Where Do Celebrities Stay in Aspen?

Of all the famous Colorado ski towns, there’s one where you’re most likely to run into celebrities: & that’s undoubtedly Aspen.  Everyone from Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell to Jack Nicholson have owned homes here, & there’s just something about this chic little mountain town that’s attracted stars since the 1950’s.  Though you could run into a celeb just about anywhere in town: there are two hotels where a run-in is virtually guaranteed, due to their long & legendary histories with the “glitterati.”  Here, we’ll answer the question: “Where Do Celebrities Stay in Aspen?”

You just might run into stars like Goldie Hawn, Dakota Johnson, or Kate Hudson while strolling in Aspen…Photo by PopSugar.

There are two Aspen hotels where you’re most likely to run into celebrities….& those are: 1) The Little Nell ($799+), & 2) Hotel Jerome ($745+).

Map of Aspen Celebrity Hotels

Most celebrities fly directly into Aspen’s convenient little airport: Aspen-Pitkin ~ instead of making the four-hour drive from Denver’s International Airport.

Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell have long been considered unofficial “mayors” of Aspen, due to their long-running history here. Photo by People Magazine.

Where Do Celebrities Stay in Aspen?

1. The Little Nell

The Little Nell & its sister property, Residences at The Little Nell, is really the only true ski-in ski-out hotel at Aspen Mountain (also called “Ajax”).  That & the fact that it’s the only Five-Star, Five-Diamond resort in Aspen helps explain its popularity with celebrities through the years.  Opened in 1989, The Little Nell offers state-of-the-art rooms with city or mountain views, fireplaces, marble bathrooms, & balconies ~ suites provide hot tubs or steam showers.  You might see a politician or Fortune 500 CEO dining at their high-end restaurant, Element 47. 

Or for more informal fun: head to popular Ajax Tavern ~ one of Aspen’s top apres-spots.

Celebrities Who’ve Stayed Here: Britney Spears, Beyonce & Jay-Z, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, Elle Macpherson, & Justin Bieber.

The Little Nell is Aspen’s only Five Star, Five-Diamond property…which is why it attracts so many stars. Photo by Trip Advisor.

See the slopes right from your suite…Photo by Conde Nast.

Legendary Ajax Tavern, which faces all the action on the slopes.

“I’ve been coming [to the Little Nell] for years, so it feels like home. There’s a warm, wholesome friendliness to the place – just incredible US hospitality. The minute you arrive, the concierges remember your name, your friends, where you like to keep your ski boots. They’re familiar but not invasive. And the food is delicious, too.”

 

– Elle Macpherson, in an Interview with Conde Nast Traveller

Where Do Celebrities Stay in Aspen?

2. Hotel Jerome

Hotel Jerome’s history with writers & celebrities goes back for decades.  In the 1950’s & 60’s, writer Hunter S. Thompson made the hotel’s J-Bar famous as a hangout for an eclectic bunch of stars, intellectuals, & other luminaries ~ where they could debate, chat, & hang out.  Hunter famously duct-taped Bill Murray to a lounge chair once upon a time…..& threw him into their pool!  So where The Little Nell is a little classier & more refined: Hotel Jerome’s history is a little more funky & rough-around-the-edges. 

Celebrities Who’ve Stayed Here: Jack Nicholson, Bill Murray, Hunter S. Thompson, Benicio del Toro, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz, & John Cusack.

Hotel Jerome has hosted celebrities like Jack Nicholson, Benicio del Toro, & Johnny Depp. Photo by TripAdvisor.

The J-Bar is where Hunter S. Thompson used to hang out with a wild crew. He once tried to run for mayor just so he could legalize drugs! Photo by Conde Nast.

The Auberge renovation has thankfully left much of the hotel’s eclectic, historic feel intact.

“Hunter thought Hotel Jerome & the Wheeler Opera House gave a certain dignity to this Colorado town. You could see the heritage in Leadville or Breckenridge, but once you got to Aspen: you could smell the funkiness. Skiing & the resort atmosphere was just starting to percolate here.

 

Hunter saw that Aspen was a garden spot with a rock & roll mentality.”

 

– Tim Mooney, Bartender at Hotel Jerome’s Legendary J-Bar

Shop for “Mountain Chic” Style….

When Kate Hudson’s in Aspen, you’ll almost always see her in Ugg boots or sturdy Sorel boots. Photo by US Weekly.

Celebrities like Kate Hudson (& even my friends in Bend, Oregon!) all LOVE Sorel’s Joan of Arc tall boots ~ they’re chic, comfortable, & keep you warm in the snow.

Where Do the Kardashians Stay in Aspen?

Of course the Kardashians have been to Aspen….you’d expect nothing less from them!  Whether it’s Kendall & Kylie frolicking on the slopes (& stopping to take photos with fans in the streets), or Kourtney Kardashian dining with ex Scott Disick & his former girlfriend, Sofia Richie: the Kardashian clan have long made their mark on Aspen.

Kylie & Kendall Jenner playing in the snow in Aspen. Photo by the Daily Mail.

Sofia Richie, Scott Disick, & Kourtney Kardashian stepping out of Aspen Italian restaurant Casa Tua. Photo by People Magazine.

As far as where they stay, Kylie reportedly has a home in Aspen ~ so it’s unlikely you’ll run into her at any hotel, but Kim & Kanye once stayed at the St. Regis Aspen while they were still married, while taking the kids on a ski trip.

Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, & Orlando Bloom have all been spotted on the slopes of Aspen. Photo by the Daily Mail.

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