A STUNNING HOME, ART STUDIO AND BARN OFFER RURAL PRIVACY WITHIN EASY PROXIMITY TO PARK CITY
The best of both worlds is an accurate description of a Wolf Creek Ranch home that was thoughtfully designed to meet its owners’ every need. Situated on 13,200 acres and set against 2.2 million acres of the Uinta National Forest, most of Wolf Creek is safeguarded by a permanent conservation easement that protects the land and the wildlife that call it home. The residence and detached buildings are on 160 private acres of this larger ranch property that has 80 homesites.
Premier mountain living is what the owners envisioned for the compound’s 12,000-square-foot main residence that is flanked by a 617-square-foot art studio and a 7,100-square-foot barn and guest retreat. The compound was built in stages with the home completed first, followed by the detached buildings, and offers the homeowners easy access to Kamas and Heber City, both only 10 minutes away. It’s also a respite during the busy seasons in Park City, which is about a 25-minute drive.
“The entire project began with the owner’s inspirational vision,” said Think Architecture’s Corey Solum, AIA. “A lot of work went into siting the home to identify a sense of place that takes the best advantage of the topography and the views.”
INCORPORATING NATURE INSIDE AND OUT
The compound occupies 5 of the 160 acres and has a stocked trout pond in front of the main residence. “It was important that each structure bring together an interface of exterior and interior to fuse the beauty of the surrounding terrain with the look and feel of the inside,” Solum explained.
A bit of distance between the structures gives each building its own sense of autonomy, creating a designation of intended purpose. Exterior building materials include logs, reclaimed natural wood cladding, flagstone, and a wood shake roof. Extra insulation around the structure and top of the roof keeps the buildings energy efficient.
“The interiors feature post and beam construction, plaster walls and the highest quality finishes throughout,” said Richard Christensen, vice president of estate homes at Magleby Construction, builder for the project.
The residence has an energy recovery ventilation system that brings fresh air in and sends exhaust out. This reduces particulates and contributes to the home’s sustainability, and the water system in all three structures purifies and conditions the potable water.
FUSING MODERN AND RUSTIC
The primary residence reveals a mountain-modern decor and neutral color palette that seamlessly combine rustic touches with streamlined furnishings of generous dimension. Textural depth is achieved using natural materials including leather, wood, stone, marble, granite and mixed metals. Fireplaces in the bedrooms and gathering spaces keep things cozy, and pops of color in the wallcoverings and strategically placed works of art draw the eye and provide added interest.
The home’s large windows serve their own purpose by offering breathtaking views and spilling ample natural light into abundant space for gathering and relaxation. The home’s overall aesthetic is warm and welcoming. With seven bedroom suites and seven full baths and an additional three half-baths, there is ample room to accommodate the owners and their guests. The bunk room provides comfortable sleeping for additional visitors, and a caretaker suite with a kitchen, bedroom and full and half baths offers privacy for staff. The kitchen is masterfully curated with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and a masonry oven. Generously proportioned rooms with high ceilings and multiple fireplaces impart a sense of open, rarefied contentment throughout the home.
Meanwhile, the detached art studio provides a space to exercise creativity within the beauty and solitude of the natural surroundings. The studio has an outdoor porch and is an intimate retreat used by the wife to paint, offering privacy and a place to work.
The barn serves both as a beautifully appointed guest accommodation
with one bedroom, a full bath, a kitchen and a living area and also houses a trophy room that magnificently showcases the husband’s hunting trophies. Taxidermy and lighting specialists were consulted during the interior design phase to ensure the exhibit represents museum-quality perfection.
CONSIDERING EVERY PREFERENCE
The residence anticipates every need both on and off the property. The Wolf Creek Ranch development features a 3,000-square-foot Ranch Center complete with a catering kitchen, barn-style social room and an outdoor fire pit and grill. Owners can offer accommodations to their invited family and friends at the Guest Lodge, and there is temporary boarding, a round training pen and a tack room for horse lovers at the stables. A unique feature includes three yurts sprinkled around the ranch that are stocked with essentials and wood-burning stoves and
can be used as day lodges or for overnight camping.
In addition, there are three fishing ponds available and more than 60 miles of private trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and ATVs. In the winter, there are 30 miles of groomed trails for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
On its own, this magnificent compound defines mountain elegance. With every detail carefully curated, the project took six months to plan and two years to complete. Solum said, “This has been one of my favorite projects. The extra design time produced a feeling and mood that are very special.”
