Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/129660
VICTORIAN REDUX SPORTING GILDED-AGE GLAM, THE NEW HOTEL JEROME IS ASPEN'S QUEEN OF HOSPITALITY. Jerome B. Wheeler's prescient vision for Aspen, the Hotel Jerome, has hit a new era—and to much applause. In 1889, Wheeler, a former co-owner of Macy's, gleaned that Aspen was in need of Rocky Mountain hospitality and built one of the town's most celebrated landmarks. Since its inception, the "Jerome" has been a hub of Aspen society. With its classic Victorian redbrick exterior and prime Main Street locale, the property, one of the first buildings west of the Mississippi to claim electricity, has been headquarters for silver miners and skiers, celebrities and socialites, residents and tourists. After undergoing an extensive remodel and reopening in December 2012, this grande dame of hospitality has never looked so good. Operated by Auberge Resorts, the hotel's face-lift involved a handpicked team helmed by Vegas-based Todd-Avery Lenahan, whose TAL-Studio is known for its elegant, playful designs. Additionally, Aspen-based Rowland & Broughton Architecture & Urban Design worked on the extensive overhaul. With Auberge Resorts Chief Operating Officer Eric Calderon (formerly of The Little Nell) and General Manager Tony DiLucia on board, too, the Jerome remains a local favorite, with its precious history preserved. Home to galas and ghosts, from the refined to the raucous, such Jerome quirks and claims (the "Aspen Crud," a famous milkshake spiked with smuggled bourbon, originated at the J-Bar during Prohibition) remain decidedly intact, while its modern makeover lends a new, chic vibe. The Prospect restaurant, featuring Coloradoinspired cuisine by chef Rob Zack; the new Auberge Spa; the buzz-worthy Living Room lounge; and the venerable J-Bar all offer unique "only in Aspen" moments— just like Wheeler would have wanted. Rates start at $695. 330 E. Main St., 970-920-1000; hoteljerome.com ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM 130-139_AP_FEAT_FashionFeat_SUM_Fall_13.indd 139 139 5/7/13 11:19 AM