Construction is set to begin on the renovation and restoration of the historic Mountain Chalet in downtown Aspen with a grand opening planned for the summer of 2027. The $100 million development is being led by Larry McGuire, co-founder of Austin, Texas-based MML Hospitality, and Zach Kupperman, CEO of New Orleans-based Kupperman Companies, which previously collaborated on Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans.
“Our vision is to keep the Chalet’s European sensibilities, while also establishing a new benchmark in American luxury adventure travel,” Kupperman said in a statement. “There will be some exterior design changes, but the goal is to maintain the look and feel of an historic, European-style ski lodge throughout the property.”
The Mountain Chalet is Aspen’s oldest owner-built lodge—originally constructed by the Melville family in 1954 after a visit to Garmisch, Germany—with just three rooms. McGuire and Kupperman lead the ownership group, joined by Tom Moorman, Liz Lambert, Elle Florescu and members of the Melville family.
The property—which will reopen as Aspen Mountain Chalet—is being designed to retain its European ethos while embracing a modern Aspen sensibility blending classic Alpine characteristics with contemporary touches. PCL Construction is the project’s general contractor and Rybak Architecture is the architect of record. The design also incorporates architecture by Lake Flato and interiors by Lambert McGuire Design.