14 resorts in the West with cool fireplaces to warm you after a day of playing in the snow

Lodges and resorts in snow country want to keep the fire burning bright.

Yes, they want you to be passionate about skiing, boarding or other ways to play in the powder, but resorts rely on those fireplaces to create a warm spot in your heart.

“If you go into a lot of lodges, from Maine to [Oregon’s] Mt. Bachelor, you’ll still find a lot of crackling fires,� said Greg Ditrinco of Ski Magazine.

Old lodges still draw fans to their massive stone hearths, but fire pits are trending at contemporary resorts.

“You can sit around outside and have upscale, gourmet s’mores … and hang out with the family,� Dan Sherman, an executive at Ski.com, said of the fire-pit craze.

Cue the dancing flames. Here are 14 resorts in the West that are old-school, contemporary, quirky and everything in between.

Knickerbocker Mansion and Gold Mountain Manor, Big Bear

Knickerbocker Mansion and Gold Mountain Manor have smaller-scale fireplaces for those who crave a cozier experience. Both were built in the 1920s and feature log-style exteriors. The 12-room Knickerbocker has two original native stone fireplaces, one in the living room and one in the dining room. The centerpiece of Gold Mountain is the red quartz rock fireplace in the living room made from local stones.

Rich and Vicki Vaught, of Long Beach, play chess at the Tamarack Lodge in Mammoth Lakes.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Tamarack Lodge & Resort, Mammoth Lakes

Tamarack Lodge has that whole knotty pine vibe. It was built in the 1920s and has an old-school fireplace in the lobby that’s open to all. Nearby Mammoth Mountain is the big draw for skiers and boarders, of course, but there’s also a trail system for cross-country skiers and hikers to explore.

Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park; Tenaya Lodge, Fish Camp, Calif.

The granddaddy of all classic fireplaces is at the Ahwahnee Hotel. OK, it isn’t a ski resort per se, but plenty of folks come here to snowshoe, cross-country ski and downhill ski or snowboard at nearby Badger Pass (www.lat.ms/1Sot9yv).

The huge stone fireplace in the Great Lounge is the place to unwind after a day in the snow. You can play board games, grab a hot drink and sit on built-in benches around the hearth. There’s a second copper-hooded fireplace in the hotel’s Mural Room too. Both are open to the public.

Two miles from Yosemite’s southern border is Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. The hotel opened in 1990, but it captures the grand lodge feel with a rock-hewn fireplace for all to enjoy.

Village at Northstar, Northstar California Resort, Truckee, Calif.

Northstar has adopted the pool cabana craze, with wonderfully warm and fuzzy results. Six cabanas with fire pits surround the big ice-skating rink at the ski resort’s high-elevation Village.

Scoot inside the curtained quarters, put your feet up, grab a cocktail and relax around the stone fireplaces inside each one. Insider tip: At 3 p.m., s’mores chefs serve piping-hot chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker treats — for free.

Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Calif.

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is a ski-in, ski-out resort located mid-mountain on Northstar at Tahoe. The hotel is a modern take on old-style lodges with lots of wooden beams and an enormous two-story fireplace.

It took 20 people to build this 55-foot fireplace made of weathered stone. Head to the Living Room for big views of the mountain and to warm yourself by the fire, or go upstairs and sit around the chimney.

St. Regis Deer Valley, Park City, Utah

This something sculptor Dale Chihuly might have dreamed up. The St. Regis Deer Valley hotel has a restaurant with a 40-foot rock-style garden that bursts with flames. The low-profile line of fire and view of the Wasatch Mountains make this spot a one-of-a-kind stunner. You can order a sandwich or a hot drink from the Terrace Café while taking it all in.

Empire Canyon Lodge, Park City, Utah

Why dine near the fireplace when you can have dinner cooked in the fire? That’s the thinking behind a four-course meal at the Empire Canyon Lodge. Beginning Friday, diners can visit stone fireplaces in the Empire Canyon Grill, where different courses are prepared. Start with raclette — where you scrape the cheese off the grill and onto your plate — and end with chocolate and caramel fondue. ($63 for adults, $30 for children 12 and younger.)

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa, Beaver Creek, Colo.

For the outdoor experience, the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek lights up a fire pit where you can down a hot toddy or gourmet s’mores. At 3 p.m., chefs arrive with freshly baked cookies for those eager for a munch. And yes, they’re free.

Timberline Lodge, Ore.

Timberline Lodge sits on the side of Mt. Hood in Oregon and was built in 1937, which puts it in the grand lodge playbook. In the main lobby you have your pick of three fireplaces around an enormous 90-foot chimney. While you’re watching the flames, call up the 1980 film “The Shining� on your tablet, and you’ll see exterior shots of the lodge, which was a stand-in for the movie’s scary Overlook Hotel.

Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Wyo.

The Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole has a three-sided granite fireplace next to the resort’s pool and bar. It’s a cross between a traditional fireplace and the trendier fire pit. You can swim or soak in the hot tub and watch the flames jumping in the fireplace.

Moonlight Lodge, Big Sky, Mont.

If it’s stuffed stuff you’re after, head to the lodge’s Moonlight Tavern. Its floor-to-ceiling fireplace has a few preserved mountain goats making their way up the stone fireplace chimney. Check out the one just below the room’s chandelier.

Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Whitefish, Mont.

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake said it’s “inspired by the grand lodges of the past with the conveniences of the present.� After you ski, snowshoe, snowboard, dog-sled or ice fish, gather at the stone fireplace for a drink or a snack in the lobby.

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