PRESS RELEASE | JUNE 30, 2026
Deer Valley Names Sam Phelan as Resort's New Executive Chef
DEER VALLEY RESORT; PARK CITY, UTAH (June 30, 2026) – Deer Valley Resort announces Chef Sam Phelan as the new Executive Chef, who will oversee the Resort’s acclaimed culinary offerings.
“On behalf of Deer Valley’s entire culinary team, I want to congratulate Chef Phelan for his well-deserved promotion to Executive Chef of Deer Valley Resort,” said Deer Valley Resort Vice President of Food and Beverage Jacob Musyt. “Chef Phelan brings more than two decades of culinary experience to his new leadership role, and we are fortunate to have him at the helm as Deer Valley continues to define luxury resort dining experiences.”
Raised in Mountain Brook, Alabama, Chef Phelan brings his passion for culinary excellence and authentic Southern hospitality to his new role as Executive Chef. A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, his career has taken him from Stowe Mountain Resort to Napa Valley’s Calistoga Ranch, ultimately leading him to Utah, where he has fully embraced the mountain lifestyle and made it his home. Now deeply rooted in the region’s culinary community, Sam has held leadership roles at premier destinations including Montage Deer Valley, Waldorf Astoria Park City, and beyond. In 2022, Chef Phelan joined the Deer Valley team as the Executive Chef at Silver Lake Lodge, before his promotion to Resort Executive Sous Chef in 2024.
Chef Phelan’s cuisine reflects a balance of thoughtful technique, seasonal ingredients, and regional inspiration shaped by both his Southern upbringing and the rugged beauty of the Wasatch Mountains. A passionate mentor and educator, Chef Phelan is known for fostering collaborative, supportive kitchen cultures where teams are encouraged to learn, grow, and take pride in their craft.
A headshot of Resort Executive Chef Sam Phelan can be found here. Please credit the use of the image to Deer Valley Resort.
For more information about Chef Phelan or dining experiences at Deer Valley Resort, visit the resort’s website at deervalley.com or contact dvmedia@deervalley.com. rich-text, responsive-table
“On behalf of Deer Valley’s entire culinary team, I want to congratulate Chef Phelan for his well-deserved promotion to Executive Chef of Deer Valley Resort,” said Deer Valley Resort Vice President of Food and Beverage Jacob Musyt. “Chef Phelan brings more than two decades of culinary experience to his new leadership role, and we are fortunate to have him at the helm as Deer Valley continues to define luxury resort dining experiences.”
Raised in Mountain Brook, Alabama, Chef Phelan brings his passion for culinary excellence and authentic Southern hospitality to his new role as Executive Chef. A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, his career has taken him from Stowe Mountain Resort to Napa Valley’s Calistoga Ranch, ultimately leading him to Utah, where he has fully embraced the mountain lifestyle and made it his home. Now deeply rooted in the region’s culinary community, Sam has held leadership roles at premier destinations including Montage Deer Valley, Waldorf Astoria Park City, and beyond. In 2022, Chef Phelan joined the Deer Valley team as the Executive Chef at Silver Lake Lodge, before his promotion to Resort Executive Sous Chef in 2024.
Chef Phelan’s cuisine reflects a balance of thoughtful technique, seasonal ingredients, and regional inspiration shaped by both his Southern upbringing and the rugged beauty of the Wasatch Mountains. A passionate mentor and educator, Chef Phelan is known for fostering collaborative, supportive kitchen cultures where teams are encouraged to learn, grow, and take pride in their craft.
A headshot of Resort Executive Chef Sam Phelan can be found here. Please credit the use of the image to Deer Valley Resort.
For more information about Chef Phelan or dining experiences at Deer Valley Resort, visit the resort’s website at deervalley.com or contact dvmedia@deervalley.com. rich-text, responsive-table
Media Contact
Riley Elliott
Communications Specialist
Deer Valley Resort
media@deervalley.com
435-645-6510
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THE DEER VALLEY DIFFERENCE
Deer Valley Resort, located in Park City, Utah, set the standard for luxury in skiing by offering the service and hospitality of a five-star hotel. The ski-only resort is now delivering the largest expansion in ski resort history for the 2025/26 season. This winter, Deer Valley unveils seven new chairlifts, including the East Village Express—a 10-passenger gondola connecting the new Deer Valley East Village to Park Peak. Since December 2024, Deer Valley has added 10 new lifts, doubling its skiable terrain and redefining the mountain experience. This transformation is part of Expanded Excellence, a resort-wide initiative that includes a new portal at Deer Valley East Village with 1,200 day-skier parking spaces, the reimagining of Snow Park base area, and enhancements to on-mountain infrastructure. The resort now features 31 chairlifts, 4,300 skiable acres, seven bowls, and benefits from 300 inches of average annual snowfall. Deer Valley limits daily lift ticket sales and is renowned for its award-winning ski school, elegant day lodges, exceptional dining, and a wide range of luxury accommodations. In 2026, the resort named GMC as the official vehicle of Deer Valley and introduced a new fleet of GMC vehicles for resort transportation and guest experiences. Deer Valley has been named the United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards for 13 consecutive years.
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EXPANDED EXCELLENCE
In August 2023, Deer Valley announced Expanded Excellence, a significant resort transformation that will extend the skiable area to a total of 5,726 acres. This project will add a new resort gateway and village, reimagine the Snow Park Base Area, and revitalize existing mountain facilities. For more information and to view project renderings, visit Expanded Excellence. rich-text, responsive-table -
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