Happy Thanksgiving & Kickoff to Winter in Aspen Snowmass!

Happy Thanksgiving & Kickoff to Winter from Aspen Snowmass

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Klug Properties. We’re incredibly grateful for our clients, friends, and community near and far. Whether you’ve been here for decades or you’re just starting your Aspen Snowmass story, thank you for letting us be part of it.

A Slow Start… and a Promising Season Ahead

Thanksgiving week is always one of my favorite times of the year in Aspen. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are scheduled to fire up the lifts on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, officially kicking off the 2025–26 winter season.

Even though it’s been a slower start to snowfall this year, I’ve enjoyed stretching out the shoulder season. Just last week, I was still mountain biking at Sky Mountain Park in the sunshine before the Broncos-Chiefs game. Only in Aspen Snowmass can you ride singletrack in the afternoon and be talking ski tuning that same evening.

We are in a La Niña pattern this winter, and long-range outlooks from NOAA show La Niña favored to continue into early winter before transitioning back toward neutral mid-season. That typically steers some good storm energy toward the northern and central Rockies as winter matures. The headline: forecasts are calling for a stronger mid- and late season, exactly when you want the goods!

In other words, be patient. Early laps might be on groomers, but odds are high that the snowpack builds nicely as we get into January and February.

Big On-Mountain Upgrades in Snowmass

Snowmass is seeing one of its most exciting upgrade years in a long time, with nearly $80 million in on-mountain improvements rolling out for 2025–26. A few highlights:

• New Elk Camp Six-Pack Lift
  The Elk Camp quad is being upgraded to a high-speed six-pack, expanding from four to six passengers. That means shorter lines and smoother flow on busy days.
• New Cirque T-Bar
  Up high, the old platter is being replaced with a new Cirque T-bar, still one of the highest lifts in North America. The new version doubles capacity by carrying two people instead of one, making it easier and faster to access some of Snowmass’s best high-alpine terrain.
• Ullrhof Rebuild (Coming Next Winter)
  Ullrhof, the beloved mid-mountain burger-and-beer stop, is in the middle of a full rebuild and is slated to reopen for the 2026–27 winter season as Aspen Snowmass’s first fully electric on-mountain restaurant, with seating for more than 500 guests. It won’t be ready this season, but it’s worth getting excited about now.

Snowmass is quietly leveling up its experience while still feeling like the laid-back, family-friendly sibling to Aspen.

The Snow Lodge Heads to Snowmass

One of the biggest hospitality headlines this winter is that the team behind The Snow Lodge at the St. Regis is expanding the brand up to Snowmass.

The owners of the St. Regis recently acquired the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village and are bringing a new concept called The Après Ski Club to the mountain, a Snow Lodge-branded après and concert series. 

You can expect elevated music, food, and nightlife programming similar to the St. Regis outpost, but with a more village-forward Snowmass vibe. 

It’s slated to debut this 2025–26 winter season, adding another fun reason to spend afternoons and evenings in Snowmass Village, something that’s been missing for quite some time.

Back in Aspen, The Snow Lodge at the St. Regis is also stepping things up with new culinary partners and a packed music lineup this winter, including collaborations with top-tier restaurant brands and caviar houses. 

Community Events & Holiday Traditions

If you’re planning time in Aspen Snowmass over the next month, there’s a full slate of community events, races, and holiday traditions on the calendar:

• Opening Day – Aspen Mountain & Snowmass (Nov 27)
  Silver Queen Gondola starts spinning on Aspen Mountain at 9 a.m. with coffee and treats at the base, while Snowmass fires up the lifts the same morning for its official opening day.
• Summit for Life – “Kickoff to Winter” (Sat, Dec 6)
  While I’m a little biased, this is my favorite winter event and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary! Summit for Life is a nighttime uphill race up Aspen Mountain benefiting the Chris Klug Foundation and organ donation awareness. Participants hike, skin, or snowshoe 3,267 vertical feet to the Sundeck, followed by dinner, live music, and an awards party at the top. If you’ve never done it, put it on your list.
• Wintersköl in Snowmass & Aspen (Dec 11–14)
  This longtime celebration of winter includes on-mountain activities, art installations, live music, and more, with events on the Snowmass Mall, in Base Village, and in Aspen, including Winter Windows art displays, a holiday market, and fireworks.
• Paul JAS Center Opening (Dec 19)
  Jazz Aspen Snowmass finally gets a permanent home above the historic Red Onion with the opening of the Paul JAS Center on December 19. Ten nights of live music will help christen the new venue and add a year-round cultural anchor downtown.
• 12 Days of Aspen (Dec 20–31)
  Downtown Aspen’s streets and plazas come alive with family-friendly activities: ice skating, hot cocoa, s’mores, crafts, Santa visits, live music, and more, leading right up to New Year’s Eve fireworks over Aspen Mountain.
• Santa’s Village & Holiday Events in Snowmass (Dec 21)
  Snowmass layers on its own holiday magic with Santa’s Village, kids’ activities, and festive happenings around the Mall and Base Village.
• New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks – Snowmass (Dec 31)
  Skiers and riders snake down the mountain in a classic torchlight parade, followed by fireworks over Fanny Hill, one of the best ways to ring in the New Year in the valley. 

That’s just a sampling. There are also concerts, talks, and film events at the Wheeler, Belly Up shows, and regular community hikes and tours on the Aspen Chamber calendar if you want to mix in some culture with your skiing.

As we roll into Thanksgiving and the official start of ski season, I’m reminded how lucky we are to live and work in this valley. Even in a “slow start” year, there’s a lot to be excited about: new lifts, new lodges, new music venues, and, most importantly, the same great community coming back together on snow. Keep in mind that our best winter seasons in terms of snowfall accumulation started slowly! 

From my family and our team at Klug Properties to you and yours: Happy Thanksgiving, and here’s to a fantastic winter ahead. If you’re in town and want to talk real estate, grab a matcha latte, or make some turns together, I’d love to connect.