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Keystone Resort is making headlines this winter. First on Oct. 25, when it became the first ski area in North America to get its lifts spinning for the 2025-’26 ski season. And more recently for its forthcoming Kindred Resort, which is set to debut in December and usher in a fresh image for the Front Range favorite, one that developers hope will elevate the ski area to the level of Aspen and Vail.
A transformation has been underway ever since the mountain community incorporated to become Colorado’s newest town in February 2024. Within the Vail Resorts portfolio, Keystone has been branded as “the family resort,” with a first-rate ski school, skating rink, night skiing, and village parades with resort mascot Ripperoo.
When it comes to terrain, Keystone already quietly holds its own, with nearly the same vertical as Beaver Creek, and variety comparable to Vail—thanks to a recently added lift delivering skiers to the Bergman Bowl. Kindred delivers the missing piece to make Keystone a true destination resort: a slope-side luxury hotel with coveted amenities, including three restaurants, a heated pool, kids’ club, and spa.
Located in the heart of River Run Village, steps from the River Run Gondola, Kindred has been more than a decade in the making. At the heart of the $300 million project are 95 residences (90 percent have already sold) and a 107-room hotel, managed by RockResorts, which will welcomes its first guests January 16, 2026 (rates starting at $599).
There will be plenty of public spaces, too, such as outdoor firepits for gathering after a day on the hill. “Kindred is the first new major development in Keystone in the past 20 years,” said Shervin Rashidi, a development partner of Kindred. “The project will completely transform the base area, and we’re confident it will bring a new level of energy to Keystone Resort.”
Ready to see what the buzz is all about? Here are five things to do, see, and eat when you visit Kindred.
1. Score a fireside patio seat for après at Goodz Tavern.
With a prime location steps from where the River Run Gondola deposits skiers back at the base, Goodz Tavern is certain to be an après ski hot spot. Its spacious outdoor patio offers front-row seats to watch the last runs of the day, and the radiant heat from the fireplace makes it comfortable even in chilly weather. Comfort foods, like maple-yuzu-glazed pork skewers and the signature house-cured pastrami tater tot-chos (a twist on nachos with potatoes as the base) are perfect for sopping up après cocktails.
2. Take an art tour.
Kindred could double as a museum, showcasing more than 200 pieces (including 70 artworks in public spaces) curated by acclaimed Denver-based firm NINE dot ARTS. The majority of artists hail from the Mountain West, including Denver-based Mario Zoots. QR codes positioned discreetly near each piece unlock artist bios, creation stories, and details about materials and technique.
The ground floor has the highest concentration of commissioned original works, including three striking ceramic wall installations by Denver artist Liz Langyher. Don’t miss the “mountain bench” sculpture by artist One Hat One Hand; it’s functional art you can actually sit on, cast in concrete to echo the shape of Keystone’s summits, Dercum Mountain, North Peak, and the Outback.
3. Fuel your day with breakfast at Lula’s.
Kindred’s lobby-level restaurant is named for Lula Meyers, a pioneering woman from Keystone’s early days who was legendary for her hospitality and grit. Her generous spirit inspired the laidback space and the family-style menu—nothing at Lula’s is fussy. Come in ski gear or even bathrobes and dig into hearty portions of locally sourced alpine fare, from heaping plates of oversize pancakes drenched in maple syrup to house-made game sausages and French toast meant for the table.
4. Dine at Keystone’s first-and-only sushi restaurant.
Keystone may be late to the alpine sushi game, but its debut restaurant, called Kinji, aims to compete with storied spots like Matsuhisa. With just 50 seats, reservations are recommended one week in advance, especially if you want to experience the 10-seat chef’s table. Fish is flown in twice a week and turned into creative rolls and seasonal small plates like hamachi crudo with yuzu and miso-glazed black cod paired with rare Japanese whiskeys and sake.
Sushi aficionados won’t want to miss the omakase-style experience, where the chef selects the courses. Kinji opens for après-ski service around 3 p.m., so you can come straight from the slopes for sake and rolls. A private dining room for 10 has horigotatsu seating (a low table with a recessed space underneath for legs, providing the traditional experience of sitting on the floor without the discomfort of having to cross your legs) and can be reserved for groups.
5. Be well.
Kindred makes it easy to stick to dry January and any other healthy New Year’s resolutions. Hotel guests can choose from a roster of wellness programs, including Japanese-inspired tea ceremonies and guided, silent morning walks that depart at 7 a.m. and return to the hotel in time for you to still make first chair. Even non-guests can book treatments like pine-scented body scrubs and high-altitude facials at the spa.
The sober-curious crowd will appreciate the sophisticated NA menu featuring top-shelf nonalcoholic spirits such as Seedlip and Lyre’s, and a bottle service program with the same flair as traditional cocktail service.
