What’s New in Aspen Snowmass for Winter 2023-24

Aspen Mountain Expansion

Aspen Mountain will increase its skiing and snowboarding acreage by more than 20% with the debut of Hero’s, named after those who were instrumental in the opening of the new terrain, most notably Jim Crown, the late managing partner of Aspen Skiing Company. The new high-speed quad chairlift and expansion with 1,220 vertical feet and more than 150 acres of new chutes, glades, and trails marks the first significant expansion since the 1985 addition of the Silver Queen Gondola. The addition will also help to diversify the mountain’s mix of terrain as well as offer more skiing on the upper portion. 

2024 Stifel Aspen Winternational

This season, the last leg of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup circuit in the U.S. will be in Aspen—in the form of the 2024 Stifel Aspen Winternational — before the tour returns to Europe.

On March 1–3, 2024, Aspen Snowmass will welcome the world’s best skiers as they go head-to-head in slalom and giant slalom. Enjoy the action-packed spectating in combination with community-centered events and ceremonies and amazing ski racing across the four resorts.

75th Anniversary of the Aspen Music Festival and School

Founded in 1949, the Aspen Music Festival and School is regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in the U.S. Known for both concert programming and musical training of primarily young adult music students, the winter season includes a small series of recitals and music education programs for local youth and families.

New Restaurants in Aspen Snowmass this Winter

Alpin Room | Snowmass’ Alpin Room welcomes Chef Emily Oyer, former Executive Sous Chef at Cloud Nine, to take the helm and reimagine the restaurant’s menu and personality. A Food Network-featured chef, Chef Oyer won Chopped in 2021 and competed on Beat Bobby Flay in 2022. Chef Oyer aims to bring new warmth, energy, and community to the ski-in/ski-out fine dining restaurant.  

The Alpin Room opened in winter 2021 and offers a thoughtful, handcrafted reimagination of Alsatian home cooking. Chef Oyer’s fresh take on the Alps-inspired cuisine will feature approachable comfort food with an elevated twist, and a focus on locally-sourced ingredients. 

Le Bateau (315 E. Hyman Ave.) | A nod to Aspen’s historical roots, this new restaurant by Gravity Haus offers French-inspired cuisine and celebrates the emergence of a new style of French food using coastal ingredients with modern influences.

Sant Ambroeus (520 E. Hyman Ave.) | This Italian Cafe, gelateria, and restaurant opened in late July. The menu focuses on refined Italian classics for breakfast through dinner. 

Alpina (614 E. Cooper Ave.) | Led by Colton Black, formerly of The Little Nell, the Alpine-inspired restaurant is a daytime dining concept offering coffee and light breakfast and a brunch/lunch menu with wine and cocktails.

The Crepe Shack (401 E. Cooper Ave.) | This breakfast and lunch cafe by Mawa McQueen recently opened a new location on the pedestrian mall. 

**COMING SOON**

Stranahan’s Tasting Room (307 S. Mill St .) | Opening this winter on the walking mall is this tasting room and restaurant by Denver-based Stranahan’s® Colorado Whiskey.

Wild Fig (305 S. Mill St.) | After vacating its old location of 19 years, this new location on Mill Street will soon be offering its menu inspired by the cuisines of France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. 

BUC (Bar Under Cooper) | Anticipated to open in September 2023, BUC is a bar and eatery that will be located downstairs on East Cooper.

Sway Modern Thai (208 E. Hopkins Ave.) | On Restaurant Row, this dining spot is set to open in November 2023.

Retail Therapy 

The Bayer Center Store | Located in The Bayer Center on the Aspen Institute Campus, the merchandise here includes custom apparel and books, jewelry, Bauhaus produce re-editions, home items, accessories, games, and textiles. Purchases support the Bayer Center’s initiatives and programming.

Bundles Gift Co | This new shop, opened by native Aspenite Wesley Jacobs, offers home goods, Aspen gifts, custom-designed logo apparel, and other curated selections.

LD Ceramix | Recently opened across from the Aspen Art Museum, LD Ceramix is a ceramics studio and gallery by artist Lori Dresner that offers wall paintings, sculptures, and hand-painted porcelain ceramics for purchase.

**COMING SOON**

Banana Republic | Returning to Aspen this winter after a 20-year hiatus. The retail store is set to open on Hyman Avenue Mall.

Noteworthy Events:

While not new, these popular annual events in Aspen and Snowmass are favorites among locals and visitors looking to experience some of Aspen’s best winter traditions.

Wintersköl (Jan. 11 – 14, 2024) | Aspen’s annual “toast to winter” returns for the 73rd year.  The four-day celebration features on-mountain activities, snow sculptures, a torchlight descent down Aspen Mountain, and fireworks.

Aspen Gay Ski Week (Jan. 14 – 21, 2024) | Returning for the 47th year, Aspen Gay Ski Week is the premier LGBTQ+ winter event with a full schedule of events on and off the Aspen Snowmass mountains.

X-Games Aspen (Jan. 26 – 28, 2024) | Returning for its 23rd year, Winter X Games will take place on Buttermilk, with the top contenders in extreme snow sports. Be a spectator in the best action sports competition in the world.

Ullr Nights (December 27, December 29, February 16, February 23, March 15, March 22) | This popular wintertime celebration is great for all ages. Come take an evening gondola ride up to Elk Camp Restaurant and Elk Camp Meadows, and enjoy activities like tubing, snowbiking, stargazing, riding the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, and more.