New hotels in Aspen

Aspen has added two new hotels since late 2023 (a Scandinavian-and-Japanese-influenced boutique on Main Street and White Elephant Resorts' first mountain property in the West End) with two more confirmed: a long-delayed RH Guesthouse conversion downtown, and a rebuild of the town's oldest owner-built lodge targeting summer 2027. Downtown Aspen suits a first visit built around the gondola and Aspen Mountain; the West End works better for a quieter stay near the Aspen Institute and the John Denver Sanctuary. Here's what's open, what's coming, and which hotel fits your trip.

What to do

A weekend in Aspen

Ride the Silver Queen Gondola, which rises directly from downtown into the high alpine landscape of Aspen Mountain, locally called Ajax, in just a few minutes, giving Aspen one of the only true ski-in/ski-out downtowns in the US. Spend an afternoon among downtown's 200-plus shops, from designer boutiques to vintage stores, and stop at the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen's best-known landmark, or the Red Brick Center for the Arts for rotating local exhibitions. In the evening, the Hotel Jerome, designed by the same architect as the Wheeler, anchors downtown's most historic block for a drink even if you're not staying there.

A full week

With more time, the West End's tree-lined streets and preserved Victorian homes are worth a slower walk, anchored by the John Denver Sanctuary, a free public garden along the Roaring Fork River where boulders etched with the singer's lyrics circle a wetland. Hallam Lake and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies add nature trails and wildlife programs a few minutes from downtown, and the Rio Grande Trail connects the area to miles of paved biking and walking paths along the river for a car-free afternoon. A drive or shuttle out to Maroon Bells, the twin 14,000-foot peaks that are among the most photographed mountains in Colorado, is worth a half-day in summer or fall, when the access road requires an early start or a reserved shuttle to avoid parking limits. The Aspen Music Festival runs through the summer with performances at the Benedict Music Tent in the West End, timing well with a longer stay. Summer brings road cycling, rafting and hot-air ballooning; winter is built entirely around the mountain.

Where to stay

Downtown Aspen

Mollie Aspen opened in December 2023 at 111 South Garmisch Street on Main Street, a 68-room boutique hotel designed by Post Company blending Scandinavian and Japanese design influences: a deliberately understated look next to the more maximalist style common among Aspen's luxury hotels. Two more properties are confirmed a few blocks apart: RH Guesthouse Aspen, a 20-room conversion of the former Crystal Palace dinner theater on East Hyman Avenue, remains under construction more than five years after its 2021 announcement, with no new opening date since RH took full ownership of the building in May 2026; and Aspen Mountain Chalet, on East Durant Avenue at Mill Street a few blocks from the Silver Queen Gondola, is a $100 million-plus rebuild of the Mountain Chalet (Aspen's oldest owner-built lodge, run by the founding Melville family for nearly seventy years) trimming its room count from 67 to 59 and adding two restaurants and a rebuilt spa, targeting summer 2027.

The West End

White Elephant Aspen opened in June 2026 at the corner of Main Street and Garmisch Street in the West End, within walking distance of the Aspen Institute, Harris Hall and the Benedict Music Tent: the Nantucket- and Palm Beach-based brand's first mountain property. The 54-key hotel, designed by Boston firm EMBARC as a contemporary reading of Aspen's Victorian architecture, weaves more than 125 original artworks, including pieces by Alex Katz and Robert Peterson, through its public spaces and guest rooms, curated in partnership with the Anderson Ranch Arts Center.

Which hotel for your trip

Travelers who want to walk to the gondola and Aspen Mountain should stay downtown: MOLLIE Aspen puts you on Main Street with an understated design point of view, distinct from the town's more traditional luxury hotels.

Art and culture-focused travelers should look at White Elephant Aspen in the West End: an extensive original art collection and proximity to the Aspen Institute, Harris Hall and the Benedict Music Tent, a quieter setting a few blocks from downtown's density.

Travelers waiting on Aspen's next openings should track Aspen Mountain Chalet, targeting summer 2027 as a rebuild of the town's oldest lodge, and RH Guesthouse Aspen, still under construction with no confirmed date after more than five years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the newest hotel to open in Aspen?

White Elephant Aspen, which opened in June 2026 in the West End: the brand's first mountain property outside Nantucket and Palm Beach.

What hotel is confirmed to open next in Aspen?

Aspen Mountain Chalet, a rebuild of the town's oldest owner-built lodge, targeting summer 2027 near the Silver Queen Gondola.

Is downtown Aspen ski-in, ski-out?

Effectively yes: the Silver Queen Gondola rises directly from downtown into Aspen Mountain, one of the few US ski towns with a true town-center lift.

Whatever happened to RH's Aspen hotel?

RH Guesthouse Aspen, a 20-room conversion of the former Crystal Palace dinner theater, was first announced in January 2021 and remains under construction more than five years later: RH took full ownership of the building and paid off $32 million in property debt in May 2026, but has not announced a new opening date.

Which Aspen hotel is closest to the Aspen Institute?

White Elephant Aspen, in the West End, is within walking distance of the Aspen Institute, Harris Hall and the Benedict Music Tent.

Is Aspen's West End walkable from downtown?

Yes: it's just a few blocks from Aspen's main shopping and dining core, though it feels distinctly quieter, with tree-lined streets and preserved Victorian homes.