Deer Valley · Community profile
Empire Pass is the most demanding community we work in — and the one we know best in Deer Valley. Eight finished homes, every Architectural Review submission approved, slope engineering on three different aspects, and a working relationship with the resort permitting office that goes back to 2009.
Why we build here
Empire Pass is where the Wasatch Back's most consequential custom homes are built — and the community where buyer expectations and review-board rigor are the highest. Architectural Review Requirements (the ARR) are exacting on massing, roofline, exterior material, exterior lighting, and snow-shed; we pass on the first submission because we know the document. Eight finished homes in the community, four more renovations, and a current backlog of three actively building.
Slope is the technical story here. Most Empire Pass parcels run between 15% and 38% grade, which means foundation engineering — caisson piers, structural retention, and snow-load roof design at Deer Valley's elevation — accounts for 18–24% of total construction cost rather than the 9–12% it would in a flatter community. We engineer to the actual lot conditions, not a typical case, which is part of why our Empire Pass schedules hit consistently.
The buyers we work with here come almost exclusively from out of state. Most have one Wasatch home already and are trading up to a ski-in build; a meaningful share are second-generation Park City families with a deep history in Deer Valley. The most-built program is 7,000–8,500 sq ft, 6 BR + 7.5 BA, ski-room mudroom with boot dryers and outdoor wash bay, integrated AV / security commissioning, and a four-season outdoor living room with snow-melt deck.
What we've built here
Portfolio
A broader cut from the portfolio — homes finished across the Wasatch Back in the last three build seasons.
Mountain Contemporary2024Old Town · Park City
Modern2024Deer Valley · Empire Pass
Traditional2023Heber Valley · Red Ledges
Mountain Contemporary2023Park City · Glenwild
Mountain Contemporary2022Park City · Promontory
Modern2022Park City · Silver Creek
Tell us about your project
Send us a parcel address — Owen will walk the lot with you, frame what the program could be, and tell you candidly whether the lot can carry that program. No design fee until you sign.
