For nearly a century, skiing has been a beloved and ever-growing aspect of America’s recreational lifestyle. The success of the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, sparked a national interest in winter sports, particularly alpine skiing.

For much of skiing’s growth we may thank the chair lift, invented in Sun Valley, Idaho, in 1936, which eliminated the drudgery of the daylong trudge up the mountain, just for a single, ecstatic skiing descent. (Thus too, was born the lift line, but we digress).

Skiing and winter sports changed the face and fortunes of 20th-century America. Stowe, Vermont, was a sleepy little 19th-century summer resort town until skiing became popular. Stowe’s steep scenery and snowpack transformed it into “The Ski Capital of the East.”

Out West, famous yet played-out mining towns—names like Aspen, Breckenridge, Park City, and Telluride—found new wealth reinventing themselves as ski resorts for the 20th century.

The more Americans took to the slopes, the more they enjoyed the lifestyle. Instead of making an annual pilgrimage to the ski resort town, somebody asked, “Why don’t we just live here?”

And here we are. This edition of Luxury Defined takes to the slopes in five top U.S. ski destinations, and the ultimate in luxury homes they provide.

1. Icon House in Breckenridge, Colorado

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Rugged, rusticated stone walls frame the tall, wide glass window-walls and doors of Icon House, a contemporary, turnkey ski home just minutes from the world class, high-alpine slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Five Peaks.

Light-filled, with panoramic views of the Rockies’ Tenmile Range, Icon House was created by New West Partners, the luxury custom builder and developer, and its bespoke furnishings, fixtures, and decor were curated by interior designer Twyla Gurlea of ColorView Design.

The elegant entrance hall is styled as a lounge space with a dual-sided fireplace, wet bar, and glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room.

The double-height great room is oriented to frame the summit of Breckenridge Ski Resort—Peak 8 (elevation 12,840 feet)—and flows to the dining room and the gourmet kitchen with bar seating and a cozy breakfast nook.

The luxury amenities include a tower spa retreat with an exercise studio, dry sauna, steam shower and massage/yoga space. The three-bay garage/workshop features fully washable, epoxy-coated floors and walls.

The heated upper-level deck has a built-in hot tub for après-ski unwinding, and a sunset-view patio with a fire pit for evenings under the stars.

2. Buttermilk Mountain Estate in Aspen, Colorado

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This eight-acre Rocky Mountain retreat has an enviable setting in Aspen, the 19th-century silver mining town turned celebrity ski mecca.

The luxurious, 7,260-square-foot, custom-built home captures the essence of Rocky Mountain living. The views are exceptional, taking in Independence Pass, Aspen Mountain, Highlands, Buttermilk, Maroon Bells, Snowmass, and Mount Sopris.

The living room, dining room, chef’s kitchen, alfresco deck, and primary suite are on the second level to maximize the spectacular views.

The guest bedrooms, three of them en suite, share walk-out access to the landscaped grounds. A heated, three-car garage completes the residence.

The endless skiing options include four world-class ski destinations nearby: Buttermilk, Ajax Mountain, Highlands, and Snowmass.

3. Mountain-Modern in Park City, Utah

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This 11-acre estate has a private setting in The Preserve, a short drive from Glenwild Golf Club and Spa, Utah’s #1 rated golf course, and the world-class slopes of Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts.

There are 7,200 square feet of interior space, graced with vaulted coffered ceilings, wraparound glass looking onto the mountainscape, as well as extensive decks.

The formal dining room leads into a fully equipped chef’s kitchen. Anchoring the east end of the home is a primary suite, sitting room, and office. Three en suite guest bedrooms are downstairs, along with a wet bar, and a vast wine cellar, a gaming nook, a media room, and a gym.

The driveway, courtyard, and outdoor patios are all heated, as is the oversized three-car garage.

4. Luxury Log Cabin in Big Sky, Montana

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This spectacular log cabin-styled, three-bedroom mountain lodge presides over a 20-acre, wooded slope in Big Sky, Montana, and looks up at 11,166-foot Lone Mountain.

Massive, whole-log beams and timbers frame the home’s vast open-plan living space with monumental stone features and rustic finishes, while cozy bedrooms offer fine woodwork with mountain views and lots of light from tall windows.

Outside, a wraparound deck looks up to Lone Mountain and provides for aprés-ski diversions with an outdoor fireplace, a sauna and hot tub, and an elegant elevator serving all floors. The sale includes plans for an additional guest home.

Hidden by a private gate in the Ridgeview Loop neighborhood of Beehive Basin, the property is offered turnkey, fully furnished (with exceptions), with many custom fixtures and furnishings, as well as unique artwork.

The powder-hound paradise of Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin, and the fishing and whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River, Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park are only a short drive away.

5. Elmore Mountain Farm in Morristown, Vermont

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Mount Elmore Farm represents a rare opportunity to own a fully restored New England farmhouse in a remarkably private setting, just 5 minutes’ drive from the village of Morrisville and 15 minutes from Stowe Mountain Resort.

The property offers complete privacy on 34 acres at the foot of Mount Elmore, with 180-degree views of Mount Mansfield, Camels Hump, and the Green Mountains.

The farm has changed hands just twice in the last 75 years and recently underwent a thoughtful and thorough restoration, adding luxurious 21st-century creature comforts while preserving all of its antique charm.

There are multiple outbuildings with extensive accommodations for residents, guests, and staff. The main house offers 4,760 square feet of luxurious living space with five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

Adjacent is a traditional, three-level red barn with a 2,700-square-foot, four-bedroom apartment, ideal as a guest apartment or in-law suite. There’s plenty of space for one or two income-producing rentals, a home office, or a farm-based business, as well as equipment storage and stabling for horses and livestock.

The grounds are a haven of pastoral splendor with extensive pastures and woodlands, mature gardens, fruit trees, and a pond.

Searching for a ski chalet farther afield? Find it here.