Aspen became one of Colorado's early boomtowns when silver was discovered nearby in the early 1890s. Soon boasting a population of nearly 12,000, the village supported hundreds of prospectors and their families. Later, when the price of silver bottomed out, fewer than 700 residents remained in the ghost town. Aspen received a new lease on life in the 1940s when it was developed into a recreational destination with emphasis on skiing, and its year-round population is now back up to over 5,500. Its location on the western slope of the Continental Divide in central Colorado makes its ski facilities some of the best that the state has to offer. A magnet for cultural and countercultural types, the atmosphere is freewheeling and tolerant, but it is also a magnet for glittering celebrities, so a sense of wealth, style, and privilege runs almost as deep as the snow cover.

Snowmass is a development within the greater Aspen community. It consists of four ski areas, as well as an abundance of eateries, shops, and boutiques. It is a little more affordable and family oriented than some of the other glittery ski resorts nearby.