Aspen

At Klug Properties, we firmly believe there’s nowhere else in the world we’d rather live than Aspen. And we’re not alone. One vacation to this mountain paradise often turns visitors into residents. While Aspen is internationally renowned as the ultimate mountain resort destination, what truly sets it apart is its conscientious and passionate community of full-time locals and part-time residents, rich cultural and culinary offerings, and seamless access to the breathtaking alpine environment. Aspen’s legacy, rooted in mining history and alpine sporting traditions, is carried forward by today’s passionate outdoors enthusiasts, who have set modern standards for sustainability and conservation.

Nestled between the Elk Mountains and Sawatch Range of the High Rockies on Colorado's Western Slope, Aspen’s thriving seasonal scene is famous for good reason. In the 1940s, Chicago industrialist Walter Paepcke and his wife, Elizabeth, discovered the sleepy post-Silver Boom town and devised a plan to reinvent Aspen as a utopia. Their ambitious vision soon came to fruition, transforming Aspen into a global arts and cultural epicenter.

As the world becomes increasingly crowded, Aspen remains one of the few places where you can still find an authentic ski town spirit—a place that continues to honor its founding pillars of renewing the mind, body, and spirit.

The Paepckes' creation of the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and the Aspen Institute has made the town a year-round hub for outdoor and intellectual pursuits. Every summer, the Institute hosts global leaders at the Aspen Ideas Festival and world-class musicians at the Aspen Music Festival. Art lovers can enjoy high-caliber events at the Aspen Art Museum, local gallery receptions, and annual gatherings like the Art Aspen Fair and the Downtown Aspen Art Festival. Fashion enthusiasts flock to the pedestrian malls along Cooper and Hyman Avenues, where luxury retailers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and Prada sit alongside beloved local favorites like Kemo Sabe, Pitkin County Dry Goods, Explore Booksellers, and Gorsuch.

Aspen's culinary scene rivals that of major metropolitan areas, especially as the longtime host of the famed Food & Wine Classic. Whether you’re savoring dishes at iconic spots like Matsuhisa, Meat & Cheese, Cache Cache, Steakhouse 316, White House Tavern, Piñons, Jimmy’s, or the J-Bar, every meal in Aspen is one to remember.

However, the town’s greatest draw is its stunning natural surroundings. Enveloped by the Power of Four mountains (Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and nearby Snowmass) and with the Roaring Fork River running through it, Aspen offers endless outdoor adventures. In summer, choose from hiking, biking, fishing, paddling, and climbing. In winter, enjoy snowboarding, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and easy access to the backcountry. The "secret seasons" of spring and fall are equally beautiful, offering a peaceful escape when town is left to the locals. Aspenites are also fortunate to have the Maroon Bells, one of the most photographed natural wonders in North America, right in their backyard. This iconic landmark serves as the gateway to numerous trailheads in the White River National Forest.