April 25, 2021
It was a busy night at Adolph’s, the legendary gathering place for the ski racing world in Park City. Atomic’s table had grown from six to 20 as revelers came together to toast Daron Rahlves.
“Oh, we are going to have a party tonight,” said Adolph with that trademark pensive look on his staid Swiss face. The veteran restaurateur was nervous as he left the kitchen to rearrange his dining room. But underlying that nervousness was this heartfelt joy of being the centerpiece of ski racing in the world.
Swiss-native Adoph Imboden made the tough decision this month to close the doors after 47 years – the longest-standing fine dining restaurant in Park City. With his lease ending and an extension too complex, the 78-year old chef decided it was time. He’ll slide the last schnitzel onto a plate at the end of April.
Ridgelines
Adolph Imboden, owner of Adolph s Restaurant, poses in the entryway of his establishment on Tuesday. Imboden plans on closing the restaurant at the end of April.
Tanzi Propst/Park Record
Whenever I walk to my table at Adolph’s there’s a short period of distraction. Scanning the room, I step back in time to relive some of the great moments in ski racing history amid the hundreds pieces of memorabilia adorning the walls. Across the dozens of nations that have played host to the FIS Alpine World Cup around the world, few gathering spots have become the type of global Mecca as Adolph’s.