“I built this chapel because I wished to create a place of silence, peace and dignity.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CHAPEL IN THE SKY
2008
-Ron Mason,
A place for reflection about everything that has been granted to me—especially the spiritual joy of my connection to this river, nature and wildness. These are the spirits which founded the Georgia Bar settlement and I chose this site because I wanted a place of visual prominence to underscore these values. This remote setting provides separation from daily life and compelling destination ending with unexpected drama about the sky and the landscape in the sanctuary. It is an abstract atmosphere that invites introspection within a setting which transcends common notions of sacred space.”
On 14 acres along the banks of the Arkansas River between Leadville and Buena Vista, the Georgia Bar's ten buildings were created with a passion for the surrounding landscape and an appreciation for European design. According to owner Ron Mason, a former national champion whitewater kayaker, “The family retreat idea began during the 1960s and 1970s. During that time, I spent many weekends in the mountains backpacking, cross-country skiing and kayaking, which fueled my passion for the natural environment. I became compelled by the lure of the wild and found myself building a Zentype of relationship with rivers and kayaking.”
Mason purchased the acreage in 1973, and during the summers of 1977 and 1978, he erected a tipi on the land, which he used as shelter while he taught whitewater kayaking. Mason remarks, “In 1981, I visited Finland and fell in love with their tradition of log building. This led to the design of the main cabin, which was constructed in 1982-83. It incorporates standing dead lodgepole pine logs from the Montana/Canada border, which were handpeeled on site using a draw knife. It utilizes the “Swedish-
cope” method of construction, allowing each log course to be fitted tightly together."
Drawing inspiration from an Italian tower that Mason and his wife, Gillian, explored while traveling, this structure was “an opportunity to create a pivotal element in the site in the same way that towers often mark the focus of Italian hill towns,” notes Mason.
He adds, “This idea was a bold move that might never have happened without the consistent encouragement of Gillian. The 50-foot height required a sophisticated steel structure with a wood frame cladding. We finalized the design the following year and completed construction in time for a year 2000 millennium tower party in the room on top.”
The Tube House took the form of a long box or tube cantilevered over Saw Mill Creek where it enters the Arkansas River. This spectacular space provides a sense of seclusion and stellar views of the water.
Learn more about the property on page 53.
20+ Locally Owned Offices in Colorado
FRONT RANGE
Boulder 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 100
Boulder | 303.443.6161
Cherry Creek 100 Saint Paul Street, Suite 200
Denver | 303.893.3200
Colorado Springs 102 North Cascade Ave, Suite 110
Colorado Springs | 719.578.8800
Denver Tech Center
8000 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 200
Greenwood Village | 303.893.3200
Evergreen 1240 Bergen Parkway, Suite A200
Evergreen | 303.674.3200
The Village at Castle Pines 482 West Happy Canyon Road
Castle Rock | 303.688.6100
RESORTS
Beaver Creek
26 Avondale Lane, Suite 119
Beaver Creek | 970.845.0400
Breckenridge
101 South Main Street
Breckenridge | 970.453.0550
Crested Butte
401 Elk Avenue
Crested Butte | 970.349.6653
Dillon
707 East Anemone Trail, Suite 4
Dillon | 970.453.0550
Edwards
34253 Highway 6, Suite 2A
Edwards | 970.845.0400
Telluride
137 West Colorado Avenue
Telluride | 970.728.1404
Telluride 215 San Juan Avenue, Suite C3
Telluride | 970.728.1404
Telluride
225 South Oak Street Telluride | 970.728.3086
Telluride 110 South Pine Street Telluride | 970.728.1404
Telluride | Mountain Village
565 Mountain Village Boulevard, Suite 101
Mountain Village | 970.728.1404
Vail | Bridge Street
228 Bridge Street, Suite 100
Vail | 970.476.7944
Vail | Mountain Haus
292 East Meadow Drive, Suite 101
Vail | 970.476.7944
Winter Park
78977 US Highway 40
Winter Park | 970.509.1740
Letter from the President
How we got here is a question that can be asked of a place just as easily as a person.
Spend enough time in Colorado's mountain towns and you'll find traces of the answer everywhere. In the curve of a railroad grade now softened into a hiking trail. In weathered cabins standing quietly beside homes built for a different century. In stories passed from one generation to the next.
Long before these mountains became destinations, they were home. Native people inhabited these landscapes with a deep understanding and respect of the land. Prospectors arrived chasing opportunity beneath the peaks. Later came ranchers, skiers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. Each left something behind. Each added a chapter.
What strikes me most is that while the details change, the reason people come here rarely does. They come searching for something. Adventure and connection. Perspective and room to breathe. The mountains have always had a way of calling people forward, inviting them to imagine what comes next.
Perhaps that's why summer feels so meaningful here. Trails reopen. Rivers run high. Wildflowers return. Families gather. We linger a little longer and remember that some of life's best moments aren't planned at all. And while much is written about winter in the Rockies, locals know a different truth: you may come for the winters, but you stay for the summers.
That spirit is reflected in the market as well. Following a challenging ski season, there is renewed energy across
the Mountain West. Buyers are returning with intention, inventory is creating opportunity, and optimism is quietly building for the months ahead. Like the towns themselves, these markets have always shown a remarkable ability to evolve and endure.
This issue is inspired by the idea of how we got here. Not simply as a look back, but as a reminder that every place has a story, and every story continues to unfold. Wherever this summer finds you, I hope it offers space to appreciate the road that brought you here and the chapter still waiting to be written.
The mountains have always been a place people come to begin again.
Your
partner, President, Colorado LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Sports
Shannel Ryan President, Colorado
Nolan Carleton Editor in Chief
Morgan Goodroad Creative
Nicole Glenewinkel Advertising
Ainsley White Producer
Scott Kapela Design Production
Sarah Innerarity Editorial
Connect with Us
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Sotheby's Auction Highlights
2025 was the year of irreplaceable things. Defined not by volume but by singularity, the world’s most discerning collectors pursued objects that transcend category: automotive legends, haute joaillerie, masterworks of art, and design that reshaped the modern imagination. At Sotheby's, value was not declared. It was recognized.
The Largest Piece of Mars on Earth Auction record for a meteorite.
$5.3 Million
Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave, Edo Period, 19th century Auction record for a Hokusai woodblock print.
HK $21.7 Million
Hans Eworth, Portrait of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, 1538–1578
Auction record for a Renaissance portrait.
£3.2 Million
Frank Lloyd Wright, An Important Double-Pedestal Lamp for the Susan Lawrence Dana House, Springfield, Illinois Auction record for a lamp.
$7.5 Million
Martian Meteorite — NWA 16788
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen
Most valuable Grand Prix car ever sold.
€51 Million
The Mediterranean Blue 10.03 Carats
Top price for a jewel or diamond sold in 2025.
CHF 18 Million
Elegance & Wonder: Masterpieces from the Collection of Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III
Most valuable Old Masters collection sold in a single day.
$64.7 Million
Audemars Piguet 'Grosse Pièce' No. 16869, 1921
Auction record for Audemars Piguet
$7.7 Million
Hermès, The Original Birkin crafted for Jane Birkin, 1985
Auction record for any handbag.
€8.6 Million
ROOTS, LORE, & TRADITION
HOW WE GOT HERE
DEFINE COLORADO MOUNTAIN RESORTS
Steeped in Native American heritage, European settlement, and a rugged history of mining and ranching, resorts across Colorado are known for their scrappy resilience in stunning settings.
Relics of the past decorate each resort town and can be seen in architecture, traditions, and Old World elegance. This blend offers a peek into the past with modernization brought by travel and a competitive spirit born from Western grit.
NATIVE AMERICAN INFLUENCE
Before miners arrived seeking their fortunes and skiers settled in the valleys to chase powder, Native American tribes lived in Colorado’s mountainous regions.
Many trails now enjoyed for recreation were once traveled by the local Utes for seasonal migrations, where they followed elk and bison to higher ground during warmer months and the valley floors during snowier seasons.
In an interview with Michael Childers from the Colorado State University history department, he explains, "Indigenous peoples established many of the mountain routes that remain in use today. For example, U.S. Highway 24 follows the trails long used by the Nuche (Ute) people. Early settlers followed these established routes into the mountains, later laying railroads and highways along them.”
MINING
Many of Colorado’s resort communities were founded as mining towns that weathered boom and bust in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Other towns were created specifically to be ski resorts with a flurry of openings in the 1960s and 1970s. These
various eras in our history shape the overall culture and architecture of the locale.
Breckenridge and Telluride were mining towns that boomed in the 1800s with the discovery of gold and silver. Crested Butte was a hub for coal mining in the 1800s until the mine shut down in the 1950s. Ranchers in the Gunnison Valley near Crested Butte supplied food, lumber, and animal support for mining camps. Ranching in the area continues to this day, with ranches making up 70% of private land in Gunnison County according to data from the county assessor's office.
Childers notes, “Early mining towns such as Crested Butte have Victorian architecture, which shaped our romantic views of ski towns."
Buildings like those along Crested Butte's Elk Avenue evoke both the town's mining past and skiing's golden age in the 1960s and 1970s, when people moved to remote towns to pursue a life centered on skiing.
The locations of early mining camps and settlements have evolved into world-class ski resort destinations, with building materials and architecture harkening back to the days of a rough and tumble lifestyle.
With its wood frame and high-front design, common in 1880s construction, the Crested Butte Museum building was originally a hardware store and supply center for miners.
Built in 1895, Telluride’s New Sheridan Hotel illustrates the luxe side of the mining era. Some of the early guests were mine owners and investors, when Telluride had one of the world’s highest percapita concentrations of wealth. The hotel bar’s mahogany paneling and filigree light fixtures retain the aesthetic of those bygone days.
C.F. & I. Tipple, Crested Butte, Colo., Est. Date Made, 1890-1920. History Colorado. 87.528.6.
Colorado Mountain Club members on a mountainside in Pitkin County, Colo., 1917. History Colorado. 83.495.5.168.
PAST MEETS PRESENT
The Barney Ford Museum pays homage to Barney Ford, a former slave who moved to Colorado to pursue mining, eventually becoming one of the state’s wealthiest men who fought for civil rights, including the right to vote. The museum preserves the lived experience of 19th century Breckenridge.
Mere blocks away, Breckenridge’s charming Main Street now has a James Beard Award-winning restaurant and upscale shops behind Victorian facades that once were home to saloons and boardinghouses, as history and present-day design coexist against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
EUROPEAN INFLUENCE
Sam Bock, Director of Interpretation & Publications and Managing Editor of The Colorado Magazine, remarks, “Euro-American settlers started importing their cultural affiliations and attitudes relatively recently. American settlers of German, Scandinavian, and Italian descent brought their cultures to the Colorado high-country. Their lasting mark is easy to see in the saloon culture they established before Prohibition. Today, many of the buildings that were originally built to house gold rush saloons became modern craft breweries or tap rooms.”
Telluride and Crested Butte both boast Victorian architecture in the Queen Anne style from the 1800s. Both towns are also surrounded by rugged peaks that contrast with the colorful homes and gingerbread accents.
Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, and Winter Park were created to be ski resorts, and their architecture and overall aesthetic are distinctly different from the historic buildings and homage to mining culture in older towns.
Vail was shaped by visionary veterans who had served in the 10th Mountain Division, a United States Army unit dedicated to mountain warfare equipped with specialized training for fighting and survival in mountain conditions. Camp Hale, located
north of Leadville just minutes from Beaver Creek and Vail, was a high-altitude training camp where thousands of specialized soldiers trained in alpine skiing, snowshoeing, and rock climbing from 19421965. After serving in northern Italy in 1945, some of the soldiers brought European ski expertise and their training from high alpine terrain back to central Colorado to build ski resorts including Aspen and Vail.
According to Bock, “It’s also interesting and important to note that the vaguely Germanic mountain town aesthetic visible in many central Colorado mountain towns like Vail and Winter Park was an intentional choice that dates back to the returning GIs from the 10th Mountain Division who started ski areas here in Colorado after World War II. The founders of these ski areas and the town builders who helped create the tourist infrastructure needed to grow a mountain culture from scratch. They found their inspiration in the aesthetic they encountered in Europe.”
In addition to their skiing prowess and knowledge of how to create a ski resort landscape, the early residents of Vail also brought the Bavarian and Austrian architecture to the area.
Affectionately known as "Pepi's," the Gasthof Gramshammer hotel and restaurant on Vail’s Bridge Street is a strong example of this style, with its wooden balconies, ornamental detailing, and oversized timber beams.
There are nods to German and Austrian heritage throughout Beaver Creek as well. Lech Zurs in Austria is Beaver Creek's sister resort, and over the decades, student exchanges, cultural visits, and goodwill have been forged between Colorado and Austria.
Ski Tip Lodge, Keystone’s first hotel, opened to guests in 1949. With a large stone fireplace and low ceilings, this timber structure was originally an 1880s stagecoach stop and a boardinghouse for miners before being purchased for the ski area. Many of Keystone’s trails carry names inspired by mining lore such as Montezuma, Jackwhacker, and the Flying Dutchman.
THE RAILROAD
Winter Park’s past and present are directly tied to the railroad, as the ski resort base area sits on the location previously known as West Portal of the Moffat Tunnel. This tunnel, completed in 1928, allowed residents of Denver to take the train to the ski resort, which opened in 1940. Many Front Range skiers and snowboarders continue to take the present-day ski train from Union Station to the resort.
The resort’s relationship with the railroad is reflected in the architecture at the base, with steel, wood, and heavy stone used in the buildings. Newer developments utilize reclaimed timber and metal accents in the train-centric tradition.
CULINARY
If you’ve dined in a mountain town, you’ve likely enjoyed dishes inspired by Native American cuisine. Bock notes, “Puebloan peoples were pioneers of agriculture in the southwest. They invented agricultural methods that optimized food production in difficult growing conditions and emphasized corn,
TRADITION
beans, squash, and importantly, chile peppers. Today, Colorado’s signature dish, green chile sauce, harkens back to the indigenous farmers who pioneered agricultural practices in this region.”
From crêpes enjoyed before a mountain bike ride to the Aperol Spritz you sip during summer alpenglow, there are also nods to European culinary favorites at each meal.
The gemütlichkeit tradition originated in Germany, as people gathered to enjoy convivial food and drink after skiing. The French Alps made “après-ski” popular in the 1950s and ‘60s as guests at glamorous resorts such as Chamonix socialized after a day on the slopes. This ritual is now ubiquitous across Colorado, modernized with DJs and bands performing at bustling cafés during the afternoon after a day of mountain adventure.
The next time you ride the train to Winter Park, relax at a slopeside chalet after a hike, or stroll through the charming towns throughout Colorado’s mountains, take a moment to reflect on the generations of people who have shaped the resort towns we enjoy today.
On any given afternoon, you’re likely to happen upon a concert, open-air market, or festival in any of Colorado’s mountain towns. Many of the large-scale events have European roots.
Oktoberfest
Since Beaver Creek Resort opened in 1980, the Trachtenkapelle Lech band has traveled to Colorado to perform at the Oktoberfest celebration each year. Stroll through Beaver Creek during Labor Day weekend and you can dine on schnitzel, bratwurst, and other favorites while hoisting a stein of beer and dancing in lederhosen and dirndls.
Ullr Fest
Each winter for 62 years, Breckenridge has hosted Ullr Fest as a tribute to the Norse god of snow. Locals and guests dress as Vikings for the parade down Main Street to usher in a snowy season, and the community bonfire is a chance to gather and honor the Scandinavian heritage of many settlers.
Vinotok
Crested Butte locals gather each year for Vinotok, an autumnal equinox festival that celebrates the harvest. This gathering includes a community feast, fair, and characters in unique dress all honoring the Earth.
Skiing near Notchtop Mountain, ca. 1923. History Colorado. 83.495.7.63.
SPACE TO ROAM
CRESTED BUTTE
Summer Events
KBUT’s Annual Friday Night Fish Fry
June 12
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Summer Opening
June 13
Crested Butte Social at the Crested Butte Museum*
July 2
July 4th Parade & Block Party
July 4
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival*
July 10 – 19
Crested Butte Land Trust
Starry Evening Gala
July 11
Crested Butte Food + Wine Festival
July 13 – 18
Living Journey’s Summit Hike & Soiree*
July 23 – 25
Crested Butte Arts Festival*
July 31 – August 2
Adaptive Sports Center
Crested Butte Open*
August 2 – 3
Pickin’ a Food Truck Competition & Festival
August 8
Project Hope Stand With Me Luncheon*
August 20
Grand Traverse Mountain Run & Bike
September 5 – 6
Crested Butte Film Festival
September 24 – 27
$820,000
Sold Price 1 In Gunnison County $147,712,644 Total Sales Volume 1 with 26% market share based on total sales volume 2
Brokerage
Crested Butte Farmers Market
Sundays | May 31 – October 11
Alpenglow Music Series*
Mondays | June 15 – August 10
LIVE! From Mt. CB Music Series
Wednesdays | June 24 – August 12
Elk Avenue Historic Walking Tours
Tues. & Thurs. | June – August
*LIV Sotheby's International Realty proudly supports these local events and organizations
Crested Butte Market Report
VOICES OF THE MOUNTAINS
SPORTS
MEDICINE SPECIALIST AND ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
In July, I’ll have been here for 30 years. I visited Crested Butte for the first time and my heart said, "You have to live here," when I saw Paradise Divide. I had offers at Mayo Clinic and UCLA, but I fell in love with Crested Butte the minute I arrived. It’s such an amazing place to be an orthopedic surgeon.
During my final year of my residency, I carried a picture of the mountains in my doctor coat pocket, for inspiration when I had challenging days.
With 30 years of experience as a team doctor for five Olympic Games, four Paralympic Games, and several Winter X Games, you’ve had some incredible experiences. Would you share some favorite memories?
One highlight was in 2014, when I was asked to be the Chief Medical Officer for the Winter Olympics in Sochi. I spent a year learning Russian, which was a game-changer to help me do my best work there. Whenever I go to the games, I learn the language. I’ve learned Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, and Italian.
One time I had an injured hockey player, and he received an X-ray in under 10 minutes rather than the three-hour wait. Speaking the language is my secret weapon.
After the Sochi games, the athletes and I visited the White House and we got to meet the Obamas, who were so complimentary to the team.
The Paris games were wonderful. My kids and husband came with me, and we went to four events together. I attended the equestrian events at Versailles, which were incredible.
With so many locals and guests in mountain towns playing hard on the ski slopes or trails, we often get to know our orthopedic surgeons well. How do you see the role of orthopedics supporting an active community?
I am so busy in my practice. 80-90% of my patients are solid athletes, and I take care of lots of local student athletes.
For the last 30 years traveling with teams, I‘ve gotten a wealth of education, experience, and knowledge. Every time I travel, I meet with doctors from other countries and bring those learnings back to Crested Butte, which continually helps my practice with new methods and technology.
Where do you get your inspiration?
My parents were both holocaust survivors. When you come from a family like that, you learn what the human spirit can survive.
My dad wanted to be a doctor, but he had to leave school in fifth grade because of the Nazi occupation, and I am so grateful that I could become a doctor.
In spite of my father being sent to a camp, he had so much love in his heart and no bitterness. All that mattered to him was family and health and freedom.
When medical school was hard, I thought, “If my Dad could survive that, this is a privilege.” It gave me lots of strength.
What makes Crested Butte so special?
The beauty is unmatched, the wildflowers are incredible, and the people are wonderful. It was a great place to raise my family with a supportive community that loves nature and sports.
My heart belongs here and the moment I got off the plane, I knew I was home. I am so lucky that I followed my heart and intuition, and it worked out.
MT. CRESTED BUTTE 23 Gray Fox Lane / $13,500,000 7 Bedrooms, 6 Full / 2 Half Baths, 6,259 Square Feet
Experience high alpine living with mountain modern luxury, just steps from Mt. Crested Butte Ski Resort. Enjoy state-of-the-art amenities, stunning views, and immediate access to worldclass skiing and outdoor adventures. Discover the perfect blend of luxury and nature at your mountain retreat.
180 Elk Valley Road / Starting at $1,700,000 3-4 Bedrooms, 2.5-3.5 Bathrooms, 2,204-2,608 Square Feet
Brush Creek Village, located in Buckhorn Ranch only minutes from downtown Crested Butte, is a community of luxury townhomes featuring two layouts: 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath units and 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath units, all with attached 2-car garages. The units in Phase 2 enjoy stunning views of Mt. Crested Butte from second floor balconies.
UPPER PROSPECT MT. CRESTED BUTTE
Prospect Drive / Starting at $515,000
Vacant Homesites, 0.33 to 1.34 Acres
Michelle Rampelt 970.393.6077
Cassie Slentz Gates 970.596.5516
Mt. Crested Butte’s purposeful growth has preserved its stunning landscape while offering desirable resort amenities—world-class skiing, hiking, biking, gold-medal waters, and more. Upper Prospect delivers true slopeside living with 13 homesites available, all within a premier ski resort.
RURAL CRESTED BUTTE
783 Forest Lane
$3,750,000
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 3,878 Square Feet
Kiley Flint 970.596.3219
CRESTED BUTTE
507 Red Lady Avenue #110
$3,600,000
Commercial Opportunity
6,889 Square Feet
Nikki Pulitzer 970.209.9004
495 White Buffalo Trail
$2,950,000
5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 3,070 Square Feet
Channing Boucher 970.596.3228
14 Hunter Hill Road #A203
$2,700,000
3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 1,952 Square Feet Gary Huresky 970.209.2421
TBD State Highway 135 $1,199,000 Vacant Land 35 Acres Kiley Flint 970.596.3219
121 N Taylor Street
$1,100,000
7 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 3,736 Square Feet
Jaima Giles-Alsum 970.275.9357
Cassie Slentz Gates 970.596.5516
YOU ARE HERE
GRAND COUNTY & SUMMIT COUNTY
Summer Events 2026 Market Snapshot
Grand County
Kremmling Days 2026
June 19 – 20
Blues From the Top 2026, Winter Park
June 26 – 28
4th of July Celebration, Winter Park
July 4
Winter Park Jazz Festival
July 18 – 19
Revel in the Park
July 24 – 25
Winter Park Classics:
Race Rendezvous
July 25
Summit County
Lake Dillon Beer Festival
June 13
Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival
June 27 – 28
2026 Independence Day Celebration
July 4
Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival
July 11
Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival
July 18 – 19
Keystone River Run Art Festival
July 24 – 26
Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival
July 24 – 26
Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival
August 1 – 2
Breckenridge August Fine Art Festival
August 6 – 8
Breckenridge International Festival of The Arts
August 20 – 23
Crafts, Cocktails & Corks
August 15
Buffalo Days
August 14 – 16
High-Note Thursdays
Thursdays | June 18 – August 27
High Country Stampede Rodeo
Saturdays | July 4 – August 15
Breckenridge Wine Classic
August 20 – 22
Breckenridge Hogfest: Bourbon & Bacon Festival
August 28 – 30
Keystone Oktoberfest
September 5
Breckenridge Great Divide Art Festival
September 5 – 7
Frisco Arts at Altitude & Frisco Fall Fest
September 11 – 12
Breckenridge Bluegrass & Beer
September 11 – 13
Breckenridge Oktoberfest
September 25 – 27
Dillon Farmers' Market
Fridays | June 5 – September 25
Total Sales Volume
Median Sold Price
$823,370
Total Sales Volume Grand County Summit County
$665,797,628
Median Sold Price $233,601,747
$1,147,500
Grand County & Summit County Market Reports
VOICES OF THE MOUNTAINS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FRIENDS OFTHE DILLON RANGER DISTRICT
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
I’ve been in Summit for twelve years and eleven of those have been with Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) in various roles. I came to visit a good friend here, and I was drawn to the lifestyle, people’s attitudes here, and the access to outdoor recreation.
Tell us about your role with FDRD.
I was bartending at Keystone, a Board member sat down, and we started chatting about FDRD. After that season, I was hired as a full-time program manager, which I did for eight years.
Then I interviewed for the Executive Director position, which has been a great transition. We have an incredible staff who has really moved the organization forward over the past few years. We are consistently expanding our programming to give back to public lands.
Would you share some details on your programs?
We have adult volunteer projects such as trail projects and forest health projects. We partner on dozens of local and regional projects that are supervised by the Forest Service and executed by our staff, plus volunteers from schools, social groups, business volunteers, etc.
We have added more educational programs for people from three years old to people in their 90s.
For our youth programs, we work with almost every youth-based entity in the county and surrounding areas to provide experiential environmental opportunities to learn about our ecosystem, species of wildlife, and plants.
The Forest Stewards program is geared toward high schoolers who are interested in the natural world. We give them some responsibility to help learn more about what it takes to manage public lands through a diverse slate of projects.
Our Ranger Patrol program takes individual volunteers through training and a mentor hike. Then they hike trails in uniform to interact with the public and provide things like safe recreation tips, details on wildlife interactions, and fire prevention reminders.
We ask they do four four-hour hikes. We have over 150 volunteers that provide a friendly presence and better experience for trail users.
Word of mouth has made that program very successful. We have 15-20 new volunteers each year who want to give back.
If someone wants to volunteer with FDRD, how can they get involved?
We really pride ourselves in creating opportunities for anyone. Our time is our most valuable resource, and we want to match people’s interests and abilities.
Our staff is incredibly talented at finding opportunities and tailoring them to the interests of the community.
You can see volunteer options on our website, fdrd.org, with two or three projects each week in the summer, such as native seed collection, trail maintenance, watershed protection, and others.
One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting with people who are new to the county and want to get involved. It’s so gratifying to see people seek out the educational programs, events, and volunteer opportunities that are appealing to them.
We are a non-advocacy group, meaning we don’t take any political stands; we just align with the needs of the Forest Service.
The visitation for the White River National Forest is higher than Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon combined. We don’t anticipate visitation slowing down and it takes a toll on the trails, riverbanks, and wildlife. So we’ve carved out programming that’s appealing to our community.
For our educational programs, we have retired professors who lead hikes, bikes, kayaks, ski outings, and snowshoes
on various topics like geology, edible plants, night sky, and stream ecology.
It’s our goal to keep these free and open to the public. We see a great demand for these programs, and the people who lead them want to help and give back.
What’s your favorite way to spend a summer day in Summit County?
I love taking the dog out on a trail, finding a nice stream or river to sit by, and appreciating all the natural beauty we get to enjoy with such convenience.
It could be a trail I’ve hiked hundreds of times or one that’s new to me. Summit County has over 430 miles of Forest Service-maintained trails.
The Dillon Ranger District supports Forest Service land within Summit County. We are extremely grateful to the thousands of people who have donated their time over the years to assist this busy district of the Forest Service.
5188 CSH County Road 40 / $7,995,000
7 Bedrooms, 8.5 Bathrooms, 9,970 Square Feet
Laura Zietz 970.531.6575
GRANBY
At Kindred Resort, each day begins just steps from the world-class ski slopes of Keystone and ends ‘round the warmth of a fire. Thoughtfully designed for connection and adventure, the resort pairs a luxury hotel with 95 residences and effortless access to amenities like
SUNNYSIDE FLATS
WINTER PARK
Winter Park Ranch / Starting at $699,000 2-3 Bedrooms, 2-3 Bathrooms, 968-1,463 Square Feet
Lauren Vollono 720.541.8264
Sunnyside Flats is a brand new condo community in the heart of Fraser Valley featuring 140 thoughtfully designed homes, built over three phases. Every home includes a rare mountain luxury—an oversized, heated garage—along with hot tub-ready decks/patios and breathtaking views of Winter Park Resort, Byers Peak, and the Continental Divide.
These mountain modern single family homes are built for an active Colorado lifestyle. It’s what we like to call peak living, where high altitude adventurers come home to gather and recharge for tomorrow. If enjoying the outdoors is why you’re here, take a look at Wilds 360.
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YOU ARE HERE
Summer Events
A Telluride Theatre FRINGE Project
June 4 – 5
Telluride Balloon Festival
June 5 – 7
Telluride Food & Vine
June 11 – 14
Mass Movement
June 12
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 18 – 21
Telluride Yoga Festival
June 25 – 28
Telluride Chamber Music: Musicfest
June 28 – July 5
Telluride Plein Air Festival
June 29 – July 5
Red, White & Blues
Fourth of July Celebration
July 3 – 4
Telluride Fourth of July Parade
July 4
Rundola
July 4
Telluride Table
July 10 – 12
Telluride Americana Music Festival
July 17 – 18
Ah Haa HAHA
Community Art Event
July 17 – 19
Shakespeare in the Park
July 17 – 25
Telluride Baseball Festival
July 20 – 26
Telluride Reserve
July 30 – August 1
San Miguel Basin Fair & Rodeo
July 31 – August 1
Top Chef and Taste of Telluride
August 1
Telluride Jazz Festival
August 7 – 8
KOTO Duck Race
August 7
Telluride Mushroom Festival
August 12 – 16
Camp Alderwild
August 28 – 29
Telluride Film Festival
September 4 – 7
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
September 18 – 20
Telluride Autumn Classic
September 24 – 27
Corvettes & Colors
September 24 – 27
Original Thinkers Festival
October 1 – 4
Telluride Horror Show
October 16 – 18
Telluride Art Walk
First Thursdays | June 4 – October 1
Telluride Farmers’ Market
Fridays | May 29 – October 9
Music on the Green
Fridays | May 29 – September 18
Market on the Plaza
Wednesdays | June 10 – September 9
Movies Under the Stars
Saturdays | June 13 – August 15
2026 Market Snapshot
$210,394,051
43% Median Sold Price Market Share
$2,850,000
Total Sales Volume based on total sales volume in Telluride & Mountain Village
Telluride Market Report
VOICES OF THE MOUNTAINS
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
Scott: I’ve been in town for 13 years, and snowboarding brought me here.
Hailey: I came from Moab to the mountains 10 years ago. I came for the winter and stayed for the summer.
Please share some background on your history with Coffee Cowboy over the past six years.
Scott: We bought the Coffee Cowboy in November 2020 from Josh and Monique Johnson, and we are the fourth owners. It was originally founded in 1993 by the Hodges, and now we are carrying the torch.
Hailey: I was a barista at the original coffee cart, which was basically in our front yard, since we were roommates in an old, converted motel at the time. One day while working at the cart, some guy with alligator boots on came walking up to the cart and said "I’m gonna buy this place" and it was that comment that spurred me to take action to ensure that never happened.
I was one of the four employees working at the coffee cart during COVID, after my outdoor education job got cancelled for the summer due to the pandemic. Scott and I were both ski and snowboard instructors and had worked in various service industry jobs.
Scott: I was spending the summers leading community service trips in Costa Rica, and Hailey had worked for Outward Bound in Moab. We both lean on soft skills from our outdoor education backgrounds.
What changes and improvements have you made since you bought the business?
Hailey: This company is more expansive than we had imagined when we took it over. Now we have 31 staff members and two locations in a very cool community. We’ve grown it into food, clothing, web sales, and a much wider social reach.
We are sending merchandise to all 50 states, which blows my mind. I had a hunch that merch would be successful. The first winter, we decided to go all in on a rebrand, which allowed us to make the identity more “us.”
It started as a logo and identity rebrand with Brooklynbased graphic designer Zachary Kiernan, who at the time was relatively early in his career. He delivered 65 pages of logos, typography, and what we fondly refer to as our "creatures", which is a collection of illustrations and brand elements that became the foundation of our visual identity. We gave Zach complete creative freedom, and he absolutely ran with it, creating something far beyond what we could have imagined.
From there, we brought on our barista and in-house, degree-trained graphic designer, Emma Troy. Emma takes the world that Zach created and brings it to life in a practical, everyday way, translating the brand onto merchandise, signage across both of our locations, social media, printed materials, and countless other ways. Together, their work has helped shape the distinctive visual world that people now recognize as The Coffee Cowboy, and is one of our favorite parts of our business.
Scott: The general store opened last September. I come from a carpentry background, so I was the general contractor. Josh Borof from Onsight Builders has been my boss for years, and he was my mentor and guide through my first GC project. Hailey studied art and has an aesthetic eye, so she designed it and did the interiors.
What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?
Scott: Rise and grind. Don’t get discouraged. Nothing is a success overnight. It takes grit.
Hailey: Running your own business is not for the faint of heart. My biggest lesson and piece of advice is to be consistent in how you show up for your partner, customers, and staff.
WE REALLY AIMTO BE A COMMUNITY SPACE, BUILT BY COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY. ITTOOK A LOT OF COLLABORATIONTO GET HERE, AND WE ARE REALLY PROUD OFTHIS SPACE.
MOUNTAIN VILLAGE 401 Larkspur Lane / $32,000,000 7 Bedrooms, 8 Full / 4 Half Baths, 16,122 Square Feet Lars Carlson 970.729.0160
Chalets at Cortina is a collection of three adjacent, yet individual, single family residences offering majestic views and easy ski access within the high-end community of Villas at Cortina. Each chalet features a functional floor plan and high-end finishes throughout. Construction is underway on the first masterpiece with two more breaking ground in the Fall of 2026.
462 Dragon Lode Drive
$5,490,000
2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 3,352 Square Feet
Teddy Errico 970.708.5959
134 Adams Way
$5,195,000
4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms, 2,681 Square Feet Dan Dockray
I came to Vail in 1990, almost 40 years ago, after I was a research student working for the British government on arctic and alpine plants. I saw a job posting at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the curator there received my application.
They had already filled that role, so they sent my resume to Vail, where they were in the early stages of building the Alpine Gardens. Marty Jones from Colorado Alpines asked me to work for him.
My primary role was documenting the plants and helping to propagate them. I thought it would be fine for six months, and I am still here! After a few years, I started leading education programming for the Alpine Gardens.
Having been Director of the Alpine Gardens since 2011, we would imagine you’ve had some memorable experiences. Would you mind sharing some favorites?
Getting to know President and Mrs. Ford was a highlight. Mrs. Ford would attend strategic planning sessions, and she was involved in decisions. They came to all of our fundraiser events.
After my daughter, Katie, was born, I was working in the garden, and she was in a stroller under a tree. President and Mrs. Ford walked over and Mrs. Ford offered to watch Katie, so I tell everyone that Mrs. Ford was her first babysitter.
I became Director of the Alpine Gardens in Spring of 2011 and after Mrs. Ford passed away that year, there was such sadness. One afternoon, I was interviewed about what would happen to the gardens without Mrs. Ford.
Spontaneously I said the gardens would be better than ever in her memory. It transformed a moment of sadness into a plan. At that time, the gardens weren’t PRESIDENT
& CEO, BETTY FORD ALPINE GARDENS
very well-funded, we didn’t have much staff, and we didn’t have a full educational program. Mrs. Ford’s wishes were to bring Sheika Gramshammer onto the Board to help. Susan Ford also joined, and we built some strong momentum for the education center.
What role do you see the Alpine Gardens playing in the Vail Valley today?
IT’S MANY THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. FOR VISITORS, IT’S A PLACE OF TRANQUILITY THAT CHANGES EVERY WEEK, WITH 200,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY.
The gardens also play a major role in alpine plant conservation, with education programs, speaker series, and workshops on a wide range of topics.
We also provide awareness of our ecosystem, which is the foundation of everything in this valley, with full-time conservation scientists and summer interns.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the umbrella organization for scientists all over the globe working in biodiversity conservation. Within the IUCN there is a Species Survival Commission, comprised of 180 specialist groups. We founded the first specialist group for Alpine Plants, which was approved last year.
By focusing on high elevation species, we can play a niche role in sustaining mountain environments and we hold our heads high at the recognition we’ve received for our efforts.
What’s a summer event to look forward to at the gardens?
Passport to the Peaks highlights the work we do with IUCN with different panels highlighting species from other global regions. And our Chef in the Gardens events always sell out very quickly!
Created by the visionary KH Webb Architects, this exceptional development blends modern design with the serene beauty of its alpine surroundings. The home showcases sweeping views of the Gore Range, Red Sandstone Mountain, the western valleys, and the enchanting Vail Village below, creating a retreat unlike any other.
1251 Main Street / $965,000 - $2,985,000 2-6 Bedrooms, 1,088 - 2,981 Square Feet
Mick Kelly 970.376.5617
Exciting new construction between Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts. Belden Place offers single-family, duplex, and condo options. With beautiful finishes and direct access to nature out your door via Forest Service trails, it’s perfect for mountain living. Delivery starting in Spring of 2026.
Larkspur, CO | $1,500,000 Mckinze Casey 720.539.4547
3440 HILL CIRCLE
Colorado Springs, CO | $2,200,000
Laura Kloth 719.388.3387
1208 S VINE STREET
Denver, CO | $3,865,000
Shannon Tiger 303.712.2134
21 CHERRY HILLS FARM DRIVE
Cherry Hills Village, CO | $5,950,000
Michelle Warner 304.610.5377
Maddie Johnson 510.384.9609
16132 STELLER RIDGE ROAD
Loveland, CO | $2,995,000
Greg Roeder 970.213.2095
the life you love
Alex Griffin hosting the Legends of Vail event for the Vail Board of REALTORS® Foundation.
Hank Wiethake with a 100-pound yellowfin tuna in Costa Rica.
Teddy Errico and Aniela Wasmanski in New York City for a networking event.
Listle Isaacs, champion of the 23rd Annual Banked Slalom JLA event.
Barbara Gardner at the Roundup River Ranch Fashion Show in Vail, Colorado, raising $272,000.
Crissy Rumford and Betsy Laughlin at the NAR Leadership Academy graduation in D.C.
THE LITERACY PROJECT
READ
We teach people of all ages to read, write, and speak with confidence.
In every thriving community, opportunity starts with the ability to read. The Literacy Project empowers children and adults across our valley with the skills they need to build confident, independent futures. When literacy grows, neighbors flourish, businesses thrive, and families prosper.
Join us in strengthening the foundation of our community. Support literacy and support possibility. Because the most valuable property we can invest in is the human mind.
507 First Street, Crested Butte, CO
$6,995,000 | Details on p. 32
Setting the Standard
Great achievement begins with intention.
A line drawn not by chance, but by choice. We pair deep local expertise with the reach of an iconic worldwide network. Guiding you wherever your next move leads.
