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Welcome to Elevated Living!

Life in the Roaring Fork Valley is elevated in many ways. From the peak of Aspen Mountain at 11,212 feet to the depths of the Colorado river in Glenwood Springs, our valley has much to offer. Whether you are here for a brief visit or have roots firmly planted in the area, we know you’ll find value in this guide to the Roaring Fork Valley.

One of the greatest assets of living in this valley is the dynamic nature of our lifestyle. The constant shift of weather, outdoor activities, and community culture keeps you on your toes, always making life interesting. The real estate market is much like this lifestyle: ever evolving. While it can be difficult to keep track of so much change, our company takes great pride in being the most informed resource on the status of our local markets. This is exactly why we are the top performing real estate firm in the Roaring Fork Valley, and have been for over a decade.

As an Aspen native, it’s particularly special for me to be leading Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty and Roaring Fork Sotheby’s International Realty. With over 190 locally-based professionals, we represent the pinnacle of talent to solve every real estate need.

We are so happy to share our beloved valley with you, whether you are passing through or here to stay. Here’s to celebrating the majesty of the Rocky Mountains and all they offer; may we appreciate it more with every passing year.

Onward!

ANDREW ERNEMANN President

Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty

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OUR BROKERAGE BY THE NUMBERS

Welcome to the Roaring Fork Valley

The Roaring Fork Valley is a geographic region on Colorado’s Western Slope that includes the communities of Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs. Being at the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Roaring Fork Valley reaches from Aspen to Glenwood Springs along the Roaring Fork River. At the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers is the historic city of Glenwood Springs, where modern society established itself within the valley. While this area was the home of nomadic Ute Indian tribes before the mining boom in the late 1800’s, early settlers saw the potential of turning the area into a highly regarded tourist destination. The arrival of the railroads in 1887 brought the first visitors to enjoy the area’s famous hot springs, and the rest is history. Now, each community throughout the valley organically has grown with unique characteristics and amenities that attract visitors from around the globe. From a legacy of extreme skiing in Aspen and Snowmass Village to world-class fly-fishing in Basalt and a rich ranching heritage in Carbondale the Roaring Fork Valley offers a little bit of everything to all who visit and reside here.

As the Roaring Fork Valley’s real estate authority, we strive to continue leading the way with strategic innovation throughout the valley, while providing irreplaceable value to our clients around the world. With 11 offices located throughout the valley, we have the widest coverage and strongest presence of any brokerage on the western slope. Our Glenwood Springs area office Roaring Fork Sotheby’s International Realty serves the communities of New Castle, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, and Battlement Mesa that are west of Glenwood Springs.

REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE IN THE ROARING FORK VALLEY

OFFICE LOCATIONS

# 1 11 20+ 20+ 2x 190+

THE MARKET SHARE OF OUR NEXT COMPETITION

YEARS AS MARKET LEADER SUPPORT STAFF

EXPERT BROKER ASSOCIATES

Our Communities

IN THE ROARING FORK VALLEY AND BEYOND.

ASPEN

Located 200 miles southwest of Denver and 130 miles east of Grand Junction, Aspen is at the southeastern end of the Roaring Fork Valley. The Roaring Fork Valley stretches from Glenwood Springs in the northwest end to Aspen on the southeast end and is surrounded by the White River National Forest. Aspen encompasses 3.66 square miles on a relatively flat valley floor, and is surrounded on 3 sides by Aspen Mountain, Smuggler Mountain and Red Mountain. Aspen is internationally renowned as a winter and summer resort.

Aspen was first developed around the 1880s as a silver mining camp. By the 1940s it became better known for white powder than silver, in large part to Chicago industrialist and philanthropist Walter Paepcke and his wife, Elizabeth. The two became Aspen’s cultural ambassadors, touting Aspen’s natural aesthetics as a place where the body, mind and soul could thrive. Many joined them creating an Aspen renaissance.

Today, this alpine village, surrounded by the public lands of White River National Forest, is an eco-oasis. It has both a small-town charm and an urban sophistication, among the reasons international second and third-home owners are drawn to one of the priciest real estate markets of luxury ranches, private estates, mansions, ski homes and condos in the country. Fine dining abounds, along with cultural amenities and institutions, arts, culinary and food festivals and exclusive shopping.

7,908 FT ELEVATION

7,721 POPULATION

The Aspen Lifestyle

The locals say “I came for the winter, but stayed for the summer.” Although the world-class skiing of the Aspen/ Snowmass area has been the draw for most of the area’s visitors and residents, the spring to fall recreation scene has much to offer. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Aspen is truly a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers! Whether it’s downhill skiing in untouched snow or hiking through dense aspen groves, Aspen has all that your adventurous heart desires. Epic powder days in winter turn to amazing rafting from spring to summer. Warm days lead adventurers to endless trails to climb, hike or bike, outdoor concerts, water sports and cultural pursuits. No matter how you choose to spend a day in Aspen, there is an unforgettable outdoor activity right at your doorstep.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE

Located 200 miles southwest of Denver and 130 miles east of Grand Junction, Snowmass Village is at the north end of the Brush Creek Valley within the Roaring Fork Valley, which stretches from Glenwood Springs in the northwest end to Aspen on the southeast end and is surrounded by the White River National Forest. Snowmass Village encompasses 25.6 square miles and is at the base of the Snowmass Ski Area.

Long before miners discovered silver near Aspen and skiers discovered a gold mine of white powder on Snowmass Mountain, members of the Ute tribe inhabited the Brush Creek Valley. The Utes originally called the mountain “Cold Woman” because it was often hidden by clouds and was believed to be the source of bad weather. As the nearby Aspen mines grew, settlement encroached and by the 1890s ranchers and homesteaders began to move in. Today vestiges of this ranching heritage can be found throughout Snowmass Village, from the Little Red School house built in 1894 that is still used as a school today, to the Anderson Ranch Arts Center built in the historic Hoaglund ranch buildings.

In 2010, the accidental discovery by a bulldozer operator of fossilized elements of a Pleistocene ecosystem in the Ice Age lakebed at the Ziegler Reservoir (now fondly referred to as the Snowmastadon site) put Snowmass prominently on the paleontological map of North America.

8,104 SF ELEVATION 2,786 POPULATION PITKIN COUNTY

The Snowmass Village Lifestyle

Snowmass Village is a former ranching community turned destination resort. This quaint village nestled in the Brush Creek Valley features an astounding array of recreation opportunities. Snowmass Mountain is the largest of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains; bigger than the other three mountains combined! Snowmass is characterized by extensive and well-maintained hiking, biking, and walking trails, and a dedication to the leisure lifestyle. The event and activity schedule is packed year-round and is sure to provide something of interest to visitors and locals alike.

BASALT

Located at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers, Basalt is 16 miles north of Aspen and 22 miles southeast of Glenwood Springs. The town takes its name from 10,800-foot Basalt Mountain just to the north of town. The name comes from the black igneous rock in the area.

The Colorado Midland Railroad, built to carry coal and silver ore between Leadville and Aspen, established the town of Frying Pan Junction in 1887. Incorporated as Basalt in 1901,

the mountain town filled with immigrants from Switzerland and Northern Italy to work for the railroad mines and coal smelters. With the closing of the mines, the railroad rolled up its tracks and the few remaining folks began ranching. Signs of the great railroad era still remain today in a town now reborn as a vibrant community catering to both tourists and residents.

Basalt, with its close proximity to Aspen, is a gateway to all the valley’s recreational activities. Enjoy a quaint town that has become a favorite treasured destination all its own.

6,610 FT ELEVATION

3,941 POPULATION

PITKIN/EAGLE COUNTY

The Basalt Lifestyle

Basalt is well known for its Gold Medal trout fishing in the Frying Pan River, boating and other watersports at Ruedi Reservoir. It is a hub for mountain biking in the Roaring Fork Valley. In the winter, there are a dozen world-class cross-country and downhill ski trails within 15 miles of Basalt. When in Basalt, get outside and enjoy yourself! Whether you’re looking for some relaxing fun or an adrenaline-spiked adventure, there’s an abundance of outdoor pursuits at your disposal.

5,476 FT ELEVATION

CARBONDALE

Carbondale is 30 miles from Aspen, 12 miles from Glenwood Springs, 101 miles from Grand Junction and 171 miles from Denver. It is located at the base of Mt. Sopris at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers.

6,658 POPULATION GARFIELD COUNTY

The obvious landmark in the area, Mt. Sopris, towers south of Carbondale at an elevation of 12,966 ft. The mountain was named for Richard Sopris who led a party of 14 on a mineral exploration trip to the area in 1860.

Carbondale is a community-oriented town that offers a down-to-earth feel. Its milder climate provides a longer spring to fall season that is great for non-skiing activities. Enjoy hiking, biking, golfing and fly-fishing in world-famous Gold Medal waters.

The Carbondale Lifestyle

The Town of Carbondale sits at the base of Mt. Sopris, near the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers. Carbondale is a family based community, offering a diversity of outdoor recreational opportunities, artistic and cultural events, ranching and local agriculture, restaurants and retail shops. Founded in 1888, Carbondale is a historic community with characteristics reflected in architecture, a historic downtown district, and a creative arts district.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS

Glenwood Springs is about 150 miles west of Denver at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork River, about 90 miles east of Grand Junction, and about an hour away from both Aspen to the south and Vail to the east.

Glenwood Springs was originally known as “Defiance.” Defiance was established in 1883 as a camp of tents, saloons, and brothels with an increasing amount of cabins and lodging establishments. It was populated with the expected crowd of gamblers, gunslingers, and prostitutes. Town founder Isaac Cooper’s wife Sarah was having a hard time adjusting to the frontier life and in an attempt to make her environment somewhat more comfortable, persuaded the founders to change the name to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, after her beloved hometown of Glenwood, Iowa.

Its location, at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River, historically made it a center of commerce in the area. The city has seen famous visitors including President Teddy Roosevelt who spent an entire summer vacation living out of the historic Hotel Colorado. Doc Holliday spent the final months of his life in Glenwood Springs and is buried in the town’s original Pioneer Cemetery above Bennett Avenue.

Glenwood Springs in 2015 was awarded the most vibrant small town arts environment in the United States by Southern Methodist University’s National Center for Arts Research and the 5th Best Place to Live in America by Outside Magazine. It was also named the “Most Fun Town in America” by Rand McNally and USA Today in their 2011 Best of the Road Rally contest.

Outdoor recreation opportunities in Glenwood Springs abound. Activities include whitewater rafting, kayaking, caving, cycling, rock climbing, horseback riding, and world-class fishing.

The Glenwood Springs Lifestyle

No matter how you choose to recreate, you will likely find a venue that will be the highlight of your day. In the winter, enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. In the summer you can hike, bike, swim, raft, kayak and fish. There will be more to do than time to do it!

5,746 FT ELEVATION 10,048 POPULATION GARFIELD COUNTY

BEYOND THE VALLEY:

COMMUNITIES WEST OF GLENWOOD SPRINGS

NEW CASTLE

Located on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains, New Castle is home to about 6,000 residents and reaches just over a mile in elevation. The Colorado River flows through the town, presenting wonderful opportunities for trout fishing, whitewater rafting and kayaking, and wildlife viewing.

SILT

Silt sits halfway between New Castle and Rifle on I-70. Surrounded by state parks, Silt is a mountain town defined by tranquility and its historical value in the Western Slope area.

5,597 FT ELEVATION 4,877 POPULATION GARFIELD COUNTY

5,456 SF ELEVATION 3,076 POPULATION GARFIELD COUNTY

RIFLE

Rifle is a true western town that caters to the outdoorsman. In particular, Rifle is a popular destination for hunters and is an epicenter for the local ranching community. Hit the bricks on Rifle’s walkable Main Street, lined with locallyowned businesses, shops and restaurants.

5,347 SF ELEVATION

9,771 POPULATION

GARFIELD COUNTY

5,091 FT ELEVATION

1,839 POPULATION

GARFIELD COUNTY

PARACHUTE & BATTLEMENT MESA

Parachute is headquartered 45 minutes from Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs. Amongst the vast hills of cattle ranching is the Colorado River and Parachute Creek, both popular for fishing. Situated next to Parachute is Battlement Mesa, an upscale residential community known for its pristine golf course and miles of views.

Schools

IN THE ROARING FORK VALLEY

ASPEN / SNOWMASS VILLAGE

Aspen Elementary

199 High School Road, Aspen, CO 81611

970.925.3760

aspenk12.net

Aspen Middle & High School

235 High School Road, Aspen, CO 81611

970.925.3760 aspenk12.net

Aspen Country Day School

85 Country Day Way, Aspen, CO 81611

970.925.1909

aspencountryday.org

Aspen Community School

340 Woody Creek Mesa, Snowmass CO 81651

970.932.4080

discovercompass.org/ aspen-community-school

BASALT

Basalt Elementary School

151 Cottonwood Drive, Basalt, CO 81621

970.384.5800

bes.rfsd.k12.co.us

Basalt Middle School

51 School Street, Basalt, CO 81621

970.384.5900

bms.rfsd.k12.co.us

Basalt High School

600 Southside Drive, Basalt, CO 81621

970.384.5959

bms.rfsd.k12.co.us