The Highland Bavarian Lodge on Castle Creek Road will live to see another day. The Aspen Times reports that Pitkin County commissioners voted 3-1 to preserve the Highland Bavarian Lodge and bunkhouse. It will be classified as a historical designation, which will allow it to be remodeled in a way that shows its historical significance. The county will allow “7,500 square feet of additional floor area for a home on what’s known as the Mesa Lot of the ranch. A home of up to 13,250 square feet could be constructed.” Also, a density bonus was awarded for a main ranch parcel property. The site will also be available for public tours once a year. The 82-acre property stands on the junction between Castle and Conundrum creeks, and the owners have pledged to put a conservation easement on the building and 49 acres in total.
The lodge opened for the first time in 1936, with grandiose plans of becoming a skiing destination. Multiple trails were cut so that skiers could attach skins and hike up Richmond Ridge. During World War, the owners grand plans lost momentum, and developers shifted their focus toward Aspen Mountain. Minus a few additions, not much has changed since its opening in the 1930s, henceforth the importance of saving a piece of Colorado skiing history. 
Image Credits: Aspen Glenwood MLS, Aspen Times
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