White Elephant Aspen Opening this Fall

Known for iconic properties on Nantucket and in Palm Beach, White Elephant Resorts is bringing its  mix of service, style and hospitality to the American West.

Scheduled to debut late fall, White Elephant Aspen – a project by Boston-based New England Development – will be located at the corner of Main Street and Garmisch Street, in the heart of Aspen's West End neighborhood and just steps from downtown, along the town’s cultural and intellectual epicenter

The Aspen Institute, Harris Hall and Benedict Music Tent are just a stroll away.

White Elephant Resorts retained Boston-based architectural firm EMBARC to inject a dose of modernity into Aspen’s prevailingly Victorian-inspired aesthetic when designing the 54-room hotel, and the resulting alpine-chic concept exudes a similar boutique sensibility as the collection’s other five properties while also showcasing Aspen’s cultural and artistic legacy.

Stylish contemporary interiors are imbued with a deep sense of place, as seen in the rich color palette of rust, warm whites and deep charcoals, paired with smooth leather, wood and stone textures.

Brand accents like a brass elephant trunk serving as the lobby desk and elephant knockers on guest room doors add playful touches.

The rooms and suites – some of which will have private outdoor patios or balconies for taking in the mountain air – come with Roman clay wall finishes, porcelain tile flooring, natural woods and textural elements of horsehair and rustic stone mosaics.

Custom furniture will be featured throughout, including hand-painted lamp shades, embossed leather headboards, resin coffee tables and oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures, all set against a palette of Aspen whites and cognac tones.

The piece-de-résistance is the 1,660-square-foot Penthouse Suite, with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and dining space, and a 1,600-square-foot balcony with sweeping views

Families and small groups, meanwhile, will have plenty of room to spread out in the two-bedroom suite, measuring 730 square feet.

A highlight is White Elephant Resorts’ focus on art: common spaces and guest rooms will showcase more than 125 original works, curated by art advisor Emily Santangelo, who has worked with White Elephant since 2017.

Designed to slow guests down to meander through what feels like a vivid gallery, the collection will include landscapes by artist Alex Katz and paintings by Robert Peterson, as well as special commissions by Orit Fuchs (whose Pop Art-inspired “Lady of the House” presides over the lobby of the White Elephant Palm Beach) and young British wunderkind Doodle Boy.

A focal point in the lobby will be the rotating photography of Maroon Bells by Bob Tabor.

In another fusion of past and future,White Elephant Aspen will partner with Anderson Ranch Arts Center, a cornerstone of Colorado’s artistic community for more than 60 years, creating a dialogue with the region’s art history, as well as opening the doors to the center for guests who will be able to sign up for special programs, including an arts summer camp for kids.

Fans of White Elephant Resorts’ Nantucket and Palm Beach properties will recognize signature restaurant Lola 41, which has also made the move west.

Known for inspired seafood and sushi specialties, the bistro draws inspiration from destinations along the 41st longitude parallel, all the way from Japan to Nantucket, where the White Elephant Resorts’ story began.

Aspen is one of the American West’s most versatile destinations, with Michelin-starred dining, shopping and culture in town, and adrenaline-fueled adventures in the great outdoors.

Wintertime is celebrated for top skiing, snowshoeing and arguably the chicest après-scene, while warmer temperatures bring festivals, special events and hikes.

To facilitate exploration, White Elephant Aspen will extend its long-standing partnership with BMW, offering courtesy cars to guests, though for more active types, complimentary bikes will also be available as well as a shuttle to the slopes.

For the end of an active day, there’s a year-round heated pool, two hot tubs and an outdoor fire pit.   

Direct service to Aspen is available from Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Atlanta via United, Delta, and American Airlines.

By: ack.net I May 9, 2025