The revitalization of Aspen Mountain’s historic Lift One base is officially underway. Chalet Alpina has broken ground at the site, marking the start of construction on a new year-round neighborhood at the base of Aspen Mountain and a defining step forward for the long-envisioned future at the site where skiing in Aspen began. The moment caps more than a decade of planning, entitlement work and community collaboration to bring the historic base back to life, not just for the future residents, members and guests of Chalet Alpina, but for Aspen as a whole.
At the heart of the redevelopment is a new ski lift at Dean Street, located approximately 500 feet closer to town than the existing ski lift, which will eliminate the walk up South Aspen Street. The project also brings two acres of new park space, public lockers, dedicated bike and pedestrian access on Dean Street, and enhancements to Dean Street itself — public infrastructure designed to transform the historic base into a walkable, year-round gateway between downtown Aspen and the mountain.
To honor Aspen’s ski history, the project will restore and reposition several historic structures as part of the new neighborhood, including the two historic Skiers Chalet buildings, one of which will be home to a new Aspen Snowsports History Museum at Skiers Chalet, operated by the Aspen Historical Society, and guest services office, operated by Aspen Skiing Company. The Skiers Chalet Restaurant will be reopened after being dormant for more than 20 years. The historic Lift One base terminal, which dates to 1947, will remain on site, preserving a tangible connection between Aspen’s original ski base and its next chapter.
Chalet Alpina, the ski-in, ski-out resort, residential and membership destination at the heart of this reimagined neighborhood, will comprise 26 fully serviced, shared-ownership two-, three- and four-bedroom resort residences; six full-ownership four- and five-bedroom private mountain homes; and an extensive collection of luxury hospitality, wellness, culinary and social amenities and services, including signature dining concepts, a lobby bar and lounge, rooftop pool and terrace, spa and fitness sanctuary, ski shop, and dedicated concierge. The private club will introduce additional members-only experiences, including the Supper Club, an omakase speakeasy, cocktail lounge, day club, locker facilities, and rooftop lounge, complemented by AVENTURA outdoor and cultural programming and private office services.
Chalet Alpina is being brought to life by Irongate Group, the lifestyle-focused real estate company behind Costa Palmas on the East Cape of Los Cabos, home to the recently debuted Amanvari, and Aspen-based real estate development firm HayMax Capital, which has more than two decades of experience developing and investing in the Aspen community. This significant master plan is designed by Guerin Glass Architects with interiors by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.
“With some of my earliest memories being of skiing Aspen Mountain with my family, this project has always been personal for me," said Jason Grosfeld, chairman and CEO of Irongate Group. “Chalet Alpina is more than a resort; it represents the next chapter for one of the most significant sites in this town’s history and will anchor the Lift One neighborhood as the ultimate mountain base area destination in North America.”
After acquiring the Chalet Alpina site in 2015, Irongate and HayMax set aside previously approved entitlements to pursue a more ambitious vision: returning the ski lift to Lift One’s original, lower location. The decision required years of additional design work and coordination with the City of Aspen and Aspen Skiing Company, culminating in a 2018 master plan and 2019 voter approval of the broader Lift One Corridor redevelopment, as well as approval from the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board for the new lift location on Dean Street. With entitlements finalized and permits recently secured, construction is now underway.
“This groundbreaking represents more than two decades of vision, persistence and collaboration, beginning with those who helped shape Lift One before us,” said Michael Brown, co-founder and principal of HayMax Capital. “When we became involved, I believed there had to be a way to bring the lift back down the mountain and reconnect it with town. A lot of people told us it was a daydream, but we persisted. I’m incredibly proud we pursued that ambition, and grateful to the Aspen community and voters who supported it, along with the City of Aspen, Aspen Skiing Company and OKO Group, whose collaboration made it possible. We believe Chalet Alpina and the broader Lift One neighborhood will add something truly special to Aspen Mountain while honoring its history and bringing renewed energy to this important part of town.”
Construction is now underway, with completion anticipated in 2030. Resort residences pricing starts below $3 million, while the private mountain homes are priced from the mid-$40 million range. For more information on Chalet Alpina, visit chaletalpinaaspen.com.
