Central Core

Heart of Aspen with fantastic shops, dining, and nightlife


Welcome to Central Core

Aspen is a small town with a big reputation. This wealthy and cultured community is a mini Manhattan in the middle of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Aspen has four ski mountains which together comprise the world-renowned Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Central Core is the bustling downtown of this exceptional mountain retreat. This convenient central area boasts charming cobblestone streets lined with world-class shopping, dining, and nightlife. The Silver Queen Gondola takes skiers and snowboarders directly from Central Core to the slopes of Aspen Mountain.
 

Central Core Real Estate Market

Central Core real estate options include luxury condominiums, ultra-desirable penthouses, and stylish contemporary single-family homes. Contact Central Core real estate agent, Carrie Wells to find condos, houses & single-family homes for sale in Central Core.
 

What to Love

  • Range of desirable housing options
  • High-end shopping and dining
  • Gondola access to Aspen Mountain
  • Après-ski nightlife

People & Lifestyle

Aspen was first settled as a mining camp in 1871 and grew over the next two decades during the Colorado Silver Boom. The first ski resort was built on Aspen Mountain in the 1940s. During the 1970s, gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson and singer John Denver brought Aspen to new prominence as a hedonistic mountain retreat. Aspen evolved into the ultimate luxury ski town over the following decades. In the 21st century, Aspen outranks the likes of France’s Courchevel and Switzerland’s Davos-adjacent Klosters as the most sought-after ski resort town on the planet. Along with access to four outstanding mountains for skiing and snowboarding, Aspen Central Core real estate encapsulates this unique community’s world-renowned appeal. Central Core homes are surrounded by outstanding restaurants, chic après-ski nightlife spots, premium fashion stores, fine art galleries, and luxurious spas.
 

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Aspen Central Core is the heart of this upscale ski town’s shopping, dining, and nightlife. This eminently walkable downtown district is pedestrianized between Galena Street and Monarch Street. Downtown Aspen is home to high-end fashion brands such as Gucci, Dior, Prada, Ralph Lauren, and Loro Piana. These international fashion powerhouses have tailored their Aspen collections to the ski-focused environment, with impeccably stylish warm outerwear, fur hats, and slope-ready boots. Aspen’s enticing shopping streets also offer an abundance of boutiques, which highlights such as antique home furnishings store Georgia Brown, eclectic fashion retailer Pitkin County Dry Goods, and Western-themed Kemo Sabe.
 
This small town is brimming with premier dining choices such as Cache Cache. The menu at this chic French-American bistro includes mouthwatering steaks and rotisserie chicken, outstanding salads and mac ‘n’ cheese, and an award-winning wine list that is over 100 pages long. Matsuhisa is a haute Japanese dining experience from Nobu with an elegant downstairs dining area and a lively upstairs lounge. Matsuhisa serves exquisite sushi and signature specialties, such as yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, black cod miso, and white fish tiradito. The intimate indoor and outdoor dining areas at Betula provide captivating Ajax Mountain views as diners enjoy delectable internationally-influenced dishes.
 
Caribou Club opened as Aspen’s first private members’ club in 1990. Caribou offers exquisite fine dining and an exceptional wine list, as well as access to one of Aspen’s most exclusive bars and nightclubs. Bootsy Bellows is a sophisticated Los Angeles-style nightlife lounge with stained glass windows and a state-of-the-art sound system. Escobar is the ultimate après-ski party spot during the winter, while its outdoor patio is a lively spot throughout the summer. Eric’s is a relaxed favorite for nighttime socializing with locals and tourists alike. Other trendy Central Core nightlife highlights include 7908, a refined supper club with exceptional wine and cocktails plus late-night parties with first-class DJs.
 

Things to Do

Along with being the epicenter of Aspen’s dining, shopping, and nightlife scenes, Aspen Central Core hosts many of this magical community’s largest annual events. June’s Food & Wine Classic is a three-day culinary extravaganza with cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and panel discussions featuring some of the world’s best chefs and foremost wine experts. Aspen’s 4th of July festivities begin with a downtown parade and continue with live music, a kids’ carnival, and fireworks over Aspen Mountain. New Year’s Eve in Aspen means a public party with a bonfire and DJ at Wagner Park followed by fireworks displays over Aspen Mountain at 8 p.m. and midnight.
 
The Silver Queen Gondola transports riders from Downtown Aspen to the top of Aspen Mountain in 14 minutes. The gondola ride is one of the longest in North America, ascending 3,267 vertical feet to a height of 11,200 feet above sea level. From the top of Aspen Mountain, riders enjoy spectacular sweeping views over the Elk Mountains, White River National Forest, and the iconic off-piste skiing spot of the Highland Bowl. Skiers can then choose from 75 trails covered with Aspen Mountain’s famous white powder snow.
 

Schools

Aspen School District is ranked first in Colorado and is one of the best public school districts in the entire country.
 
  • Aspen Elementary School, Public, PK-4
  • Aspen Middle School, Public, 5-8
  • Aspen High School, Public, 9-12, graduates regularly attend Ivy Leagues and other top-ranked universities
  • Aspen Country Day School, Private, K-8
  • Aspen Community School, Private, K-8

 
 

 
 

WORK WITH US

We offer the highest level of expertise and service with integrity. Carrie Wells is the leading real estate agent in Aspen and has helped hundreds of buyers find their dream home in Aspen and the surrounding areas, including Snowmass Village, Woody Creek, & Old Snowmass.

CONTACT US