The History of Zermatt Resort

Some ask, how can a Destination Hotel and Resort, opened in 2006, have a history?  Others, including visitors to the resort ask why a resort and hotel found in Midway, Utah, is named Zermatt and designed and built in authentic Swiss architecture. This narrative will explain the why, what, when, who and where of this amazing world destination resort named from its meaning (“at the” “flat”) which is the open flat valley at the base of the Matterhorn in Switzerland in the village of Zermatt and the open valley at the base of Utah’s 13,000 foot high Wasatch Mountain Range in the Rocky Mountains, in the mountain village of Midway in Heber Valley, Utah.  

First, we go back to 1863 when Simon Schneitter emigrated with his family from Switzerland to Utah. They came as one of the diverse pioneer immigrants in the thousands from many countries as religious converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church). He with his wife and son Simon Jabez “Jake”, having lost one child while crossing the ocean by ship, and fellow Swiss immigrants settled in Midway, just 35 miles from Salt Lake City, because it was reminiscent of their native Switzerland. The creator and developer of Zermatt Resort, Dr. Robert L. Fuller, is the great grandson of Simon Schneitter. “Jake” Schneitter created Schneitter’s Hot Pots in Midway, a resort, with natural hot water baths from geothermal craters, established in 1886 and still in operation.

The Schneitter’s operated the family resort for 67 years where comfort, good food and the hot water bathing became famous with guests from throughout the United States.  Midway’s name originated from “Fort Midway” which was midway between two pioneer settlements, Mound City, where Zermatt Resort is now built, and Stringtown, near Soldier Hollow, the site of the 2002 Olympic venue for Nordic (cross country) skiing, and Biathlon. Today, the site hosts those sports, plus winter tubing, snowshoeing, and in summer, Golf on two 18 hole Golf Courses named for the Olympics, the Gold Course and the Silver Course.

Dr. Fuller (a dentist) maintained his family heritage when he built “Schneitter’s Swiss Oaks”, a year round condominium village, on family land in Midway, overlooking the “Hot Pots” (as the family called their original resort). When it was completed, and he had left full time dental practice, he felt it was time to bring the beauty of Heber Valley, the Swiss heritage of Midway, and the recreational splendor of this unique mountain setting to the public, by creating an authentic Alpine Village designed from examples and components of towns and villages throughout Switzerland, Germany and Austria, where he and his family had traveled so many times and was their heritage.

To create and build Zermatt Resort, Dr. Fuller took architects, engineers and designers back to these European countries for the actual design and planning of the resort. In fact, many of its main features, such as the beautiful 20’ high lobby fireplace with William Tell and Swiss Canton (state) crests, plus German wood carvings were created and carved in Oberammergau, Germany, then shipped to the resort and built in place. Along with its Austrian Chandelier, Swiss stained glass, French wood inlay picture (marquetrie) it is an artistic showplace of the elements and history this of this one-of-a-kind resort reflects.

The results have been the realization of what Robert Fuller conceived when he first envisioned the resort. Guests would not only enjoy superb accommodations, conference facilities, gourmet dining, boundless recreation, authentic architecture and incredible atmosphere, but they would also meet the wonderful people who would sincerely care about their time spent at the resort.  At Zermatt Resort, the guests Comfort, Convenience, Care and Concerns became his personal Commitment.

• Comfort, like that found in the finest Alpine Hotels and Spas of Europe, but with the Convenience of an International Airport located in a highly accessible American city, just 45 minutes from the resort.

• Care, for the resorts guests! Sharing their Concerns, that their experience will be the highlight of their business activities and leisure time.  

History!  Zermatt Resort has created a lot in its short time of operation, resulting from generations of family heritage and years of planning for its guests and visitors.