The Ultimate Ski Home

Publisher's Showcase from the duPont Registry

Gallery of Fine Homes 

One would expect the extraordinary from the CEO of Dreamworks, the film studio that brought us Shrek, Madagascar, and the Lion King. The Park City residence of Jeffrey Katzenberg does not disappoint.

"It is the ultimate ski home," says Paul Benson of Sotheby's International Realty, who is handling the sale of the $20.5 million Park City, Utah property.

On two lots within the prestigious Bald Eagle community, the home was designed by Rick Otto and Charles Gwathmey with interiors by Naomi Leff, whose celebrity clientele includes Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani and was built by renowned hotel developer New Star, a true dream team.

"They set out to build a home with a cabin feel -- a true family trap," says Benson.

A 14,100 square foot rustic lodge, with 7 bedrooms, 10 baths, and multiple entertaining spaces flowing beautifully from one to another, including a living room with 30-foot windows offering shimmering views of the silver rush town.

"It shows like an art gallery," says Benson, but one where you "want to jump on a sofa and enjoy a fire."

This is a house you want to be snowed into, he says, with a resort-style entertainment center on the lower level that includes an indoor pool, sauna, spa, gym, and game room. An 80" LED TV allows for private film screenings and a ski room with a bar that walks right out onto the slopes.

 

Should you emerge, three of the world's best ski areas are outside the door along with a dozen world class golf resorts and exceptional restaurants and shopping -- as expected from a town that attracts thousands of glitterati to the Sundance Film Festival and counts Mitt Romney and Katherine Heigl as part-time residents.

The town is enjoying a latter day silver rush, with home sales-- and prices -- climbing.

"The Olympics put us on the map," says Benson. "Sundance keeps us there."

With consistently sunny days and a lung-building altitude, the town remains a training paradise for Olympic-level athletes. "We have the lowest percentage of body fat in the U.S." Benson laughs.

It increasingly attracts buyers from the United Kingdom, France, China, Mexico, even Russia, says Benson, who markets properties around the world. In one recent month he ran magazine ads in 7 countries.

The strategy has paid off. With a client list that reads like an international who's who, Benson was named one of the country's top agents by the Wall Street Journal and is Utah's top broker, selling over 100 homes and over $100 million in volume in 2011 and 2012.

"It was," he says modestly, "a pretty good year."