom chandeliers in the lobby give a nod to the nature elements that surround the resort,” Miller adds.
Design Goals “We wanted to create spaces that people want to hang out in and feel relaxed—whether it be sinking into the big leather sectionals and reading a book in the lobby, or cozying up to the bar in the restaurant and having a crafted cocktail,” Miller says. “We love the aha! moment of coming up the stairs and arriving at The Velvet Restaurant & Lounge and being able to see the entire mountain as the backdrop. The mountain is the art. The Josie really tells such a great story of a free-spirited outdoor enthusiast with great taste and style who is never afraid of walking on the edge.”
Room Service “The views from the guest rooms were meant to be the star of the show,” Miller explains. “We were purposeful in not overcomplicating the design elements in the guest rooms, so there’s an easy, restful flow.”
Starting Rates From $435 per night for a premium one-bedroom king suite with a sofa and balcony overlooking the mountain
Wake up to winter wonderland views in The Josie Hotel’s premium one-bedroom suite
Overlooking Red Mountain, The Josie Hotel is a picturesque ski resort
Explorer Cabins, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, Calif.
Destination 101 Situated within Yosemite National Park, Tenaya Lodge’s 50 new two-bedroom modular cabins are equipped with private decks, full kitchens, large walk-in showers, bunk beds (in select family cabins) and fireplaces.
Guest Perks There is a camp host, or “ambassador of adventure,” to help during your stay, including guided hikes, stargazing and building the perfect s’more; an Explorer Clubhouse, exclusive to Explorer Cabin guests, for breakfast and wine hours; and a spa and restaurant located a short walk or shuttle away at the main lodge.
Designer Redux “The cabins are designed to give a more secluded and spacious lodging option with the conveniences of a full-service resort while allowing guests to experience the natural beauty of the Sierra National Forest area in a minimally developed setting,” says Slavic Glowczynski, director of Delaware North’s design and construction group, which, along with Irontown Homes, Darden Architects and Guest Supply, designed the cabins.
“Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada were the inspiration. The cabins have a composition shingle roof and cement board siding, and interiors have wood wainscoting with faux beams on the ceilings, plush sofas, granite and white subway tile, as well as wood accents. A fireplace and photography of famous Yosemite explorers provide a sense of place. The site was designed to minimize the impacts to existing natural features such as rock formations, the Big Creek riparian corridor, Rainbow Lake and wetlands.”
Cabin Fever Guest rooms are layered with Pendleton blankets; black-and-white photography of legendary Yosemite explorers, including John Muir, Galen Clark, Sally Dutcher, Ansel Adams, Royal Robbins, Lynn Hill and Alex Honnold; journals for sharing experiences, insider tips and observations with fellow travelers; and discovery cards highlighting local flora and fauna.
Starting Rates From $549 per night, including complimentary breakfast and evening wine reception in the clubhouse.
The Explorer Cabin’s interior living space showcases raw design aesthetics, drawing attention to the simplicity of the surrounding nature
The Josie Hotel’s premium suites feature uberspacious double-vanity bathrooms
Photography by: TENAYA LODGE; BRANDON BARRÉ; CHRISTOPH JOHANN
