What defines a classic? In the case of ski towns, it is an equation that involves mining and ranching history, vibrant downtowns, world-renowned ski resorts, and outstanding terrain for getting outside to play. Plus, these locales are a little hard to get to, which keeps out the masses, and they are populated with locals dedicated to protecting their community heritage.
Crested Butte was established in 1880 and remained a mining town until the 1950s; the economy began shifting to tourism when Crested Butte Mountain Resort opened in 1961, now owned by Vail Resorts based in Broomfield. Originally called Columbia, the town of Telluride was founded in 1878. The remote boomtown flourished until silver prices crashed in 1893 and the U.S. entered World War I in 1917. Like Crested Butte, Telluride reinvented itself with the opening of Telluride Ski Resort in December 1972.
Beginning in 1879, Aspen established itself as a silver-mining town and with it came wealth, grid-patterned streets, extravagant Victorian residences, and cultural landmarks like Wheeler Opera House and Hotel Jerome, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection. Sharing Telluride’s fate, its heyday dwindled until World War II veterans and Europeans with a skiing heritage began to imagine ski runs on Aspen Mountain in the late 1940s.
Aspen, Crested Butte, and Telluride are truly impressive with their beauty, distinct vibes, rich histories, and admirable selections of venues, lodging, and year-round activities. Simply put, they have all the makings for meeting and event success.
Aspen
Aspen has four ski resorts to choose from, with Aspen Mountain conveniently located adjacent to downtown, while the other three—Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass—are accessible via free Roaring Fork Transportation Authority bus routes. Here, the gondola ride from town requires a ticket and takes you up to Aspen Mountain’s picturesque Sundeck venue, which is operated by The Little Nell, a Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond
property just steps away from the slopes.
Today, Aspen has 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space and 10 hotels that specialize in serving groups, including three that have received one Michelin key: The Little Nell, Mollie Aspen, and Hotel Jerome. For something a little different, The Gant Aspen has condominium lodging and a poolside conference center with panoramic views.
Aspen secured Mountain IDEAL certification as a sustainable destination in August and is a 100% renewable energy-powered community—the Mountain IDEAL designation is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, a nonprofit organization that establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism.
Last summer, event-management company RMC Aspen, based in Basalt, worked with a group that had major production needs for a business meeting in Aspen. “Fortunately, Aspen Meadows Resort is equipped with the technology and space to host sophisticated and dynamic meetings,” says Libby Prewitt, senior sales manager at RMC Aspen.
The 40-acre property with 98 guest suites and 22,000 square feet of meeting and event space is owned by the global nonprofit Aspen Institute. In the mid-1940s, Aspen Institute founder Walter Paepcke commissioned the renowned Bauhaus architect and artist Herbert Bayer to transform open land surrounding the town into a secluded destination.
“Whether it’s for a business meeting or a more playful incentive trip, it is always a treat to visit Aspen,” Prewitt says. “It is a perfect destination for networking, motivating, and celebrating hard work.”
As a premier Colorado ski town with a rich history, Aspen attracts visitors and groups from all over the world. “It boasts historic charm, bustling energy, a strong community feel, a vibrant après-ski and dining scene, and some of the best skiing in the American West,” Prewitt says.
Crested Butte
Free Mountain Express buses, colorfully painted by local artists, connect the town of Crested Butte and the ski village of Mount Crested Butte, home of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Equally as colorful are the storefronts on Elk Avenue, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town is known for its free spirit; the sport of mountain biking was started here in tandem with Marin County, California—Crested Butte developed the trails and events while Marin County residents created the gear. There are hundreds of miles of trails for groups to try the sport or to find sublime places for hiking, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing.
Much of the meeting and event space is in Mount Crested Butte, but renting the Center for the Arts Crested Butte and Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum in Crested Butte for off-site dinners and receptions allows attendees to experience a nice combination of the two towns. For a taste of local, bring your groups to The Eldo or Zuni West Brewing for craft beer and to Anthracite Spirits and Montanya Distillers for cocktails.
Planner Deb Brannon, owner of Altitude Events in Golden, has been planning the Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference (Gov Con) for a decade—her first one was in Crested Butte in 2014. Gov Con moves around each year, but this year returned to the area and was held in Mount Crested Butte from Sept. 25-27. With attendance capped at 425, this year accommodations were split among three properties located at the ski area base, and the conference was held at Elevation Hotel & Spa (trade show, breakout sessions, and registration) and the Mountaineer Square Conference Center (general sessions and awards dinner). Outdoor events included a VIP reception at the train depot in Crested Butte, welcome reception on the Red Lady Lawn, awards reception on the Butte 66 deck, and board of directors’ lunch on the patio at restaurant José Crested Butte.
“Attendees want to enjoy the natural beauty of Colorado, so I always attempt to get them outside as much as possible,” Brannon says. “As part of our sustainability initiative, some attendees hiked from Aspen to Crested Butte. We were so fortunate with incredible weather, peak fall foliage, and stunning views.”
In addition, musicians, photographers, breweries, and distilleries from the area were tapped to provide a local angle. “I loved working with so many people in the towns and getting to know not only the hotels in Mount Crested Butte but also the historic train depot, Bonez restaurant, and Center for the Arts Crested Butte,” Brannon says. “The town is beyond charming.”
Telluride
A complimentary gondola runs between downtown Telluride and Mountain Village, home to Telluride Ski Resort. It is a treat to effortlessly glide over the mountain terrain in the gondola, with a stop midway for trail access and Allred’s Restaurant, a memorable place for groups to dine with delicious food and stellar views. Telluride’s downtown is a showstopper, with dramatic mountain surroundings and loads of historic buildings
with shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Cultural events and performing arts have played a large role in the town’s renaissance and now flow through the seasons with bluegrass, balloon, film, and other key festivals. As in any ski town, groups can select from all the usual outdoor activities. The most adventurous attendees should try the Telluride Via Ferrata alpine traverse, and golfers will love playing one of the highest-elevation golf courses in the world, Telluride Golf Club. End a day of meetings with local beverages at Stronghouse Brew Pub, Telluride Brewing Co., or Telluride Distilling Co.
Due to its significant role in the history of the American West, the core area of Telluride was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1961, one of only five Colorado communities to receive the honor.
When it comes to events, Telluride has top-notch venues. For the past five years, Austin Retina Associates based in Austin, Texas, has hosted the Telluride Retina Film Festival at the Telluride Conference Center, which is held in Mountain Village and has 16,000 square feet of function space.The educational surgical conference for retina specialists also hosts a welcome event at The Peaks Resort & Spa, where most attendees book lodging.
The event is an après-ski conference held in February, meaning that participants ski, snowboard, and take part in other winter activities like snowmobiling or go into town and enjoy spa treatments before sessions begin. After meetings wrap up, most attendees head to downtown Telluride for dinner, says Stephanie Collins Mangham, CEO of Austin Retina Associates.
“Two retina specialists who are part of the planning group have homes in Telluride and Mountain Village, so that’s how we found the town and started the event,” Collins Mangham says. She notes attendees love the conference and the location, many coming in from Canada and Mexico. “I love that the town is walkable, dog friendly, and laid-back, and you leave feeling a sense of relaxation and fun.”
Best Bets
Aspen
Lodging:
Aspen Meadows Resort
The Gant Aspen
Hotel Jerome
The Little Nell
St. Regis Aspen Resort
Attractions:
Aspen Art Museum
Aspen Cross Country Center
Aspen Highlands
Aspen Mountain
Buttermilk
Pine Creek Cookhouse
Snowmass
Wheeler Opera House
Crested Butte
Lodging:
Elevation Hotel & Spa
Elk Mountain Lodge
Grand Lodge Crested Butte
Lodge at Mountaineer Square
Scarp Ridge Lodge
Attractions:
Center for the Arts Crested Butte
Crested Butte Mountain
Heritage Museum
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Crested Butte Nordic Center
Telluride
Lodging:
Hotel Columbia
Inn at Lost Creek
Madeline Hotel & Residences
New Sheridan Hotel
The Peaks Resort & Spa
Attractions:
Ah Haa School for the Arts
Sheridan Opera House
Telluride Conference Center
Telluride Golf Club
Telluride Ski Resort
aspenchamber.org
aspensnowmass.com
gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
skicb.com
telluride.com
tellurideskiresort.com
