Robert Redford, Sundance, and the Vision to “Develop a Little and Preserve a Great Deal”

Robert Redford — actor, director, activist, and environmentalist- passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. His legacy spans film, art, and conservation, but perhaps nowhere is it more tangible than at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah: the place he shaped as both a home and a philosophy, rooted in art, nature, and stewardship.

A Home in the Mountains

Redford first discovered Utah in the early 1960s, drawn to its rugged landscapes and quiet escape from Hollywood’s glare. What he sought wasn’t glamour but wilderness, a place of open skies, alpine forests, and the kind of silence that invites reflection.

From the beginning, his ambition was modest yet radical. He wasn’t interested in creating a flashy alpine playground. Instead, he imagined a place where recreation, community, conservation, and the arts could exist side by side. A place where development was kept small so nature could remain vast.

A Philosophy of Balance

Redford often summed up his vision in one guiding principle: “Develop a little and preserve a great deal.”

At Sundance, this meant resisting the pressures of unchecked commercial expansion. He set limits on real estate development, preserved large tracts of wilderness, and designed the resort to blend with, rather than dominate, the landscape.

But Sundance was never just about skiing. It became an arts community and retreat: Home to residencies, filmmaking workshops through the Sundance Institute (founded in 1981), summer programs, cultural festivals, and year-round opportunities to hike, ski, meditate, and reconnect. It was a place to be inspired by both nature and creativity.

Conservation and Legacy

Over the decades, Redford worked tirelessly to protect the land around Sundance, ensuring much of it would remain under conservation easements. Even when he sold the resort in 2020 to Broad Reach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners, he secured their commitment to uphold his model of responsible growth and preservation.

Today, Sundance spans thousands of acres where art and nature coexist in harmony, a rare example of a destination that feels intentional, thoughtful, and deeply connected to its setting.

A Place He Called Home

For Redford, Sundance was never just a resort; it was where he lived, walked among trees, skied winters, and gathered with artists, friends, and community members. In the resort’s words, following his passing, his vision was “rooted in this place”, a love that went beyond affection into stewardship.

His philosophy remains embedded in the canyon itself: protect its beauty, nurture creativity, and honour the connection between people and the land.

Looking Ahead

As Sundance continues under new ownership, the challenge will be to preserve what Redford built. The resort’s mission statement still reflects his ideals: to “draw inspiration from art, nature, and humanity, providing a place of discovery” and to remain “a leading North American destination that ignites the senses, nurtures the soul, inspires stewardship, and fosters creativity.”

For Utah, for the film world, and for all who cherish wild places, Sundance endures as one of Redford’s most lasting testaments, proof that it is possible to build with conscience, where every trail, building, and program carries the imprint of someone who believed deeply in beauty, balance, and belonging.

Find out more about the skiing at Sundance