The population of Aspen city is 5,804. Founded as
a mining camp in the Colorado Silver Boom and named
because of the abundance of aspen trees in the area,
the city is now a ski resort and cultural center.
Despite the international glamour, Aspen's extreme
scene has retained its raw edges and gnarly tucks.
All the mountains, with the exception of Buttermilk,
offer plenty of double-black gauntlets, such as the
Dumps on Aspen Mountain or the Hanging Valley Glades
on Snowmass. However, Aspen Highlands is where the
local crowd migrates; there they'll be intent on figuring
the best line to take Highland Bowl.
The
city emerged as a skiing mecca following World War
II and the foundation of the Aspen Skiing Company
by Walter Paepcke, a Chicago industrialist who sought
to create a utopian community of the mind and body.
Paepcke's legacy of the Aspen/Snowmass resorts, along
with such institutions as the Aspen Institute and
the Aspen Music Festival and School, have made the
city a year-round international destination for recreation,
arts, business, and intellectual discourse. In the
late 20th century, the city developed as an off-beat
haven for misfits, attracting such free spirits as
John Denver (who wrote several folk songs about the
town, including "Aspenglow", and "Starwood
in Aspen") and Hunter S. Thompson, who was glorified
by many locals for his embodiment of the "freak
power" ethic of the community. The city is the
site of the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.
 The
City of Aspen also provides and operates 26 public
parks, the Wheeler Opera House, the James E. Moore
municipal swimming pool, 18 hole golf course, 2 tennis
courts, 4 ball fields, 2 ice skating rinks, a summer
program for children and manages 266 acres of open
space. Not to mention over 200 miles of Nordic skiing,
walking, biking paths and unsurpassed beauty enjoyed
by locals and visitors.
With a
reputation for excellence, thoughtful planning, concern
for the environment and respect for the individual,
Aspen, Colorado is a mixture of historic, well-preserved
Victorian buildings, vibrant retail and commercial
businesses and numerous art galleries. The city has
over 100 restaurants and entertainment establishments,
with a variety of cuisine from simple dining to the
finest gourmet. Its many au courant eateries help
Aspen retain a considerable Epicurean edge over other
resort towns--indeed over many major cities. Lively
bistros with shoulder-to-shoulder tables dish up delectable
risotto. Award-winning chefs specialize in native
haute cuisine. In short, you'll find restaurants from
A to V (Austrian to Vietnamese). Aspen is famous for
its nightlife, with a wide selection of bars and nightclubs
featuring live bands, jazz and country western dancing. |
