Unless it's just Aspen or nothing, plunking down more than $25M on a ski house might seem a little absurd to the average observer just about everyone. So we've endeavored to find a few ski country homes that inject value into the equation. Of course, starting off with a $2.9M modern mansion might seem odd under the circumstances, but considering it's located not far from the powder-choked Grand Targhee resort in western Wyoming, it makes a fitting alternative to the $10M+ monstrosities in nearby Jackson. Designed by architect Richard Keating, the dramatic, angular home counts three beds and 3.5 baths on the floor plan, plus a lofty great room with suspended chimney. The views of the Tetons are nothing short of spectacular and the 39-acre property ensures that at least part of the surrounding meadows will go untouched.
? A relative newcomer to the ski scene, Silverton, Colo. was formerly a mining town, a mountain town blessed with more than 400 inches of snow each winter. Now that the single-lift Silverton Mountain is up and running with a mix of guided and unguided skiing, the town has become a veritable mecca for hardcore skiers looking for a challenge. The local real estate market has hardly kept up with the burgeoning demand, but this barn-like house, crafted by a furniture maker, offers up the sort of handiwork rarely seen in these remote parts. With fully-exposed joinery, the wood-framed structure houses three bedrooms, two baths, and a work space among 4,290 square feet. On the market for more than a year, this house has been reduced to $795K.
? Despite playing host to some of the major events of the Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Olympics, Snowbasin has remained infinitely less travelled than its neighbors to the south in Park City and the Cottonwood Canyons. This log home is set on the access road, ensuring that the next owner could beat any would-be crowds to the mountain on a powder day. Listed for $725K, the three-bedroom, 3,350-square-foot cabin captures panoramic views of the sparsely developed Ogden Valley.
? On the East Coast, there are plenty of hole-in-the-wall ski areas, but few can compete with the charm and phoenix-from-the-ashes tale of Vermont's Magic Mountain. Located not far from the corporate mega-resorts of Okemo and Stratton, Magic is a co-operative run by a bunch of people looking for an old-timey throwback. Similarly, this A-frame gives off an appropriate '70s vibe, that, with the addition of a hot tub, could make for some good times. There's nothing fancy about the place, but considering it costs just $195K, includes 1.8 acres, and sits just a few miles from multimillion-dollar estates, this is quite the steal.
? Last up on our list is the remote, and hippy-friendly, Maine ski area of Saddleback, where one could scoop up this smartly-outfitted condo and its long-range views for $425K. For that amount, the buyer gets three beds, two baths, and 1,400 square feet of ski-in, ski-out access.
· The Most Expensive Properties in Ski-Chic Aspen, Colorado [Curbed National]
· 2000 N Stateline Road [Zillow]
· 321 E 12th Street [Zillow]
· 5878 Snow Basin Road [Zillow]
· 165 Cromack Lane [Zillow]
· 1 Green Drake Lane [Zillow]