Snowmass Village Attractions

Ashcroft Ghost Town
In 1880, Charles B. Culver and W.F. Coxhead set out in search of silver deposits in Castle Creek Valley. By 1883, their camp became the town of Ashcroft, containing a school, sawmills, a small smelter, 20 saloons, and approximately 2,000 people. This little boomtown went bust almost as soon as it materialized, largely because the silver became virtually nonexistent and the promised rail links never appeared. There was a brief attempt to make Ashcroft a ski resort, but these plans were interrupted by the advent of World War II – developers focused on Aspen as a ski destination after the war ended. From mid-June to mid-September, guests may tour the remnants of this ghost town, which includes original and replicated buildings. Ashcroft Ghost Town is located on Castle Creek Road, approximately 10 miles south of Aspen.

Aspen Art Museum
The Aspen Art Museum presents internationally renowned exhibitions with a particular focus on contemporary art. The museum also provides art workshops, lectures, and tours that cater to all age groups. Its Art After Hours, every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. during exhibitions, includes free gallery tours and various refreshments. The art museum is located at 590 N. Mill St. Call the museum at (970) 925-8050 for information about its hours and admission fees; call the education hotline at (970) 920-2623 for information about its upcoming events.

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), located at 100 Puppy Smith St. within Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, offers numerous natural science programs throughout the year. The center is renowned for its work with school-age children, but it has activities for all generations and interests. In the winter, it offers naturalist-guided tours on Snowmass, weekly slide shows depicting adventures abroad, and snowshoe tours on top of Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and Ashcroft. In the summer, it presents one- and two-hour children’s programs, sunset beaver walks, interpretive campground programs, and varied naturalist-guided walks. Call ACES at (970) 925-5756 for information about its upcoming programs.

Aspen Highlands
Locals appreciate Aspen Highlands for the expert and adventure terrain found on Highland Bowl – famous for some of the most spectacular high alpine steeps and chutes in Colorado. The mountain is best known for its black and double-black diamond runs, but 18 percent of its trails are for beginners and 30 percent are for advanced – making it a ski area that all skill levels can enjoy. The mountain boasts 131 trails, four lifts that accommodate 5,400 riders per hour, seven restaurants (four at the base of the mountain and three on it), and a 3,635-foot vertical rise to its 11,675-foot summit. Aspen Highlands is located within White River National Forest, three miles from downtown Aspen. It is usually open from Dec. 14 to April 6.

Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain is not for novices – 52 percent of its 76 trails cater to advanced or expert skiers, and the remaining 48 percent are for intermediates. The terrain on this mountain is legendary, and even expert skiers find challenges on double-black diamonds such as Walsh’s and the Dumps. This mogul wonderland boasts isolated slopes (an average of three people per acre) and plenty of runs for intermediates and experts at the 11,212-foot summit. Two restaurants are at the base of the mountain, and three are situated on it – The Sundeck, located at the summit, is an excellent venue for great food and 360-degree panoramic views. Aspen Mountain, located within the White River National Forest in downtown Aspen, is usually open from Nov. 20 to mid-April.

Aspen Music Festival
The Aspen Music Festival is a nine-week celebration of classical music that takes place every summer. It is comprised of over 200 events (some free), including recitals, concerts, operas, lectures, discussions, and master classes. Performances take place at a variety of venues, but a majority of them occur at Harris Concert Hall and the Benedict Music Tent. The Harris Concert Hall, deemed the Carnegie of the Rockies by the Denver Post in 1993, is an intimate venue for chamber music (seats 500 people) that is acclaimed for its acoustic quality. The Benedict Music Tent, which seats 2,050 people, combines the acoustic quality of a concert hall with the openness of a tent facility. Call (970) 925-9042 to purchase tickets to one of the festival’s varied events.

Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a beginner’s mountain. Its rolling slopes are ideal for children, skiing newcomers, or those interested in honing their skills. Out of 41 trails, 35 percent are beginner, 39 percent are intermediate, and 26 percents are advanced. The mountain is also home to the 2003 ESPN Winter X Games and the world’s longest terrain park –Playstation 2 Crazy T’rain. Buttermilk is located within the White River National Forest, three miles from downtown Aspen. It is usually open from Dec. 14 to April 6.

Maroon Bells
The Maroon Bells, consisting of North Maroon Peak (14,014 feet) and Maroon Peak (14,156 feet), are arguably the most photographed peaks in Colorado. These picturesque twin peaks actually make up one mountain. Hiking or climbing these fourteneers is a popular activity, but only people with the proper equipment should attempt it – steep, loose rock requires technical skills to summit safely. Guests can encounter a stunning panorama of the Maroon Bells from the summit of Aspen Highlands or at the end of Maroon Creek Road. The Maroon Bells are located in the White River National Forest.

Smuggler Mine
There is a great deal of lore surrounding the actual discovery of Smuggler Mine, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, it is undisputed that a 2,350-pound nugget of pure silver – purportedly the largest ever mined – was found there in 1893. Walking tours delve 1,200-feet into the mine, located on Smuggler Mountain. These tours are offered year-round through advance registration. Call (970) 925-2049 to make reservations.

Snowmass
Snowmass has more skiable acreage than any of the other ski mountains, and it is ideal for the intermediate skier. Out of 84 trails, 7 percent are beginner, 55 percent are intermediate, 18 percent are advanced, and 20 percent are expert. The mountain is most famous for Big Burn, which is full of adventurous intermediate and advanced trails and the expert drops of the Cirque. The mountain is also a snowboarder’s dream, with the Super Dragon halfpipe and two terrain parks. Snowmass is located within White River National Forest, 12 miles from downtown Aspen. It is usually open from Nov. 28 to April 13.

Wheeler Opera House
Jerome B. Wheeler, a wealthy businessman, helped build Aspen into one of Colorado’s major cities in the late 19th century – the Wheeler Opera house is just one of his contributions that remain integral to Aspen today. The historic opera house is one of Aspen’s premiere performing arts venues. It holds over 300 events annually, including theater productions, concerts, dance performances, films, and lectures. World-renowned artists and local community entertainers share this performance space, giving it an eclectic repertoire every season. The opera house is located at 320 E. Hyman Ave. Call the opera house at (970) 920-5770 for information about its upcoming schedule and purchasing tickets.

Wheeler/Stallard House Museum
In 1888, Wheeler built a Queen Anne-style home for himself and his family. However, the family never lived there: His wife, Harriet Macy Valentine Wheeler, refused to leave their mansion home in Manitou Springs. Edgar and Mary Stallard occupied the house in 1905 and purchased it in 1917 – they lived there for 40 years. The restored residence, located at 620 W. Bleeker St., is now a museum that contains changing exhibits and information on the history of Aspen. Call the museum at (970) 925-3721 for information about its hours and admission fees.