Known for iconic properties on New England’s Nantucket and in Palm Beach, White Elephant Resorts is bringing its inimitable mix of service, impeccable style and hospitality to the American West next February
Slated to debut in early February 2026, White Elephant Aspen will be located on the corner of Main Street and Garmisch Street, in the beating heart of the West End neighbourhood and just steps from downtown, at the town’s cultural and intellectual epicentre; the Aspen Institute, Harris Hall and Benedict Music Tent are just a stroll away.
For the petite 54-key hotel, White Elephant Resorts gave Boston-based architectural firm EMBARC carte blanche to inject a dose of modernity into Aspen’s prevailingly Victorian-inspired aesthetic, and the resulting Alpine-chic concept exudes a similar boutique sensibility to the collection’s other five properties while also beautifully showcasing Aspen’s cultural and artistic legacy.
The contemporary interiors are stylish and destination-specific, as seen in the rich colour palette of rust, warm whites and deep charcoals, paired with smooth leather, wood and stone textures. Brand accents like a brass elephant trunk serving as the lobby desk and elephant knockers on guest room doors add playful touches.
The rooms and suites — a number with private outdoor terraces or balconies for taking in the mountain air — have porcelain tile flooring, natural woods and textural elements such as horsehair and rustic stone mosaics. Accents include hand-painted lamp shades, embossed leather headboards, resin coffee tables and oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures, all set against a palette of Aspen whites and cognac tones.
Nightly turndown service comes with Colorado-made Pollinator Chocolate, and White Elephant Aspen teamed up with Petite Plume on a capsule of silk pyjamas, robes, nightgowns and sleep masks with a custom chalet print—available for purchase on-site and online.
The top suites include the three-bedroom, 1,560-square-foot Ajax Penthouse—a true perch above it all—complete with a real log fireplace, a chef’s kitchen, generous dining and living areas, and a mountain-view terrace where a fire pit sets the mood after dark.
Alternatively, the two-bedroom, three-bath West End Suite spans 1,050 square feet and features a fireplace, a generous living area, and a furnished terrace. Or guests can opt for the two-bedroom, 870-square-foot Highlands Suite, which pairs two king bedrooms with a comfortable lounge and three bathrooms. Guests staying in the top suites will enjoy a dedicated in-suite games library by Arhaus, featuring classics like chess and backgammon.
A highlight is White Elephant Aspen’s focus on art: common spaces and guest rooms will showcase more than 125 original works, curated by art advisor Emily Santangelo, who has worked with White Elephant since 2017.
“Expanding into Aspen marks an exciting new chapter for White Elephant Resorts. Our vision has always been to create hotels that capture the spirit of the destination. With its rich cultural heritage and dynamic year-round energy, Aspen provides the ideal backdrop for bringing our legacy of thoughtful hospitality to the American West. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience our signature warmth and style in the mountains,” said Douglass E. Karp, President at New England Development, owner of White Elephant Resorts.
Fans of White Elephant Nantucket and Palm Beach will be delighted to discover that signature restaurant LoLa 41° has also made the move out West—and will also debut a speakeasy lounge.
Known for inspired seafood and sushi specialties, the bistro draws inspiration from destinations along the 41st longitude parallel, all the way from Japan to Nantucket, where the White Elephant story began. Before a day on the slopes, guests can sit down for breakfast with pastries like cinnamon swirl coffee cake by local Open Sesame, while the “snowfall” après-ski experience at LoLa 41° might include snowball-shaped nigiri sushi, frosted martinis, and “snow”-dusted parmesan-topped truffle fries.
The hotel will offer unrivalled access to the best of Aspen, one of the American West’s most versatile destinations, with Michelin-starred dining, shopping and culture in town, and adrenaline-fuelled adventures in the great outdoors. Get suited up for a day of fun at the hotel’s on-site Boot Lounge, complete with heated ski lockers and a selection of outdoor and technical gear by Alps & Meters sportswear brand (who will also be providing select staff uniforms).
Exclusive winter experiences include before-opening ski runs on Aspen Mountain, private snowcat backcountry experiences through Aspen Powder Tours, winter fly fishing on Roaring Fork River, and snowmobile tours to Maroon Bells.
Come summer, off-property exploration ranges from a gondola picnic and yoga at 11,000 feet above sea level to touring the Smuggle Mine (to glimpse the largest silver nugget ever mined) and priority tee times at three local golf courses.
To facilitate exploration, White Elephant Aspen will continue its long-standing partnership with BMW, offering guests complimentary airport transfers and courtesy cars. For more active guests, complimentary Priority Bicycles will be available, along with a convenient shuttle service to the slopes.
At the end of an active day, there’s a year-round heated pool, two hot tubs, and a supremely romantic outdoor fire pit. Alternatively, guests have VIP access to Aspen health and wellness recovery studio Base State Longevity, offering IV drips, red-light therapy, hyperbaric chamber, saunas, and cold plunge.
Make it happen
Getting there: There are no direct flights from the UK to Aspen; the quickest flight times are via Denver, Chicago or Houston from where it’s a short hop on an internal flight to Aspen. White Elephant Aspen offers complimentary BMW transfers to and from Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.
Wallet: Rates at White Elephant Aspen start at $1,995 per night for two people sharing on a room only basis. Reservations are now open for stays beginning 3 February 2026; take advantage of the hotel’s Introductory Offer, available for bookings made on or before 26 November 2025, and enjoy 15% off the best available rate. Offer is subject to availability; blackout dates and minimum stay requirements may apply. For more information, please visit whiteelephantaspen.com.
