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Robert Redford is a legendary actor, director, and producer who founded the Sundance Film Festival in 1985 to promote independent cinema. The festival has become one of the most prestigious and influential events in the movie industry, showcasing hundreds of films from around the world each year and launching many careers of talented filmmakers.
However, some people wonder if Robert Redford owns Sundance Resort, a ski resort located in Utah that shares the name with his famous festival. Let’s explore this question and find out what connection Redford has with Sundance Resort.
The History of Sundance Resort
Sundance Resort was originally called Timp Haven and was established in 1944 by two families who wanted to create a recreational retreat in the beautiful mountains east of Provo. The resort grew over the years, adding more lodges, cabins, restaurants, and activities such as skiing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
In 1969, Ray Duncan bought Timp Haven and renamed it Sundance Resort after his role model and mentor, Native American actor Sundance Kid (Harry Alonzo Longabaugh). Duncan expanded the resort’s amenities and made it more eco-friendly by using renewable energy sources such as solar power.
Robert Redford’s Involvement with Sundance Resort
Robert Redford first visited Sundance Resort in 1968 while scouting locations for his upcoming film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” which he starred in with Paul Newman. Redford fell in love with the place and purchased some land there in 1969. He later acquired more property over time and became a co-owner of Sundance Resort with Ray Duncan in 1980.
Redford saw potential in Sundance Resort not just as a vacation spot but also as a creative hub where artists, writers, and filmmakers could gather and exchange ideas. He envisioned the resort as a place that embodied his values of environmental stewardship, community engagement, and artistic expression.
To that end, Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 as a non-profit organization to support independent artists and advance their work through various programs such as workshops, labs, grants, and fellowships. The Sundance Institute soon became synonymous with the Sundance Film Festival, which Redford launched in 1985 as a way to showcase indie films that often struggled to find distribution or recognition.
The Relationship between Sundance Resort and Sundance Film Festival
Although Sundance Resort and Sundance Film Festival share the same name and founder, they are two separate entities with distinct operations and missions. While the resort offers recreational activities for guests year-round, the festival takes place only once a year in January for about ten days.
The festival is organized by the Sundance Institute but is not limited to screenings at Sundance Resort; it also uses venues in nearby Park City, Salt Lake City, and other locations in Utah. Moreover, the festival is not exclusive to films produced or owned by Robert Redford; it welcomes submissions from all filmmakers around the world who meet its criteria of originality, creativity, independence, and diversity.
The Current Status of Robert Redford’s Ownership of Sundance Resort
In 2015, Robert Redford sold his share of ownership in Sundance Resort to Broadreach Capital Partners LLC., a private equity firm based in California. Redford cited his desire to focus on his artistic projects and philanthropy as reasons for relinquishing his business role at the resort. However, he remains involved with the Sundance Institute and continues to champion independent artists through various initiatives such as producing films under his company Wildwood Enterprises.
Conclusion
In summary, Robert Redford does not currently own Sundance Resort, but he was a co-owner of the resort from 1980 to 2015. His connection with Sundance Resort stems from his personal and professional interests in nature, creativity, and community building. Sundance Resort and Sundance Film Festival are both products of Redford’s vision and passion for supporting independent voices in art and culture.