Mind, Body and Spirit: 1949-1960

With the end of the war a fresh new outlook for Aspen emerged with the arrival in 1945 of Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke. The prominent Chicago couple brought vision, culture, a love for the outdoors and financial backing with them and infused modern Aspen with the idea that this was a place where mind, body and spirit could flourish.

1949
Goethe Bicentennial Celebration with Dr. Albert Schweitzer as guest lecturer (his only visit to the US) is held in tent designed by Eero Saarinen. The success of the event gives birth to summer cultural institutions including the Aspen Music Festival & School, Aspen Institute, and International Design Conference. Stuart Mace opens Toklat at Ashcroft.

1950
Aspen hosts the FIS World Alpine Championships, the first sanctioned international alpine competition in the U.S. World class skiers now recognize Aspen’s skiing potential.

1951
Aspen holds its first Wintersköl celebration.  First International Design Conference of Aspen (IDCA) held.

1954
Lift #3 built from Tourtelotte Park to Sundeck on Aspen Mountain.

1956
Lift #4 on Aspen Mountain is built from Little Nell to Bell Mountain (replacing the T-bar which was bought by Whip Jones for Aspen Highlands) and the Sundeck is enlarged by enclosing the deck and expanding the bathrooms and kitchen facilities.

1955
Hotel Jerome gives the Bayer Blue “eyebrow” paint job under the direction of Elizabeth Paepcke and Herbert Bayer.

1958
Friedl Pfeifer opens Buttermilk Mountain. Whip Jones opens Aspen Highlands. DRC Brown becomes President of the Aspen Skiing Corporation.