One of the prettiest sights in the Roaring Fork Valley is driving up towards Snowmass Village from Highway 82 and coming around the corner and seeing the thousands of sparkling lights draping the mountains; it is our very own Whoville. While this alone will make you want to spend sunny afternoons or snowy evenings here, it will be hook, line, and sinker once you get a sense of the community and heart that our little Village has.
Located 15 minutes outside of Aspen, Snowmass Village in some ways has always been the little brother. The population is smaller, and there are fewer restaurants and retail spots, but the community thrives. It is filled with locals who live there year-round and who have raised their families in this little pocket. This includes my parents, Leah and Bill Moriarty, who have been in the Village since the early 80s and raised my sister, Caroline, in The Crossings at Horse Ranch. We grew up knowing every neighbor and kid on the block and these individuals are still pillars in our lives.
Recently, Snowmass Village has exploded and experienced unprecedented growth. A majority of this can be attributed to the new developments at Base Village, Aura, The Havens, Electric Pass Lodge, The Lumin, One East, and One West. This development has been an ongoing project and debate lasting more than a decade, but we are seeing the results and it is beautiful. While some of the buildings can be intimidating in size, once in Base Village you get a sense of community that they are trying to replicate and having success in doing so.
The price per square foot overall has increased, but it is still about half of what Aspen gets. This has attracted a number of young families and full-time residents who have access to Aspen and the School District, but at a more affordable price and with a bit more privacy.
Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Swanson
