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| Snow
Falls on Downtown Aspen 1 |
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Aspen is a life to live
See how much there is to give
See how strongly you believe
See how much you may receive
—John Denver; Aspenglow
The glitz, the glamor and
a rock'n good time. These days, it's what Aspen,
Colorado is
all about. Frequented by the rich, the famous and plenty of hardcore skiers
and boarders, this mountain village seems to convey an air of luxury around
every corner. It should be noted, however, that things have not always been
this glamorous. Before the five-star hotels,
elegant restaurants
and trendy shops
there was an industrious mining city, near-total economic collapse and decades
of quiet agricultural subsistence. In fact, it wasn't until well after World
War II that Aspen began to resemble its current image.
HISTORY
Towards the end of the 19th
Century, Aspen was off to a strong start. It had become the most productive
silver mine in America,
had a population of 12,000 and a community with banks, a hospital, two theaters
and an opera house. Unfortunately, those days were short-lived and by 1893,
an economic collapse sent the whole town into a tailspin. Although the mining
industry partly revived afterwards, things were never the same and by 1930,
only 705 residents remained. The town quietly slipped into anonymity.
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39
Degrees at the Sky Hotel 2 |
Sixteen years later, the Aspen Skiing Company was founded. Its goal: transforming
a then quiet village into a sort of Utopian community and a mecca of skiing. To
a certain extent they were successful. By the time the 1960s rolled around, Aspen
had not only developed into a world-class ski resort but into a haven for off-beat
artists and misfits. Its wild character attracted icons such as American folk
musician John Denver and American journalist Hunter S. Thompson—who, in
1970, made a bizarre run for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado and was only narrowly
defeated.
In the decades since, sky
high property values may have driven away the beat culture of the 1970s and
replaced it with a playground for movie stars and millionaires but much of Aspen's
wild spirit still remains. With a focus on community, the old guard residents
and the new visionaries have struck a balance between culture and recreation
that sees historic buildings housing modern stores and high publicity events
mixed with the town's traditional values.
LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION
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| The
Spectacular Maroon Bells 3 |
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Located high in the Rocky
Mountains of Colorado, Aspen sits 200 mi (321 km) southwest of Denver
and 130 mi (209 km) east of Grand
Junction. It is a secluded town set along the twists and turns of
Colorado Highway 82. During the summer months, travelers can approach from Carbondale
in the west or over Independence
Pass in the east. However, due to extreme winter conditions, Independence
Pass is normally closed from early November through May.
Just 3 mi (5 km) north of
town, the Aspen-Pitkin
Country Airport, or Sardy Field, acts as Colorado's third busiest
airport. Along with its constant flow of corporate airplanes and private jets,
regular commercial flights are provided by United Airlines, America West and
Northwest.
Roaring
Fork Transportation Authority provides bus service within Aspen
and connects the surrounding communities of Snowmass
Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood
Springs and Rifle. The local bus service within Aspen, and out
to Sardy Field, is free of charge.
Climate
In the valley bottoms, summer high temperatures reach 85°F (29°C), with
cool evenings that often dip below 30°F (-1°C). Winter lows can drop
to -30°F (-34°C) while daytime temperatures typically hover around 20°F
(-7°C). Humidity is quite low throughout the year but at the higher elevations,
afternoon summer thunderstorms are common and snow is possible year-round.
ATTRACTIONS
Though world renowned for
its four fantastic ski hills, huge runs and champagne powder, Aspen is not only
for those who ski. Numerous year-round activities, combined with an extensive
mix of arts programs, cultural events,
and a cosmopolitan nightlife, make this trendy village a busy place no matter
the season.
Summertime Adventure
Aspen's landscape is always dominated by the Rocky Mountains and all the adventures
they hold. During the summer, activities
in the area range from parasailing,
climbing and golf
to mountain
biking, whitewater
rafting and horse
riding. A surrounding network of trails appeals to the novice and
expert alike while Maroon
Bells, one of the most photographed mountains in America, draws
in nature lovers from every corner of the nation. Then there is the Silver
Queen Gondola. Silently, it glides above tall stands of pine as
it ascends to the mountain summit, taking advantage of the surrounding vistas
with floor-to-ceiling windows. Summertime visitors should be aware though, the
Silver Queen shuts down for inspection in mid-September.
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Big
Air at the X Games 4 |
A Place for Festivals
A festive city, Aspen kicks off each year with Wintersköl,
an annual toast to winter and the city's wild character. Then, after a slew
of ski competitions and music concerts, the warmer weather of June ushers in
the Food
and Wine Classic. Following close behind, the Aspen
Music Festival has not skipped a beat since 1949 and to this day
it brings together the world's most accomplished and promising musicians to
teach, learn and perform.
At the Core
Although Aspen is a small town, it has created a giant reputation for itself,
and it's easy to see how. The layout is simple: fine dining, trendy boutiques,
chic clubs and cool pubs are spread amongst its Downtown district. Numerous
hotels,
condos and lodges are centered around the West End, and, across the Roaring
Fork River, the East End contains a quiet residential neighborhood. This compact
design makes Aspen very accessible and visitors who take the time to wander,
will find it to be much more than a typical resort town.
Art Central
As it continues to place a strong emphasis on the arts, Aspen has evolved into
a world-recognized contemporary art venue—the Aspen
Writers' Foundation along with the Aspen
Art Museum and the Wheeler
Opera House will attest to that. For a town its size, there are
an amazing number of galleries
dotting these streets, giving them an original style and a certain flair. Likewise,
film is a popular medium in Aspen and not only because its rife of movie stars.
Aspen
Film, an independent film organization, has been fostering an appreciation
for movie making since 1979 with programs such as the Aspen
Filmfest, Aspen
Academy Screenings and the Aspen
Shortsfest.
Going Out
What’s more, Aspen's world of international restaurants
is likely to satiate the hungriest of appetites as the food industry's biggest
names contribute to this city's highly competitive restaurant scene. After dinner,
the star-studded nightlife
gets into gear, providing an ideal setting for those that want to see and be
seen and following a day on the hill, locals and visitors alike flock to the
bars
for an aprés-ski special.
Shopping
Hints of the past are tastefully tucked into this sophisticated city, making
it common to see Italian-crafted shoes and beauty
salons mingle with Black Forest antiques and authentic western
boutiques. Shoppers hardly notice however, as they soar from the fashions of
Gorsuch
to the kids-sized equipment of Short
Sport and onto the latest adventure gear at Ute
Mountaineer.
Boomtown to Ghost
Town
For a glimpse into the region's rich mining history, a trip to the nearby ghost
towns of Ashcroft
and Independence
presents travelers with a historic diversion as well as a scenic outing. In
good weather conditions, continue past Independence and ascend to the Independence
Pass where crisp mountain air and dramatic views await.
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| Skiing
Over Aspen, C.O. 5 |
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SKI TOWN
Even with all there is to
do in town, so long as Aspen
Mountain towers overhead it will be impossible to forget what really
draws people here—the skiing. Each year, Jack Frost dumps loads of pristine
snow on the area's four massive mountains, prompting skiers and boarders from
the world over to start their migration to Aspen.
A Brief History
After the struggling community built its first crude ski lift in 1936, skiing
quickly became Aspen's greatest commodity. In 1947, Aspen Mountain opened the
world’s longest ski lift and in 1950, it became the first ski resort in
America to host an international competition, the precursor of today’s
World Cup races. Three more mountains were developed shortly after. Buttermilk
and Aspen
Highlands both opened in 1958 while Snowmass
was established in 1968. Each hill lies within 12 mi (19 km) of town, and each
contributes to Aspen’s reputation as America's best in skiing and winter
sport.
Over 60 years after dedicating
its first chairlift, Aspen/Snowmass continues to grow and deliver more goods
each year. Between 2004 and 2007 alone, six new lifts and more than 200 acres
(81 ha) of terrain were opened. The Elk Camp Meadows learning area was added
in the 2007/2008 season along with the Snow Park Technologies terrain park and
the Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center. With over $50 million in on-mountain improvements
expected by 2010, it looks like conditions at Aspen should keep getting better
and better—weather permitting.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Hal Williams; c/o Aspen
Snowmass; Snow Falls on Downtown Aspen; Aspen, C.O., U.S.A.
- Michael Brands; c/o Aspen
Snowmass; 39 Degrees at the Sky Hotel; Aspen, C.O., U.S.A.
- c/o WorldWeb.com; The
Spectacular Maroon Bells; Aspen, C.O., U.S.A.
- Shazamm/ESPN ; c/o Aspen
Snowmass; Big Air at the X Games; Aspen, C.O., U.S.A.
- Hal Williams; c/o Aspen
Snowmass; Skiing Over Aspen, C.O.; Aspen, C.O., U.S.A.
