West End

 

West End attracts a mix of year-round residents and second homeowners. Prominent figures in the neighborhood include cyclist Lance Armstrong, Koch Industries CEO Carl Koch, and Estée Lauder chairman emeritus Leonard Lauder. Film star Jack Nicholson was also a long-time owner of a West End property. People are drawn to this desirable part of Aspen from all across the world. West End has its own self-enclosed small-town feel with welcoming neighbors and a family-friendly vibe while offering some of Aspen’s best cultural activities along with proximity to an abundance of outdoor recreation.

 

Most homes in the West End are between two and ten minutes away from Aspen’s downtown core. Hotel Jerome borders the West End on Main Street and marks the beginning of the downtown area. This historic resort has been a prominent Aspen gathering place since its establishment in 1889. Enjoy craft cocktails and delicious small plates prepared with seasonal ingredients from across the Roaring Fork Valley at Hotel Jerome’s intimate Bad Harriet and elegant Living Room, or head to the vibrant Old West J-Bar for craft beers, vintage cocktails, and the best burgers in Aspen. The airy Plato’s Restaurant at the Aspen Meadows Resort serves innovative chef-driven dishes and captivating views of Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and the Buttermilk Mountains. World-class dining on Aspen’s Restaurant Row and an abundance of upscale downtown shopping are within easy reach for West End residents.

 

Aspen’s cultured West End attracts prominent intellectuals, scientists, musicians, and other thinkers and creatives with esteemed forums, festivals, and cultural events. The Aspen Institute is a nonprofit think tank with an international focus. Founded in 1949, the Institute seeks to foster the nonpartisan exchange of ideas with seminars and discussions on literature, politics, finance, and technology. Aspen Music Festival and School have played a significant role in Aspen’s social and cultural life since 1949. More than 400 classical music events are programmed as part of the festival each summer, with many events offering free entry. The school’s 650 students receive expert tuition and are given the chance to play alongside some of the premier international musicians who attend the festival. For more music, residents can take a short walk to the Harris Concert Hall and the Benedict Music Tent for shows and concerts.

 

Aspen Center for Physics invites over 1,000 leading physicists to participate in its summer and winter programs. Along with conducting research at the Center, these physicists offer free lectures and question-and-answer sessions to Aspen residents. The Aspen Historical Society is based at the West End’s stately 1880s Queen Anne-style Wheeler-Stallard House. The house’s first floor presents an authentic representation of the Aspen lifestyle in Victorian times, while the second floor is devoted to rotating exhibitions on the area’s history. The Aspen Historical Society also arranges many special events and expert-guided tours of Aspen’s historic homes, businesses, and ski slopes.

 

Homes in the West End enjoy convenient access to the Rio Grande Trail and the mesmerizing scenery of the 25-acre Hallam Lake Nature Preserve. A half-mile trail loops through the preserve and provides many scenic viewpoints of the forest, wetland, and meadow surroundings. The preserve is teeming with native wildlife, such as birds of prey, deer, beavers, bears, and foxes. Aspen Center for Environmental Studies organizes many special education programs at the preserve and maintains an indoor nature center with reptiles, tarantulas, and other species. Hillyard Park in the West End’s tree-shaded green space, providing a relaxing space for meditation, yoga, and picnics. Just outside the neighborhood, the Maroon Creek Club boasts the best golf course in Colorado. Maroon Creek’s Tom Fazio-designed course is surrounded by towering trees and striking mountain views. Other facilities include nine outdoor and four indoor tennis courts, exceptional swimming and fitness centers, and outstanding clubhouse fine dining.

 

Aspen School District is ranked first in Colorado and is one of the best public school districts in the entire country