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Just a few minutes past the iconic Sundance Mountain Resort, across a real-life “bridge of dreams,” lies a home that brings to life fairy-tale magic—while boasting enduring ties to the glitzy Hollywood crowd that regularly descends upon the surrounding area for late actor Robert Redford‘s renowned film festival.
Aptly named “Pont de Rêve,” which loosely translates to “bridge of dreams,” the recently completed custom-built Utah abode—which was eight years in the making—is now on the market for $7.5 million.
With nearly 6,000 square feet of living space, the architectural marvel offers not only the perfect winter hideaway, but also a rare opportunity to own a home in the exclusive Sundance community.
But as the impeccable craftsmanship and unique design of the dwelling might suggest, this was not built as a lucrative investment opportunity. Rather, it was a passion project by the current owners, who purchased the plot of land on which the stunning home now sits, back in 2016.
Today, their dream has been brought to life in the form of Pont de Rêve, which sits on an exceptionally private half-acre lot, and offers five bedrooms and six bathrooms, all with sweeping river and mountain views.
But size and scenery are far from the only things that make this home extraordinary.
“This was very much the husband’s brainchild,” says listing agent Jenny Mecham. “It was inspired by the work of architect Jeffrey Dungan and Japanese design principles. It was always meant to be a second home—a true getaway.”
This philosophy is felt immediately upon arrival, where a bridge carries you over the river to the home’s whitewashed stone entry.
Inside, a sense of modern elegance touches everything from the warm finishes to the minimalist decor. There’s no television in the great room, only a 2.5-story wall of windows designed to draw the eye outward.
“This wasn’t about coming up to the mountains to watch the ball game,” Mecham explains. “It was about coming to the mountains to be in the mountains.”
Throughout the home, European oak floors, stone surfaces, and custom finishes reinforce that ethos. Spaces unfold organically, from intimate gathering areas to rooms designed for more specific hosting needs.
A theater room, bunk room, fitness space, and expansive outdoor terraces round out the home’s offerings. There’s also a sizable unfinished ADU with a separate entrance, offering flexibility for future expansion or additional guest space.
Pont de Rêve is directly below the Sundance Nordic trails, the beloved local network for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
“No one can build behind it,” Mecham notes. “It will stay as private as it is now.”
That privacy is emblematic of Sundance as a whole, the listing agents explains, largely because Sundance has never allowed itself to expand in the way that other nearby resorts have.
“This community is tiny—maybe 150 homes,” she says. “It’s not like Park City with thousands of rentals. Sundance has done its best to preserve that intimacy. Even the inn has just 60 rooms.”
The setting itself just adds to the home’s appeal.
This traces back to Redford’s original vision for the area.
“When Redford bought the land in the 1960s, he preserved most of it,” Mecham says. “He wanted people to immerse themselves in nature. In his original cottage designs, you couldn’t drive right up to them—you had to walk through the woods to get there.”
Redford, who died in September at the age of 89, was credited with turning Sundance into the creative mecca it is known as today, having fallen in love with the area in the early 1960s, when he purchased his first property there.
When Redford first set his sights on the area, it was a humble and little-known ski resort, with the actor telling AD: “It was the private Shangri-la of a millionaire Hollywood star.
“I couldn’t get a bank loan. Every vehicle we had stalled. The waiters didn’t come to work. Our sewers backed up. We were robbed, and the tree in the Tree Room restaurant died.”
Although he admitted that he was reluctant to shatter that sanctuary by actively promoting Sundance—or any project linked to it—he ultimately realized that the area could serve as a haven for independent artists looking for a sanctuary away from the glitz and glamor of Hollywood.
Thus, in 1981, Redford’s Sundance Institute was born in a bid to “foster new voices in American storytelling and championing independent stories for the screen.”
Through the Institute, the actor also launched the Sundance Film Festival, using the event as an opportunity for lesser-known directors and filmmakers to share their work with the world.
In a market that’s recently seen triple the normal sales volume, Pont de Rêve has drawn significant attention.
“There’s been a ton of activity,” Mecham says. “We wouldn’t be surprised if this home under contract soon.”
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