ELK MOUNTAIN LODGE
PRIVATE. PROTECTED. PICTURESQUE.
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION Elk Mountain Lodge is located at the north end of the upper Castle Creek Valley approximately ten miles from downtown Aspen. Views from the lodge open to a dramatic panorama of mountains to the south, including Star and Castle Peaks, Montezuma Basin and Pearl and Taylor Passes. Water, abundant throughout the property, includes extensive frontage of Castle Creek and several stocked ponds. Kaiser Creek meanders through the property. Surrounded by public land and easily accessed by Castle Creek Road, the 82.6 acre property sits in the heart of one of Aspen’s most treasured valleys, a place known for its extraordinary recreational opportunities, historical and cultural resources, and magnificent scenery. A stately and sublime slice of western heritage, Elk Mountain Lodge is a breathtaking retreat consisting of several parcels, each available for separate purchase. Conveying a rustic yet refined quality that is in complete harmony with the magical surroundings, the alpine inspired estate is ideally organized to function as a corporate retreat or a single family compound. Acquired in 2007, the current owner transformed the Elk Mountain Lodge from an event venue to an extraordinary one-of-a-kind personal retreat built in a highly crafted and authentically rustic style reminiscent of the great lodges of the National Parks. Unique amenities abound throughout the property, including cozy historic cabins and charming single homes, an indoor sports court, a state-of-the-art gym with aquatic exercise chamber, a 2,200 sf temperature and humidity controlled wine storage area, an altitude acclimation room, two hot tubs, and museum-quality interior lighting and display space. Extensive landscape improvements include a system of trails and bridges and stocked ponds for trout fishing, making it a true outdoor paradise.
THE HISTORY OF ASHCROFT Nomadic Ute Indians traversed the steep slopes and lush valleys of Castle Creek for hundreds of years, hunting deer and elk and gathering the area’s rich and nutritious fruits, berries, mushrooms and roots. The discovery of silver in Colorado’s high country brought thousands of starry-eyed prospectors across the Continental Divide into Ute territory. The new arrivals named their camp in the upper Roaring Fork Valley Ute City, changing it to Aspen soon after to reflect the abundance of Aspen trees in the area. The silver mining town of Ashcroft, settled in 1880, was actually bigger, more populated and produced more silver than Aspen, boasting 3500 residents, a court house, post office, 13 saloons and at least two newspapers, a school and a Sunday school, a literary society and 3 hotels, a baseball team, meat store, boot and stationery store and a smelter, a brothel, a doctor, a jail, and a bowling alley. The Silver Bust of 1890 transformed Aspen and Ashcroft into ghost towns overnight. A small population of die-hard prospectors continue to inhabit Ashcroft, spending their days hunting, fishing, trapping, reading and drinking. Aspen’s first ski resort, the Highland-Bavarian Lodge, opened in late 1936 at the junction of Castle and Conundrum Creeks, a few miles to the north of Ashcroft. Built by international sportsman Ted Ryan and his partner Billy Fiske, captain of America’s gold medal Olympic bobsled team, the lodge was envisioned to be a European style ski resort complete with an aerial tramway leading up to Mount Hayden. Though the tram never materialized, hardy
skiers could attach skins to their skis to climb up through Little Annie Basin to the top of nearby Richmond Hill on Aspen Mountain, from which point they could either return to the lodge via the basin or cross over to Buckhorn, and traverse through Tourtelotte Park and the myriad of mining roads until they reached Aspen. During World War II, Ryan leased Ashcroft to the US Army’s Tenth Mountain Division for $1 a year for high-altitude mountaineering training. Stuart Mace, a dog-trainer with the Tenth Mountain Division, arrived in the Castle Creek Valley in 1948 with his unique breed of “Toklat” huskies. Building Toklat Lodge using timbers from a nearby bankrupt mine, lumber from a demolished school in Aspen and discarded marble from the nearby marble quarry, Toklat became a world-renowned guest lodge, workshop, gallery, and dog sled touring business. In 1950 Mace and his dogs were featured on a popular CBS show, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, where each week, the dogs could be seen mushing through scenic Ashcroft. During the filming, Mace and the producer hatched a plan to preserve Ashcroft, with CBS pledging money to restore the cabins. A coordinated restoration effort was finalized in 1971 making Ashcroft the first self-sustaining cross-country ski area in the United States. By 1975, the area was designated as National Historic Preservation site. Today, Ashcroft Ski Area includes thirty-five kilometers of groomed trails across 600 acres in the valley surrounding the Ghost Town of Ashcroft. Accessible by foot, ski, bike, sleigh or car (in summer only) the Pine Creek Cookhouse serves lunch and dinner throughout the year.
THE HISTORY OF ELK MOUNTAIN LODGE In 1907, Robert Long homesteaded the site of the current Elk Mountain Lodge. In addition to grazing cattle and cultivating oats and alfalfa, he built Treehorn and Homestead Cabins. In 1916, Long was granted an official patent from the U.S. Government on 90.5 acres. After several ownership transfers, the Brand Family took over the property in 1933 and for 45 years, ran it as a fishing and hunting lodge and dude ranch. In the early 1970s and 80s, a series of development scenarios were proposed for the property, none of which proved successful. In the mid-1990s, the lodge was purchased by Ellen Randall and her son David Middleton who successfully operated the lodge as an event center for many years. The current owner purchased the property in 2007.
HISTORY, CULTURE AND WESTERN HERITAGE; CREATING A SETTING LIKE NO OTHER! Entire Property | $80,000,000 Located in an idyllic high alpine valley this compound of buildings, set into a manicured landscape of ponds, streams and lawn areas, is the ideal location for a family or corporate retreat. The Elk Mountain Lodge property comprises four unique parcels. The 52-acre primary parcel includes the 14,987 sf main lodge, 7 guest cabins and out-buildings. Three single-family homes are located on adjacent properties. Ideally organized to be a family compound or a corporate retreat, the entire property encompasses 13 buildings and 43,229 sf of livable area including 28 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms. LISTING FEATURES · 82.6 Total Acres · 3 Single Family Homes + Main Lodge · 5 Guest Cabins · Ponds · Stream and Bridges · Trail System · Castle Creek Frontage · Surrounded by Public Land
WHERE THE MAGICAL SPIRIT OF THE WILD WEST LIVES ON! Main House | $60,000,000 A western history buff and collector of western art, the current owner purchased the Elk Mountain Lodge in 2007. Seeing the potential to create a home that would embrace the rich history of the Castle Creek Valley, the owner carefully converted the former event hall into a luxurious single family home. Reminiscent of the great lodges of the national parks, the Elk Mountain Lodge is characterized by a rich and authentic craftsmanship that combines wood and stone in a majestic structure that is both visually appealing and a natural fit within the larger landscape. Fine finishes abound throughout, including dramatic relief carvings of western scenes in select timbers in the great room, rare Zebra wood floors in the dining room, leatherwrapped stair railings, pine siding, museum-quality art lighting. Interior design details are rich in color and texture, yet warm and comfortable. LISTING FEATURES · 14,987 sf of Interior Living Space · 8 Bedrooms · 6 Full Bathrooms, 3 Powder Rooms · Commercial-Grade Kitchen · 2200 sf Temperature-Controlled Wine Storage · 2 Hot-Tubs - One is purported to be the Largest in Colorado · Professional-grade Outdoor Kitchen with Wood-Fired Pizza Oven · 2-story Great Room with floor-to-ceiling glass and views to Elk Mountains and Ashcroft · Formal Dining Room - Seats 20 · His and Hers Offices · Hyperbaric Den/Media Room with Oxygen, Humidification and Air Conditioning
THE ENTERTAINMENT OUTPOST Crystal Cabin | Offered Separately | $8,375,000
LISTING FEATURES · 21 Acres · Main House | Two wings, connected by an interior bridge · 2 Kitchens · 3 Bedrooms · 5 Bathrooms · Entertainment Hall | Two story space including living room, game room, and wood burning fire-place · Attached 1-bedroom Caretaker Unit · Sports Court | Basketball Court is convertible to volleyball court with two large doors making it usable for car storage · Stocked Ponds
CHARMING & COZY LOG CABIN WITH EXTRAORDINARY VIEWS American Cabin | Included with Main House | $60,000,000
LISTING FEATURES · 1.5 Acres · 1 Kitchen · 3 Bedrooms · 4 Bathrooms · 1 Wood-burning Fireplace with Stone Surround · Oak Floors · Mud Room
INDOOR/OUTDOOR LIVING ADJACENT TO CASTLE CREEK Ashcroft Cabin | Offered Separately | $7,375,000
LISTING FEATURES · 7.4 Acres · 1 Kitchen · 3 Levels · 4 Bedrooms · 4 Bathrooms · Attached 1-bedroom Caretaker Unit with Private Enterance · 1 Wood-burning Fireplace · Garage · Mud Room · Extensive Outdoor Living Space · Hot Tub
FIND YOUR TRANQUILITY AMONGST THE HEART OF THE ELK MOUNTAINS.
GUEST CABINS RUSTIC HISTORIC STRUCTURES WITH LUXURIOUS INTERIORS GENTLEMAN’S RIDGE Located Adjacent to Trainor’s Gym · 2 Stories · 1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom · Full Kitchen · Reclaimed Barnwood Flooring · Living Room with Cast-Iron Woodstove on Stone Hearth
SILVER QUEEN Located Adjacent to Main Lodge TRAINOR’S GYM
· 1 Master Suite + Loft · Full Kitchen · Living Room with Wood-Burning Fireplace on Stone Hearth
NORTH STAR Located Adjacent to Main Lodge · 3 Bedrooms · 3 Bathrooms · Full Kitchen · Living Room with Wood-Burning Fireplace · French Doors · Deck with Views to Ashcroft and Elk Mountain · Built 2008
CRYSTAL CABIN SPORTS COURT
TREEHORN CABIN Located South of the Main Lodge · Built in 1907 as a Chicken Coop · 1 Bedroom includes 1 Bathroom · Small Kitchen · Views to Ashcroft and Elk Mountains
HOMESTEAD CABIN Located South of Main Lodge · Built in 1907 · Deep Front Porch with Overhang and Stone Patio · 1 Bedroom includes 1 Bathroom · Wood-Burning Corner Fireplace CRYSTAL CABIN GAME ROOM
· Views of Ashcroft and Elk Mountains
ADDITIONAL AMENITIES
LAST DOLLAR CABIN
TRAINOR’S GYM
THE GARAGE
Located Next to Gentleman’s Ridge Cabin
Located under Gentleman’s Ridge
Located Next to Trainor’s Gym
· Aquatic Treadmill
· Staff Meeting Room and Offices
· Currently used as Property Manager’s Office
· Fully Equipped Gym and Fitness Center
· Full Kitchen
· Equipped with State-of-the-Art Security
· Surround-Sound Audio Visual System: Flat-Screen TV
· Full Bathroom
Monitoring Equipment for the Entire Compound
· Powder Room
· Commercial Laundry Facility
· Full Kitchen
· Tongue and Groove Wood Ceiling
· Utility Vehicle Storage
· 1 Bathroom
· Brazil Wood Deck
· Could be converted to a Guest Cabin
ASPEN, COLORADO
Offered exclusively by: Joshua Saslove + The Bass Wogan Team © 2016 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS ARE DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. IF YOUR PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY LISTED WITH ANOTHER REAL ESTATE BROKER, PLEASE DISREGARD THIS OFFER. IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO SOLICIT THE OFFERINGS OF OTHER REAL ESTATE BROKERS. WE COOPERATE WITH THEM FULLY. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
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