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Vibe: Classic, Western, Masculine

At a Glance: The Old West makes a stylish comeback at Aspen’s newly renovated Hotel Jerome.

Review: Aspen’s most talked about new hotel this season is actually quite old – 125 years, to be exact. Built during the city’s silver boom, the Jerome remained open from boom to bust, playing host to European aristocracy, Hollywood celebrities and East Coast socialites over the years. Recently, however, the Victorian-style décor lost its allure, and Aspen’s well-heeled travelers flocked to newer properties over of the Jerome.

That’s changed. Last spring, Auberge Resorts announced that they would be taking over management of the hotel, and a top-to-bottom, multi-million-dollar renovation ensued. The hotel reopened during Christmas 2012, featuring stylish new rooms and restaurants that invoke the property’s Old West roots but please a New West traveler. Accommodations feature traditional crown moldings, masculine burnished-leather bedframes and archival prints from the Aspen Historical Society. Large marble bathrooms include double vanities as well as separate soaking tubs, ideal for sore après-ski legs. While modern technology is present– plasma tvs, iPod docks and complimentary iPads in every room – the overall vibe is decidedly Old World, without sacrificing a bit of modern comfort. What didn’t change was the size of the accommodations, the smallest of which averages over 500 square feet.

Also new are Prospect and the Living Room, the Jerome’s two restaurants. Prospect offers a more sophisticated menu, while the Living Room serves gourmet bar snacks as well as more substantial entrees as diners relax into cozy leather couches. An après scene kicks into effect around 5 pm with cocktails in the Living Room or in the historic J Bar. For families more interested in playing than cocktailing, the Jerome also now features a kids’ playroom equipped with video games, movies and toys to keep tots entertained.

The Jerome has a small spa offering a full menu of services, as well as a compact fitness center. For guests who would like a larger gym, transfers are provided to the 77,000-square-foot Aspen Club & Spa. The outdoor pool and hot tub, sufficiently heated for even a February swim, will undergo renovation this spring. But most guests get their exercise the old fashioned way – on the slopes. While the Jerome may be one of the furthest properties from the Aspen base, it’s only a few blocks away and a fleet of SUVs chauffeured by charming cowboy-hatted bellboys whisk guests there and back on demand. Old West allure blends with modern-day luxury – what a treat.

INDAGARE LOVES:

• Spacious rooms with Old West flair
• A buzzy après scene in the Living Room
• In-house Gorsuch for easy ski and snowboard rentals