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Washington School House Hotel – Photo credit: ProMedia Co
Pilot Hotels, owner of the Washington School House Hotel, recently announced that the iconic historic landmark, located just steps from Park City’s historic Main Street, is for sale for $31 million, making it the second most expensive offering for the area in recent history.
A Park City landmark for over a century, the 12-room luxury boutique hotel is built on a 0.3-acre, five-lot site. Originally a schoolhouse built in 1889, the 11,763-square-foot property features its original 16-foot schoolhouse ceilings, a stunning historic living room, a chic ski lounge, a detached two-car garage with a viewing deck, and a heated pool terraced into the hillside.
“When we purchased the property in 2009, our original intention was to restore it as a home for our family,” said Marcy Holthus, CEO of Pilot Hotels and current owner of the Washington School House. “After we began renovations, it became clear we couldn’t keep this stunning gem for ourselves, and that’s how I accidentally became a hotelier,” she said. “With vigilant attention to detail, we were determined to preserve and restore the building’s authenticity while creating inspiring spaces and a truly exceptional property.”
Although the property currently operates as a successful hotel, with minimal renovations it could be purchased and converted into a private residence and therefore is being marketed for both opportunities. “Washington School House offers buyers a unique opportunity as it can continue to operate as an award-winning luxury boutique hotel or be converted into a beautiful family home,” said Gretchen Hudgens, a broker with Windermere Real Estate, the brokerage representing the sale of the property. “This is a special, trophy property for someone who wants to be in the heart of Park City near Main Street, but also loves the outdoors and enjoys skiing, hiking, mountain biking and more.”
STORY
Built in 1889, the Washington School House, a National Historic Registry landmark, was named after George Washington and is one of the last schoolhouses still standing in the United States. Although it nearly burned down in the Great Park City Fire of 1898, it survived, but after enrollment declined following the stock market crash of 1929, it was sold to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1936, who used it for dances and social events until the 1950s. In 1984, the building was purchased and converted to a bed and breakfast called The Washington School Inn, which housed its visitors and the community until Marcy Holthus, the saleswoman and owner of Pilot Hotels, purchased the property in 2009. The property has been masterfully renovated while maintaining the building’s historic integrity, including preserving the original limestone exterior. The interiors were completely remodeled and stripped down to the ground. Rebuilt with modern design elements and a brilliant floor plan, while retaining the two-story double-pane windows, the 12-room luxury boutique hotel opened in 2011 as an architecturally significant gem that defines the destination.
DESIGN + ROOMS
Design team Paul and Shannon Wehsener of Paul Allen Design and architect Trip Bennett have created 12 spectacular suites and rooms, each carefully finished with original reclaimed oak floors from the barn, locally quarried Utah quartzite, ice-white mountain marble bathrooms, heated floors, walk-in showers and contemporary fixtures. Built as a second home for the current owner and her family, the penthouse suite is located on the top floor and offers magnificent 270-degree views of the town of Park City that extend 500 miles to the High Uinta Mountains. Accessed via its own private keyed elevator, the cleverly designed floor plan allows the suite to be converted into a three-bedroom apartment with adjoining rooms and a private hallway. Other highlights include a spacious living room, fireplace, galley kitchen and sophisticated touches throughout including a 19th-century French wine table, original artwork, crystal chandeliers and more.
INSPIRING SPACES
The building’s stunning living room features 16-foot ceilings and nine-foot windows that illuminate the space with plenty of natural light. A roaring fireplace and a 10-foot gilded antique mirror from an opera house in the South of France serve as focal points, while a one-of-a-kind custom-made chandelier made of antler wood, dipped in white lacquer and encrusted with Swarovski crystals, hangs from above. A carefully curated collection of European antique furniture, exquisite fabrics, modern vintage paintings and custom pieces lend the interiors a sophisticated opulence and a high level of elegance. All furniture and decor except for a few personal items are included in the sale.
Outside, terraced into the hillside, is a heated pool and spa surrounded by aspen, spruce and boulders. With gorgeous views, heated floors around the pool and plenty of space to relax year-round, the highlight is undoubtedly the outdoor fire pit – a steel Olympic torch from the 2002 Winter Olympics.
At street level, there is a fabulous, chic ski lounge nestled into the foundation of the schoolhouse. The linear fireplace and locally quarried quartzite floors make it the perfect place to get ready for a day of skiing or mountain biking, or settle down for après-ski or après-bike at the end of the day.
LOCATION
Located at the top of Park Avenue, one block from historic Main Street where Park City’s annual Sundance Film Festival is held, Washington School House has had the pleasure of hosting outstanding figures in the film industry over the years. Just steps from world-class museums, galleries, spas, restaurants and shopping, Washington School House is also 150 steps from the back gate to the base of Park City Mountain Resort’s Quit’n Time slope, making it a stealth ski-in/ski-out. Centrally located, Washington School House is just 45 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport and the Million Air Jet Center, 25 minutes from Heber Airport, 50 minutes from Snowbird, Alta, Brighton and Solitude Mountains, and 45 minutes from Sundance Resort.
The team at Hudgens & Harrison and Grady Kohler of Windermere Real Estate represent the seller, Marcy Holthus. For more information, qualified buyers may view the listing online here or contact:
Private customer inquiries:
The Hudgens & Harrison Team
Windermere Real Estate
435-901-1015
[email protected]
Commercial inquiries:
Grady Kohler
Windermere Real Estate
801-815-4663
[email protected]
