Sticky Wicket ushers in a new era of Deer Valley après
Raucous and rockin’ in Park City
Summer/Fall 2024
Written By: Ted Scheffler | Images: Courtesy Deer Valley Resort
In the 40-plus years that Deer Valley Resort has been in operation, garnering countless awards for its fastidious attention to trail grooming, hospitality, amenities and cuisine, there is one thing it lacked. Deer Valley Resort had never, in its history, operated an adult-only bar.
Granted, it’s not difficult to get an adult beverage at the resort. Most of Deer Valley’s dining venues serve cocktails, beer, wine and liquor — and spots like Edgar’s Beer and Spirits Lounge, the Silver Lake Lodge ski beach and the Snow Park Lodge terrace have a bustling après-ski scene in the winter — but until last ski season, there wasn’t a dedicated, 21-and-over bar.
The gap was remedied in December 2023 with the opening of Sticky Wicket, an adult-only bar and grill with a retro ski theme that’s located above Royal Street Café mid-mountain. The bar is slated to remain open in the summer.
Sticky Wicket is a departure from the sometimes-staid image of Deer Valley — it’s a raucous, rockin’, irreverent bar that’s loaded with ski memorabilia, freestyle ski photos, vintage on-mountain apparel, ski-themed license plates, old-school ski boots and skis, and much more.
When Sticky Wicket first opened, the guest of honor was Canadian freestyle skier Wayne Wong, who inspired countless Olympic and amateur skiers over the past four decades or so, including Olympic freestyle athlete Trace Worthington, who was also in attendance at Sticky Wicket’s opening. Wayne, whose photos line the walls of the bar, nailed the retro vibe of Sticky Wicket at the opening, with an eye- popping, rainbow-colored one-piece ski suit and Elvis shades.
According to Deer Valley Resort’s President and Chief Operating Officer Todd Bennett, guests and locals alike had been clamoring for Deer Valley to open a legit, adult après bar. Deer Valley heard the request but took their own spin on the venture. At Sticky Wicket, you can get a 64-ounce table keg and a round of shots, but you can also indulge in Moët & Chandon Brut Champagne and award-winning Tassajara Chardonnay.
And then there’s the food, which raises the bar for pub fare with menu items that range from poke mini tacos and baby kale quinoa salad to duck confit and a pastrami burger on a Hawaiian bun. For dessert, you won’t want to pass up the “Chunky Monkey Upside Down Cake.”
While Sticky Wicket is undeniably a ski-themed bar, it is slated to remain open during the summer season, making it the perfect place to après after hiking or biking the flawlessly maintained trails at Deer Valley Resort. Not into outdoor activities? No worries. Just bring your ID and belly up to Deer Valley’s first-ever bar.
