Aspen, Colorado, is pretty much synonymous with the word skiing. If you look in the dictionary, it defines Aspen as any of a large number of various poplar trees that you would see when visiting here - no coincidence by the way. The locals who live here year-round could list 1,000 other reasons this tiny mountain town is spectacular. However, with a slight grin, most locals would admit that skiing indeed tops the list.
Locals like to exclaim, "We came for the winters, but we stay for the summers!" Nevertheless, let's be honest - it's all about the skiing. But it wasn't always that way. This week, our blog crew takes a closer look at the history of skiing and how Aspen got to where it is today.
Want to learn more about the mountains as they stand today?
Meet the Four Mountains of Aspen Snowmass
In this blog:
- Early Years
- Skiing Begins to Grow
- Aspen Mountain
- Aspen Highlands
- Buttermilk
- Snowmass
- Book Your Aspen Snowmass Ski Vacation Directly with Frias Properties!
Early Years
Originally called Ute City, this small mountain town had a population of 300 when it was renamed Aspen in 1880. Around this time, the first group of miners arrived in town after hearing that the resident Ute Indians had discovered silver. Early pioneers in the 1890s braved desolation, the elements, and Indian attacks all in search of this precious metal. During the boom days of the mid-1890s, Aspen had as many as 12,000 residents. But by the bust years of the early 1900s, less than 700 remained. Here are some other early-year moments, mixed with other world events:
- 1890-1900 - The Wheeler Opera House, the Hotel Jerome, and the Independence Square Hotel are built
- 1911 - Independence Pass highway construction begins
- 1912 - Two separate fires, 9 days apart, gutted the Wheeler Opera House
- 1914 - World War I begins in Europe. The U.S. is not involved at this point.
- 1915 - The Isis Theater opens
- 1917 - The U.S. officially enters World War I
- 1917 - Potatoes become the cash crop of the valley, even though some mining continues on a limited basis
- 1918 - Flu strikes the town and basically shuts everything down
- 1919 - The signing of the Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I
- 1924 - The Independence Pass highway is completed
- 1926 - The Aspen Smelting Company suspends operations
- 1929 - Black Tuesday stock market crash begins the Great Depression
- 1933-1936 - FDRs new deal puts many back to work in response to the Great Depression
- 1936 - Three investors seek to establish a ski area above Aspen
- 1942 - The U.S. officially enters World War II a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor
Skiing Begins to Grow
World War II put everything on hold. After the war, Friedl Pfeifer, a member of the 10th Mountain Division who had trained at Camp Hale near Leadville, returned to Aspen. In 1945, he met Chicago industrialist Walter Paepcke, and the two began developing the Aspen ski area. The two formed the Aspen Skiing Corporation in 1946.
Two different events helped shape the early years of Aspen skiing. In the summer of 1946, Paepcke brought more than 2,000 people to Aspen for his Goethe Bicentennial Convocation, an event featuring eminent musicians and humanitarians. This event is the genesis of many of the cultural events Aspen holds annually.
One of the guest speakers at Paepcke's event in 1946 was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary in Africa, also known for his interpretive life of Jesus. Schweitzer would go on to win the 1952 Nobel Prize for Philosophy. In 1950, Aspen hosted the FIS World Skiing Championships, a world-renowned skiing competition. This really put Aspen on the skiing map, and it quickly became known as an international destination.
The work of these two men (along with countless others) helped shape what Aspen is today: a four-mountain ski and snowboard paradise. Now, we'll take a closer look at the development of each of the four mountains - Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass.
Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain, or Ajax as some locals call it, is located in downtown Aspen (or above, you might say). From Gondola Plaza in downtown Aspen, the Silver Queen Gondola today takes skiers and snowboarders on a 3,267-foot vertical rise to the summit. Its configuration allows visitors to ascend the mountain from the center of town and ski down the Little Nell Run back to town. The very first chairlift in Aspen (a single-seat chairlift known as a Lift) was constructed in 1946 and, at the time, was the longest chairlift in the world.
Many of the first employees were former members of the famed 10th Mountain Division, of which Pfeifer had been a member. The venerable Lift-1 was in operation until 1972, when it was replaced by two double chairlifts, Ruthie's and Shadow Mountain. Access to the mountain was drastically changed in 1986 with the installation of the Silver Queen Gondola. Interesting note: Snowboarders were officially banned from Aspen Mountain until 2001. Today, all riders are welcome on the mountain. Aspen Mountain is considered moderate to difficult, with no beginner runs.
Aspen Highlands
A man named Whip Jones first developed the land for what is now Aspen Highlands in 1958 after the Forest Service suggested that it would be a great place for a ski area. When it opened that year, it had three lifts - including the world's longest single-section double chairlift. In 1993, Jones died and donated Aspen Highlands to his alma mater, Harvard University. Harvard later sold it to a Texas developer for $18.3 million before - eventually - it became part of the Aspen Skiing Company. In 2002, Aspen Highlands opened the famed Highlands Bowl and other expert terrain. Interesting note: Aspen Highlands is considered a local's favorite. Frias Properties offers ski-in, ski-out lodging at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Club at the base of Aspen Highlands and only steps from the Exhibition ski lift. Skiing: The Highlands Bowl is a must - if you're prepared for such endeavors. Otherwise, it's great skiing with usually fewer crowds.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk opened for the 1958-59 season amid a booming interest in skiing. Although it began slowly, by 1962 it had installed a pair of chairlifts and a restaurant at the top of the mountain. Although Buttermilk and Aspen Mountain were located close to one another, there was little competition between the two. In fact, the Aspen Skiing Corporation handled Buttermilk's marketing and ticket sales for many years. In 1963, the Aspen Skiing Company officially bought Buttermilk Mountain. Interesting note: X Games!!! Buttermilk has hosted the ESPN Winter X Games since 2002. Buttermilk is the easiest skiing, making it fun for beginners and families. Their ski school is spectacular!
Snowmass
In the 1950s, Aspen Mountain was booming, and developers were quickly coming up with ideas for additional skiing facilities nearby. Aspen architects Fritz Benedict and Hans Sarbach approached the Forest Service in 1957. However, numerous political and official obstacles stood in the way, and Snowmass did not officially open for business until Dec. 17, 1967.
Over the years, the ski area was further developed, and it flourished. In the 1980s, Snowmass owners sought to expand onto Burnt Mountain, but again, many political obstacles arose. In the early 1990s, they were finally granted permission. Today, it is owned by the Aspen Skiing Company. Interesting note: Snowmass has the most vertical feet of skiing of any ski area in the United States. It's known as an intermediate skier's paradise.
Book Your Aspen Snowmass Ski Vacation Directly with Frias Properties!
Need help finding a vacation rental or ski lodging for your Aspen vacation? We even have luxury lodging available at the Ritz-Carlton Club at Aspen Highlands - mentioned in the blog above. Call a local Frias vacation specialist at (970) 920-2010 and get the scoop! Tell them you read about Frias in our blog! Remember, you'll always receive the best available rate at Frias Properties of Aspen! If you'd prefer to book online, browse our available Aspen Snowmass vacation rentals here, and remember to always book your vacation directly with Frias Properties!
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