About The Owner
It all started with a family vacation in 1968. My wife, Bonna, had spent the Summers of her youth in Provo and later graduated from BYU. Six years and Two children after our marriage, we planned a summer trip to the land of her memories. It was my first exposure to the majestic Utah Mountains. In a State known for its arid deserts and colorful rock formations, verdant forests and Alpine meadows came as a wonderful surprise. I soon found myself dreaming about a future vacation home, perhaps in a little valley with a picture perfect babbling creek. Some building lots for sale, but none offered the attraction of a Rocky Mountian trout stream...that land was owned by the descendants of the original Stewart Homesteaders, and they weren't selling. Then one afternoon we learned that a small cabin originally built by Ray Stewart, the founder of the Timphaven Ski Resort, was available for purchase. Ray had picked the perfect spot, bounded by two merging creeks. The chance of owning an original Stewart parcel seemed impossible, but there it was - all we needed was money.
It took some finagling, but we got it together (Thanks for the help Dad). At the time there were only a few scattered cottages in the little valley, then known as Timphaven. Now there were outsiders, the Jimerson family from California. But our Stewart neighbors welcomed us like we belonged and those friendships have lasted a lifetime. (cont. in next column 'Why we Bought')
The Owner purchased this cottage in 1968
Why The Owner chose Sundance
Our first Thanksgiving in the cold mountains of Utah was most memorable. We proud new owners courageously headed for Utah in late November, arriving at 4 a.m. in a snow storm. Bonna and I each carried one cold, crying child across the meadow through 200 yards of 4 foot drifts. No heat except the woodburning stove and fireplace, the roof was not insulated, the water pipes had frozen. The week was spent close to the fire. Bonna kept a kettle of 'camp-stew' brewing on the stove - Through the cold nights, we cuddled as 'one' in pushed together beds under 6 layers of blankets. For showers, we carried water from the creek to fill a primitive tank connected to the wood burning stove. I guess we did OK for a family of softies from Sunny Southern California.
In the evenings, both kids piled onto my lap in one big overstuffed rocker chair and I read stories by firelight and oil lamps - no TV, radio nor phone to divert attention. Kids had Mom and Dad all to themselves - these and the next few years were our most precious family memories.
The little ones grew, another was added, and they all went off to college, marriage and families of their own. The photo shows my present wife and I many years later with grandaughter Brynn-Bonna.
Robert Redford purchased the Timphaven ski Resort in 1969 together with most of the surrounding land. He paid tribute to Ray Stewart by naming the Base Area Lift in his honor. We tell a bit Ray's story on our web site - how it all changed from sheep ranching to ski resort when Ray rigged up a rope tow powered by a truck engine.
Ray's Place is now Our Place. Its where you want to be. The primitive cottage has long since given way to a charming three bedroom log home with all the modern conveniences. Come Visit Us where the creeks meet - a short two minute walk along a level lighted creekside footpath to Village shops, Owl Bar, Award Winning Restaurants and the Outdoor Sundance Summer Theatre.
Bruce and Bonn
What makes this cottage unique
A PLACE FOR ALL SEASONS. CRYSTAL STREAMS MEANDERING THROUGH WILDFLOWER LACED MEADOWS, STANDS OF GOLDEN ASPEN, RUST RED MAPLES AND GREEN BATALLIONS OF SPRUCE. TO SHELTER THE LITTLE VALLEY, ADD UTAH'S SLEEPING MAIDEN, MOUNT TIMPANOGOS MAJESTICALLY TOWERING OVER ALL.
START THE DAY WITH A JETTED SPA, THEN KICK BACK IN A SWIVEL RECLINER ON YOUR TREEHOUSE DECK. WATCH A DIPPER BIRD PLUNGE INTO THE CURRENT FOR AN EARLY MORSEL, OR A ROBIN LISTENING FOR A WORM. AS THE SUN CLIMBS OVER THE EASTERLY RIDGE, THE EARLY COOL GIVES WAY TO MORNING WARMTH, BUT YOUR SHADED PERCH ABOVE THE STREAM IS ALWAYS COMFORTABLE. TIMPCREEK IS A LONG WAY FROM CARES, BUT ONLY A SHORT WALK TO THE SUNDANCE VILLAGE FOR A DELECTABLE BREAKFAST.
FOR AN EASY AFTERNOON, CONSIDER A HIKE TO STEWART FALLS, OR A SCENIC DRIVE OVER ALPINE LOOP. LEFT FORK FOR TIMP CAVE, BEAR RIGHT FOR CASCADE SPRINGS. THE FERN CARPETED FOREST WILL USUALLY REVEAL MOOSE, DEER AND OTHER WILDLIFE. FROM CASCADE SPRINGS ITS A SHORT DRIVE TO MIDWAY AND THE PICTURESQUE HOMESTEAD RESORT WITH ITS INTERESTING HOT POTS. DON'T MISS THE CHARMING OLD WORLD SWISS COUNTRY INNS AND BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSES. STILL PLENTY OF TIME IN THE AFTERNOON TO CHECK-OUT PARK CITY WITH ITS HISTORIC OLD TOWN, GOURMET RESTAURANTS, AND THE ALPINE SLIDE.
BACK TO TIMPCREEK AT DUSK, THE EVENING WIND WHISPERS IN THE TREES, THE SKY HAS LOST THE SUN, AN AURA OF FREEDOM AND FARNESS FALLS UPON THE VALLEY, AS IT WAS WHEN NATIVE AMERICANS GATHERED AROUND FIRESIDE CAMPS. ONE BY ONE, THE FIRMAMENT POPULATES WITH THE WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY; A JEWELED TREASURE EMERGES - UNSEEN FROM THE CONGESTED CITIES BELOW.
THE WAYS OF THE INDIANS ARE LONG GONE AND MOST OF THE STEWART DESCENDANTS HAVE LEFT THE AREA. THE PRESENT STEWARD OF THE VALLEY AND ITS SURROUNDS, HOWEVER, IS NOT A STEWART, BUT RATHER, MR CHARLES ROBERT REDFORD.
