With the Rocky Mountains  for its backdrop, the snow-tinged St. Regis Aspen Resort stands in harmony with nature, affording it the quaint ambiance of a cozy chalet. The hotel’s understated opulence takes inspiration throughout from the surrounding natural wonders , borrowing the browns and greens of regal Aspen Mountain and the evergreen forests she reigns over. As soon as they arrive, guests are greeted by the stoic elegance of a bronze Jim Agius elk statue, Standing Watch, to welcome visitors at 8,000 feet of Colorado’s rarified air, and into the height of luxury accommodation.

Aspen has attracted the adventurous since the 1870s, when miners struck silver in the Gilded Age. The following decades chronicle  Aspen’s renaissance from a humble mining town to a luxury ski resort, but despite this the surrounding winter wonderland still radiates untouched beauty.

As Aspen attracted affluence and influence in the West, the St. Regis name began its elite associations in the East. In 1904, Colonel John Jacob Astor IV, son of society doyenne Caroline Astor, introduced the original St. Regis hotel in New York, and instantly gained the esteem of high society. Though Astor perished during the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, his precedent for luxury lives on in a flourishing chain of St. Regis hotels. The St. Regis Aspen Resort among them preserves Astor’s legacy through maintaining century-old hotel traditions , like the legendary butler service and daily sabrage, and by naming the resident Bernese mountain dog in his honor.

The unique St. Regis Aspen experience begins as soon as guests approach the porte-cochère, where they’ll be greeted by Kitty , short for Kitty Jacob Astor IV, the hotel dog who takes the name of both the hotel’s founder and the original Kitty, Astor’s own beloved Bernese. Kitty is a full-time staff member and maintains a full daily schedule of hotel responsibilities. Though his primary role is to greet incoming guests, he also meets guests at the airport, and is available for daily walks, play dates, and property tours. Kitty has been diligent in his duties to ensure the St. Regis Aspen is a pet-friendly hotel. For his efforts, he enjoys the privilege of having his own Fur Butler to address his every need, and to help him keep up appearances on his instagram page, which has over 50,000 followers.

Parting ways with Kitty, guests step through the hotel entrance to be swept up in an air of rustic elegance. An art-deco chandelier illuminates the entry, catching on the wood-paneled walls and drawing guests to a stone fireplace. Abundant Western-themed artwork throughout the hotel pays homage to Aspen heritage and the historic lodges of the American West. Cowboy statuettes stand sentinel in the lobby alongside paintings of Gilded-Age mountain scenes, and a bronze bear hides in an alcove to peer at guests as they ascend the grand staircase. This mélange of architectural and artistic eras offers the especially St. Regis style—for the duration of their stay, guests will be immersed in timeless elegance.

The rooms  themselves are warm and inviting no matter how cold the weather outside. Furnishings further emphasize rustic elegance with western-inspired objects-d’art, custom Ralph Lauren leather beds, and bathrooms marbled from floor to ceiling. In rooms of neutral tones, guests can immediately sink into relaxation upon arrival with a beverage service—coffee or tea served courtesy of a St. Regis Butler. The legendary St. Regis Butler Service is another hotel hallmark that defines the St. Regis experience. No request is unattainable, no matter the time of day.

Any of the five Junior Suites offer guests a more luxurious stay, with a cozy atmosphere amidst spacious accommodations. Leather club chairs in the living area and the signature leather-framed king bed in the bedroom offer a rustic charm, but flat screen TVs and High Speed Internet Access keep the rooms is these suites thoroughly modern. Large windows showcase a picturesque view that looks down upon Aspen and marvels up at Aspen Mountain.

The Silver Queen Suite provides a regal view through floor-to-ceiling windows that look upon Aspen’s Silver Queen Gondola as it ascends the peak of Aspen Mountain. The royal treatment continues with specialty furnishings—a marble fireplace and baby grand piano. With a powder room, state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen sound system, fully-functional kitchenette, and dining table that seats eight, this suite promises to be both the heart of seasonal celebrations and a home away from home.

The St. Regis Aspen embraces both the region’s ski culture and the brand’s haute heritage in a unique experience that rounds out any winter afternoon—Après Tea. A harmonious blend of après drinks and high tea, this afternoon treat serves soulful flavors in the lounge by a crackling fire. In this cozy setting, savory gourmet grilled cheese and decadent artisanal chocolates pair well with a glass of omnipresent St. Regis champagne.

The mouthwatering aromas from the Velvet Buck ensure hungry guests won’t have to venture too far to be enticed with something scrumptious. The hotel restaurant, named for the fur that grows on deer antlers, serves mountain cuisine and pays homage to local history. Framed photographs of the intrepid men and women who settled the Rockies in the 19th Century line the walls, and their primal fire-roasted cooking techniques  are diligently practiced in the kitchens to evoke authentic mountain taste. While the restaurant’s elaborate dishes are far beyond what westward explorers would have prepared over campfires, their recipes incorporate only a few ingredients each, to highlight the true flavors of Colorado. Tastebuds will be tantalized with the specialty Bison Tartare, and the aged white cheddar bread pudding is the piquant encore to any sumptuous entrée.

The soft refrain of acoustic guitar lures guests into a waning evening towards the hotel’s epicenter, the Mountain Social Bar and Lounge. Chic leather chairs and sumptuous turquoise velvet sofas add a touch of modernism to the evocative ambiance of Art Deco revival. But nature still pervades in this sophisticated setting—fireside cocktails with a pristine view of Aspen Mountain are a reminder within of the nature without. And from every seat in the room, eyes are drawn to the expansive mural behind the bar counter. Bo Bartlett’s The Myth of the Strong Wind depicts two horses carrying three riders through a valley of Aspens. This image evokes not only a journey through nature, but a long-standing tradition of original murals in St. Regis hotels. The original St. Regis set the precedent in New York with the King Cole mural by celebrated artist Maxfield Parrish.

The mixology at Mountain Social is as renowned as the modern milieu. Among the innovations associated with the St. Regis name is the resort’s signature cocktail. The Bloody Mary, fabled to have been invented at the original St. Regis, takes a different form at each sister resort. The St. Regis Aspen spins this classic cocktail into the Downhill Snapper, spiced with dill, basil, and citrus, and garnished with two olives and a pickle. Tastings are offered every day in the Mountain Social.

Beyond curated cocktails, champagne flows sparkling smooth at all hours of the day, but it is especially available at 4:45pm for another St. Regis tradition, sabrage. The artful technique of opening a champagne bottle with a saber, sabrage has served as a daily St. Regis ritual to celebrate the transition from day to night since the first un-corking at the first hotel in 1904. Kitty often assists in this sacred St. Regis tradition, never flinching at the pop of the cork.

The Remède Spa offers a chance for full-bodied relaxation and recuperation, especially for guests who have been playing hard during their winter vacation. The spa’s most unique feature is the dimly-lit relaxation room, which offers oxygen treatments at the “Oxygen Bar,” a particularly welcome rejuvenation at this high-altitude destination. Guests will feel further pampered with the CBD Restorative Facial, which incorporates CBD into a synergistic formula designed to address all skin types. But a Rocky Mountain Vibes Massage is what will complete the Remède Spa experience. A full-body restoration that stimulates circulation, eases muscle tension, and improves flexibility, this massage will soothe guests after a long day of play, and refresh them for the next one, and the next.

Located right at the base of Aspen mountain, the St. Regis Aspen Resort primes guests for superb skiing. The hotel is surrounded by four world-class ski resorts: Snowmass, Aspen, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk Mountain. These popular peaks offer a diverse terrain that accommodates all ski abilities, from Buttermilk’s bunny slopes to Snowmass’s Hanging Valley Headwall. The St. Regis Aspen will take guests from port-cochère to the peak of their choosing with a Ski Valet service that assists with equipment and offers local slope expertise.

Whether guests are looking to ramp it up or take it easy, Aspen’s winter activities abound. The Silver Circle Ice Rink—the city’s only rink out of doors—adjoins the hotel, and is an easy way to spend an afternoon. Afternoons continue to pass effortlessly at local Roaring Fork River, where Aspen’s mild winters allow guests to try their hand at winter fly fishing. The hotel also connects guests with snowmobiling, dog sledding, and sleigh rides, adventures that take visitors past Aspen’s natural wonders that can’t be seen on skis—from frozen waterfalls to snow-covered vistas.

And beyond action out of doors, The St. Regis Aspen is within walking distance of downtown Aspen’s shopping, dining, and entertainment.  Elite brands line both sides of the street, among them Gucci, Prada, and Ralph Lauren. Interspersed between stores are world-class restaurants, offering everything from lighter fare sushi at Matsuhisa to hearty meals at Steak House No. 316. The historic Wheeler Opera House is a must-see destination downtown as the city’s hub for concerts, movies, festivals, opera, and more. But for places that aren’t within walking distance, St. Regis has a relationship with Lexus that allows guests to take a sport or luxury vehicle to any Aspen attractions.

Paying tribute to the traditions of the St. Regis brand and the heritage of the Aspen area, the St. Regis Aspen Resort is a world-class destination surpassed only by the elevation. This unparalleled five-star service amidst the Rocky Mountains attracts skiers and winter enthusiasts from all over the world with its unique blend of sophistication and rustic elegance. The St. Regis Aspen offers high class accommodations at high altitude—and some of the best in the west.