From Ski Resort To Year-Round Social Hub: How Kindred Resort Is The Next Step In Keystone's Evolution

Colorado, widely known as the top skiing destination in the U.S., logged 14 million skiers last year. While skiing will always be a major draw for the Centennial State, one ski town is working to transform into a year-round hub for adventure, dining, spa treatments and more.

Keystone, the newest incorporated town in Colorado, which is just 90 minutes from Denver, is already one of the most sought-after family ski resorts in North America.

Now, it is evolving into an all-seasons destination with the addition of the 365K SF Kindred Resort, a ski-in, ski-out resort featuring the 107-room Kindred Hotel, 95 luxury residences, a private club, three restaurants, a spa and event space. The development is in River Run Village, adjacent to the Gondola, and includes three five-story lodging wings linked together by a lobby and event space at the base. The first phase is expected to open in December. 

Kindred Resort Head of Marketing Amy Kemp, who is part of the development team, said she is excited about launching one of the most transformational real estate developments in the ski resort industry.

“Skiing is a social sport, where people can share the mountains and experience freedom, joy, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of belonging and a connection to nature,” she said. “We’re doing this with Kindred Resort, bringing kindred spirits together.”

The Vision For Keystone

Ryan Geller, a partner for Kindred Resort, said it took everyone being aligned to get the project on the right path. This collaboration includes OZ Architecture, the design architect, architect of record and the interior designer, along with Norris Design, which served as the landscape architect. It also included PCL Construction and LIV Sotheby's International Realty.  

“The vision of Kindred started 13 years ago when we engaged Vail Resorts to purchase the land,” Geller said. “Our collaborators, OZ Architecture and Norris Design, all have fingerprints on the project. They’re Colorado-based like us, all share the same vision and are just as invested as we are.” 

OZ Architecture Principal Becky Stone first began working on the project when the Kindred site was called One River Run, back in 1998, when she first joined OZ. At the time, Keystone Real Estate Development, a combination of Intrawest and Vail Resorts, was handling development there.

When the current Kindred team got involved and began to plan the resort, they found Stone's name on various versions of projects that had previously been designed for the location. They found her to be a great addition to the team thanks to her experience with One River Run and vast knowledge of the site. 

“There is a well-planned master plan for River Run Village," she said. "The placement and massing of Kindred is very intentional, as it ensures that residents in The Springs property, which sits behind this site, can still see the mountain. I was also the architect on that building, so I understand its importance. Our designs preserve these view-corridors and also provide every unit in Kindred a view toward the mountain.”

Geller said the team was lucky to have the opportunity to build a piece of property in Keystone, with its family-friendly reputation and great terrain for skiing.

“The kindred spirit is all about having connections to others, and part of that is making where you live and do business a better place,” he said. “In that spirit, we had many community meetings before finalizing the design, to make sure that we’re positively impacting the area and enhancing the community of Keystone.” 

He added that he was proud to earn the backing of the owners of two properties that had been in the area for more than 25 years, who wrote letters of support for the project’s entitlements and even came and spoke on the project’s behalf at public meetings.

“We wouldn't have been able to get that support if we didn't understand what the community wanted and to work with them, and really listened to their feedback — allowing this project to weave Keystone together,” he said.

A Community Approach With Luxury Appeal 

Stone said that throughout her time working at River Run, there was always a desire to build a development that diversifies the resort and provides a broader guest experience beyond families on a ski trip.

This led the developers to embrace a “community approach with luxury appeal,” she said.

Guests and residents are welcomed into Kindred by a grand staircase aligned with the gondola, connecting the upper plaza to the gondola plaza. The upper courtyard provides an inviting atmosphere and is open to anyone to enjoy. It features fire pits, lawn games, illuminated gathering spaces, and access to the Kindred Spirit bar in the lobby. At the gondola plaza level, the Vail Resorts kids' ski school, gear rental shop, ski valet for the hotel and two destination restaurants activate the base of the building.

Stone said that along with creating a space that is inviting and open to all, environmental stewardship was a top priority.

“All spaces are accessible to the guests and public easily," she said. "We used native materials, sustainable landscaping and dark-sky-compliant lighting, minimizing light pollution while still creating a welcoming ambiance,” she said.

The design protocol follows Green Globes and the Mountain Town 2030 Challenge, which call for environmental responsibility and protection of the winter climate that ski resorts are dependent upon.

Stone said that thanks to thoughtful design decisions and a visionary developer who embraced placemaking principles, the resort will enhance and activate the new Town of Keystone by providing flexible spaces for weddings, events, concerts, ‘fests and small intimate gatherings. Vail’s Rock Resorts will be the operator, and their goal is to bring a level of luxury to guests that is not currently available at Keystone, she said. 

The public-private component is an essential part of the project, inclusive of people who just want to ski for the day or those searching for a private club, Geller said. 

“We’re not trying to sell anything,” he said. “We’re just trying to provide an area for people to gather and feel comfortable by creating a hub that intertwines luxury with the local community with small activation spaces like the fire pits, courtyard and places for food and beverage.” 

One of the amazing spaces designed into Kindred is Mountain Vista Ballroom, with double-height windows featuring views of the mountain, accommodating up to 350 guests. Geller said that the inspiration behind the space is to not only celebrate life experiences or hold corporate events, but also drive year-round vibrancy at Keystone. 

Adapting To A Changing Construction Market 

While the project is currently on track, it encountered some hurdles during the height of the pandemic. Kindred was going through a process of entitlements at the time, along with developing designs and starting construction, and the team was forced to quickly pivot, Geller said. 

“The supply chain issues were very real,” he said. “It got to a point where we were ordering our supplies three years ahead of finishing our construction. This was a learning experience that made us embrace collaboration and nimbleness, sometimes seeking alternative options by ordering components way in advance or by using what was available locally for the project.”

This flexible approach has helped Kindred adapt to the current economic situation and get creative in solutions to keep the project moving. The team encountered everything from new tariffs, handling and manufacturing hiccups due to unavailable components, additional time needed for shipping and a labor shortage in mountain towns.  

Helping Boost The Local Workforce 

Kindred will create a year-round economy in Keystone that can support the local workforce beyond ski season. Kemp said that for Summit County, especially in the hospitality industry, there aren’t a lot of opportunities to advance in one's career. However, Kindred Resort is creating an ecosystem where locals can broaden their job prospects without leaving the community they love. 

“This is an amazing opportunity to create a pipeline and career path for the local workforce,” Kemp said. “Many locals have been excited about the fact that we're hiring our management team and providing them career-advancing opportunities.” 

As Colorado is celebrating its 150th anniversary next year as a state, Kindred not only wants to be the driving force behind Keystone’s growth but also build a legacy for years to come.

“There’s a lot of momentum right now in Keystone,” Kemp said. “We’re excited about what the future has in store as we begin to unlock its untapped potential with Kindred Resort being a driving force of Keystone's evolution into the next big thing in the skiing industry.”  

This article was produced in collaboration between Kindred Resort and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.