Crested Butte Retreat

The Crested Butte Retreat

Greenstone considers the development of the Crested Butte Retreat lodge as one of its signature achievements. The original 11,500 sq. ft. property went through a year and a half renovation and was completely re-designed. The Retreat sits at 9,500 ft. elevation and is walking distance from the main Crested Butte Mountain ski lifts. When purchased, it was not in good shape and quite dated. The entire structure was gutted and repurposed. The master plan moved interior walls, added new partial floors, changed the heating systems, and completely replaced the interior. The result is an award-winning mountain ski lodge with 10 bedrooms, 12 baths, and huge common spaces, with soaring vaulted ceilings and large exposed timbers. Greenstone also operated the Retreat for a few years before selling.

Every room has a distinct character and function. The extra-large kitchen and dining area contains its own living room with large, floor-to-ceiling, stone fireplace. This space was designed to accommodate 24 people for dinner. The professional Chef’s kitchen was fitted with huge granite counters built around Sub-Zero refrigerators, Viking stoves and all necessary appliances. The wrought iron chandeliers, hand-made drapes and beautiful antique furniture created an environment that instantly became the center for guests staying at the Retreat. This gathering space leads to a large lounge and bar with custom made curved-concrete top and huge stone pieces embedded in the wall behind the bar. These stones are covered with bas-relief sculpture and were created for The Retreat in Siem Reap, Cambodia next to Angkor Wat. They recreate a famous Hindu battle from Angkor’s temple walls. The lounge opens onto a centrally located balcony which allows unencumbered views of Crested Butte valley and the surrounding Elk Mountains.

A few steps up a partial stairway leads to the magnificent Great Room which provides luxurious space for guests to rest and recreate as well as accommodating corporate and private events. It includes its own 100’’ screen movie/computer projector with THX surround sound and buffet bar/presentation counter. The room is heated with a 4,000 lb., freestanding Tulikivi soapstone fireplace from Finland, which was built on site. This room contains a small Hindu Temple imported from India. Finally, the large balcony allows great views of the adjoining ski area.

Bas Relief sculpture that was carved for this house in Cambodia.

Crested Butte Retreat in the winter with pine trees and holiday lights in the foreground.

Ski Magazine awarded Crested Butte Retreat the Inn of the Month in January, 2008.

All 10 bedrooms are unique and each named after a local mountain. All were done in a variety of hardwoods, fireplace designs, and lighting designs. The bedrooms were decorated with a mixture of luxury mountain furniture and antiques from Nepal and India, with framed art form all over the world. The bathrooms were fitted with beautiful stone floors, walls, tubs and showers. Lodge amenities include 6 hot tubs, two Finnish saunas, a massage room and a complete gym and fitness center. The end result was the creation of the Crested Butte Retreat, considered a landmark property and business in Crested Butte. It was Inn of the Month in Ski Magazine and featured in several other publications. Greenstone Properties owned and operated the Retreat for some years before selling to another operator.

Crested Butte

The Town of Crested Butte enjoys a true Shangri-La setting surrounded by the West Elk Mountains, beautiful green river valleys and aspen forests. Jeep roads and a large network of single-track trails give access to about 3,000 square miles of pristine wilderness area full of elk and deer. Crested Butte Mountain boasts some of the best and most challenging skiing and snowboarding in North America, all enjoyed without waiting in lift lines. Seeing this historic mining town in the winter is a beautiful sight, full of amazing white snow piled up to the eves of the Victorian houses. But Crested Butte has also become an ideal year-round environment. The alpine summers are spectacular. In early summer the meadows turn green while the surrounding mountains are still capped in snow. Crested Butte is the official Wildflower Capital of Colorado and by July the festivals begin and people come to photograph the incredible displays of lupine, columbine, bluebells, paintbrush and mules ear sunflower that cover entire valleys. Visitors also come to mountain bike the now famous single track, fly-fish the gold medal streams, white water raft, ride horseback, play golf or just relax in the perfect sunshine and clean alpine air.