Drawing inspiration from the Bauhaus, local mining heritage and Colorado's rugged beauty, Mollie is Aspen's newest boutique hotel.
New to Aspen, Mollie will appeal to well-traveled socially inclined guests looking for boutique accommodations that focus on local authenticity and design. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLIE
This winter, the 1960s-era Molly Gibson Lodge, which was scraped to the ground in 2021, will be reincarnated into a brand-new 68-room boutique hotel called simply Mollie (mollieaspen.com). The name is a tribute to Aspen’s Mollie Gibson mine, which produced lead, silver and zinc in the late 1800s.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLIE
Internationally acclaimed CCY Architects, an Aspen/Basalt-based firm, served as the architect on the project, collaborating with Post Company, the award-winning studio behind the hotel’s interior design. Designers found inspiration from Aspen’s long-established Bauhaus presence. “Mollie’s essence is an homage to this illustrious period of art and cultural influence in Aspen,” says Post Company partner Ruben Caldwell.
Owners and developers Michael and Aaron Brown of HayMax Capital chose Gin & Luck—known for the Death & Co bars in L.A., D.C., New York and Denver—to curate the hotel’s food and beverage program. Mollie will have a lobby bar, an all-day cafe and a restaurant with year-round outdoor seating. The top floor features a rooftop spa and a bar with unobstructed views of Aspen Mountain. At night, the space will transform into an elevated speakeasy, serving signature cocktails and light bites. “We recognized that Aspen boasts a wealth of wine programs, but our aim was to place a strong emphasis on a cocktail-forward concept,” says Michael. “Alongside the elevated cocktails is New American cuisine with global influences and a focus on shareable dishes that accentuate the social atmosphere of the space.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLIE
Inside the hotel, guests will find a curvilinear reception desk sculpted in burl wood. “We used textures, depth and patterns from a variety of natural materials combined in unexpected ways,” Caldwell says. “We interpreted Colorado’s rugged and natural beauty through an expression of element and material.” The bar area features geometric sculptural concrete panels combined with elegant, refined millwork; public spaces and rooms have gridded wood ceilings; and the polished concrete flooring in the lobby uses a local Colorado aggregate pebbled with rust and earthen tones. At the hotel’s entryway, look for the Paavo Tynell ceiling sconce, a vintage showcase design piece, as well as a collection of statement sofas and chairs by Mario Bellini framing the lobby fireplace.
Inspired by the iconic backdrop of the town of Aspen, CCY Architects allowed elemental function to govern form. "The chance to rejuvenate such a prominent Aspen location provided us with the opportunity to delve into the historical influences of Aspen," says Todd Kennedy a partner with CCY Architects (ccyarchitects.com) "This allowed us to craft a response that is both timeless and deeply rooted in the elements that have made Aspen truly special." CCY drew inspiration for the façade along Main Street from the historic architecture found throughout Aspen’s historic West End. The two-story wood clad façade takes a significant step down to form a singular, one-story element that reflects the mass and scale of the neighborhood's Victorian homes.
The hotel’s prime location on Paepcke Park is just a two-block walk from downtown Aspen’s restaurant row. In winter, skiers can utilize a new shuttle service stop from Mollie’s front door to all four mountains—and be delivered back in time for a happy hour martini or a soak with a view from the rooftop terrace.
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