“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 hand-
peeled on site using a draw knife. It utilizes the “Swedishcope” 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.
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
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
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.
THE VAIL VALLEY
Summer Events
GoPro Mountain Games
June 4 – 7
Vail Craft Beer Classic
June 12 – 13
Vail Mountain Summer Opening
June 12
Hot Summer Nights
Concert Series
June 16 – September 15
Beaver Creek Summer Opening
June 19
BC Unplugged Concert Series
June 19 – September 11
Amp Summer Concerts
June 19 – August 25
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
June 25 – August 6
Avon Salute to the USA
July 3
Vail America Days
July 4
Beaver Creek Fourth of July
July 4
An Evening in the Aspens
July 17 – 18
Courage Classic Bicycle Tour
July 18
Vail Dance Festival
July 31 – August 10
Beaver Creek Art Festival
July 31 – August 2
Vail Wine Classic
August 6 – 8
Beaver Creek Oktoberfest
September 4 – 6
Vail Oktoberfest, Lionshead Village
September 11 – 13
Vail Oktoberfest, Vail Village
September 18 – 20
Vail Mountain Summer Closing
September 27
Beaver Creek Summer Closing
September 27
2026 Market Snapshot YOU ARE HERE
Total Sales Volume 1
$866,485,955
Vail Farmers' Market & Art Show
$1,547,450
Highest LIV SIR Recorded Sale in 2026
$25 Million Median Sold Price 1 in Beaver Creek
Sundays | June 14 – October 4 (1)
Vail Valley Market Report
VOICES OF THE MOUNTAINS
HOW DIDYOU GET HERE?
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
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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.
