"Our vision was to create luxury without pretense — an experience rooted in the soul of this incredible landscape," said Patrick Manning, managing partner of the Black Desert Resort. "We didn't want to replicate traditional Southwest motifs with the resort development. Instead, we chose to let the raw beauty of Greater Zion inform every design choice, creating spaces that feel both sophisticated and organically connected to the land. The Resort Center is the heart of that vision, a place for guests to connect, relax and be inspired."
The look and feel
Allen & Philp Architects came up with the overall design of the Resort Center, while the architectural concept was led by Madrid-based firm GVI, which drew direct inspiration from the surrounding black-lava flows and sandstone mountains. The palette is made up of rich basalt, warm wood tones and orange-glass accents that evoke desert sunsets.
The Resort Center at Black Desert offers three accommodation choices: the Hotel Collection, the Resort Collection, and the Plume Wellness Collection. The Hotel Collection's rooms, at the heart of the resort, have easy access to dining, the spa, the fitness area, the pool and the meeting spaces.
The Resort Collection's suites bring casual luxury and comfort together, with residential-style layouts featuring sofa beds and kitchenettes.
The eight-room Plume Wellness Collection near the Plume Spa & Wellness Center caters to wellness-minded guests with amenities such as circadian lighting, CBD-infused pillows, infrared therapy blankets, yoga and mindfulness tools, and aromatherapy using locally harvested botanicals.
Soon to open is the Terrace Collection, which will add another 174 rooms to the property.
Great gatherings
The resort offers more than 45,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space with views of the sandstone cliffs and black lava beds. Among the meeting rooms are the 10,000-square-foot ballroom, five breakout rooms and event lawns capable of hosting up to 500 guests.
Dine here
Among the seven eateries are two signature restaurants: Basalt, an American steak house showcasing prime cuts from local purveyors; and Latitude, an open-air spot specializing in wood-fired beef, seafood and vegetable-forward cuisine. Also on site are an indoor-outdoor lobby bar that serves cocktails and small plates; an artisan coffee-and-dessert bar featuring gelato and pastries; the rooftop lounge with 270-degree views and live entertainment; a sports bar with a menu of hearty bites and local craft beers, plus simulated golf bays; and a poolside bar for fresh salads and frozen beverages.
Spa appointments
Plume Spa & Wellness, the 15,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, focuses on renewal, emotional balance, mental clarity and physical rejuvenation. With 13 state-of-the-art treatment rooms, a menu of healing and restorative therapies and treatments. The Longevity Lounge features high-tech equipment and immersive experiences, including a dry cryo float (a floatation system), a hyperbaric chamber (for oxygen therapy), salt inhalation and more.
Filling free time
Black Desert Resort is anchored by a 19-hole Tom Weiskopf–designed championship golf course, which hosts annual events on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. Guests also can enjoy guided hikes led by an adventure concierge, daily fitness classes at Plume Spa & Wellness, culinary workshops with the food-and-beverage team, golf clinics and more.
The property spans more than 600 acres of desert landscape and with access to such nearby landmarks as Snow Canyon State Park and Zion National Park, as well as more than 200 acres of preserved land, 6 miles of hiking trails and scenic bike paths. Black Desert Resort is close to Tuacahn Center for the Arts, a red rock amphitheater, as well as the Kayenta Art Village.
Sensative to sustainability
Black Desert Resort is committed to ecosystem preservation. With that in mind, 67 percent of the property's 600 acres are protected open space, and sustainable practices have been incorporated into both the construction and daily operations. Black Desert Resort uses low-voltage power-over-ethernet for energy efficiency and employs an advanced water-reuse system.
In partnership with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Tech University, Black Desert Resort has established a protected lake habitat for the endangered Virgin River chub, a fish that is native to the river and is threatened due to habitat loss and drought. In an effort to protect this species, 400 Virgin River chubs have been released into one of the lakes, providing a safe haven for them to grow and reproduce, away from predators and other environmental stressors.