At a Glance
Although imposing from the outside, this private condominium project actually functions as a full-service hotel—and a very good one at that.
Indagare Loves
- Home to Splendido, one of the finest restaurants in Beaver Creek
- A private park in the middle of the property, donated by homeowners
- Heated indoor-outdoor pool, big enough, and warm enough, for laps year-round
Review
Ever since its construction in Beaver Creek’s early days, The Chateau has possessed a certain mystique: its fortress-like wood and stucco façade loomed over supposedly lesser buildings, but since very few of its 65 units were available for rent, non-owners had to be content with hearing rapturous praise for the place without actually staying there. Even a short visit to dine at the aptly-named restaurant, Splendido, only enhanced the Chateau’s aura.
Recently, however, the homeowners association has decided to up the Chateau’s visibility, with sixteen of the units in the two buildings (and one of the eight beautiful private homes also on the property) now in a rental pool, and some units coming up for resale for the first time in decades. What guests will find now is a surprisingly cozy castle, where despite the limestone floors and stone arches, the individual residences manage to be warm and welcoming. Each unit has a different floor plan and furnishings; as a result there are no online bookings, as the staff prefers to be able to match the guest to the residence. (As a general rule, the units in the adjacent Chateau Terrace are larger than those in the main building.) That said, expect steam showers, heated bathroom floors and towel bars, terraces with views ranging from enchanting to drop-dead, and plush furniture, the kind of sofas and beds you sink into with a sigh of contentment.
But the biggest assets are the service and the amenities. Forty-nine staff members, many with long tenure here, keep things humming and polished. There’s a concierge desk, a small but very nice indoor-outdoor pool, plus a newly remodeled fitness facility and spa rooms. The skier’s lounge offers a continental breakfast every morning in season, and a ski valet will take care of tuning your skis and setting them out by the gate that leads right onto a short trail to the base lifts. In sum, this is an intimate and classy place that easily ranks near the top of Beaver Creek’s preferred accommodations.
Who Should Stay
Anyone looking for traditional, Old World luxury with a side order of peace and quiet. If castles are not your style, look elsewhere, like to the Osprey.
Written by Tom Passavant
