Aspen, Colorado

The influx of co-primary residents from New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco has continued, with more high-net-worth individuals opting to call Aspen home and enrolling their children at Aspen Country Day School or in the Aspen Public School District. As Aspen’s central core, Red Mountain and West End achieve high prices, so some buyers are venturing into up-and-coming neighborhoods like Meadowood, Five Trees, and Mountain Valley. Neighboring Snowmass offers buyers slightly more affordable choices, as well as the joy of ski-in/ski-out homes.

For ski-in/ski-out in Aspen, the Residences at Little Nell access the Silver Queen Gondola and Ajax Patio out their front door, and you can’t get much closer to the center of Aspen life. The Residences (each around 2,800 square feet) are privately owned, but available by the week or the month and equipped with gourmet kitchens, full washer/dryers, and extra storage space. The five-star Little Nell hotel has a dedicated hospitality and concierge team and 24-hour room service. Both stays access the magnificent rooftop pool and water garden, gym, family center, and yoga studio. Residences from $2.7 million, offered by RE/MAX Mountain West; rmwrealestate.com; thelittlenell.com

Swiss and French Alps

St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps leads the index with price growth, nudging 17 percent in 2021. In June 2020, some 90 ski homes were available to buy; a year later there were only 20. Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Knight Frank’s head of Swiss sales, comments: “Would-be sellers have become landlords, and parents who were thinking of selling have put their plans on ice as their children or extended family members have wanted to enjoy the Alps in the last 12 months.” Find 1,000-square-foot flats from $1.9 million, and six-bedroom villas from $16.6 million. France’s most expensive resort, Courchevel 1850, also had a busier-than-normal year. “It’s arguably the safe haven market in the French Alps, as buyers know they’re getting a foothold in one of the most desirable ski resorts in the world, plus one that delivers on service and amenities; the challenge is finding the stock,” says Roddy Aris, Knight Frank’s head of sales in the French Alps. The newly built Sundance Lodge offers 41 two- to five-bedroom furnished and fully serviced apartments. From $16.7 million; alpinepropertyfinders.com; knightfrank.com/overseas-property

Jackson, Wyoming

Jackson, an authentic Old West town in the Jackson Hole Valley near Grand Teton National Park, is a popular destination for adventure seekers in every season. The Snake River Sporting Club (located just south of the confluence of the Snake and Hoback rivers), provides a comprehensive Jackson Hole experience within a private club environment. Situated within 1,000 acres that border the 3.5-million-acre Bridger-Teton National Forest, the club and ranch embrace natural surroundings and celebrate the beauty and ruggedness of the wilderness. The four-season residential community and private club offers world-class golf on a Tom Weiskopf–designed championship course, fly-fishing along the famed Snake River, hiking trails to be traveled by foot or mountain bike, equestrian facilities, archery and shooting clays, and children’s programs. In the winter, residents and club members enjoy snowshoeing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, as well as private après-ski and valet service at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and a 24/7 property management team. Homesites from $1.49 million; the Lodges and Lodge Cabins (furnished by Restoration Hardware) from $2.9 million; snakeriversportingclub.com

Aura

This new ski-in/ski-out residential collection in Snowmass Base Village, inspired by the European mountain chalet style, is designed with through-residences (no common corridors) to capture unobstructed mountain views and the abundant mountain light. Floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces large enough for entertaining create seamless indoor/outdoor living. There’s Aura Fitness for a quick, convenient workout and for entertaining and relaxation, the Grotto and Owner’s Lounge include a private ski beach with spa pool and fire features. Each home’s “garage within a garage” is large enough for two cars and a year’s worth of sports gear, and provides the security of a single-family home garage plus direct elevator access to your residence. The 21 four- and five-bedroom residences range in size from 2,509 to 2,984 square feet. From $7.95 million; aurasnowmass.com

Blackberry

Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain (in the Great Smoky Mountains) are among the South’s most highly regarded resorts. Their reputation stems from elegant English country house accommodations, five-star service, and an award-winning culinary program (the Farm has 15 James Beard Award nominations and three wins). As a brand, Blackberry is widely known for its deep commitment to community, wellness, and sustainability. Over the past few years, the ultra-luxurious Tennessee resort has quietly become a full-service property developer, including property management and maintenance. The building lots on Blackberry properties are limited, with half of the 4,200 bucolic acreage in a conservation easement—part of the owners’ (the Beall family) ongoing efforts to preserve the land for future generations. Prospective buyers are vetted by an in-house committee; their home plans must be approved by Blackberry’s architectural review committee. “The unique beauty of what we provide our clients is the feeling they get when they stay as a guest at Blackberry, but they get to keep it forever,” says Jason Bell of the Blackberry Farm design team. “We reproduce the Farm or Mountain for them, but with their unique spin. We call it the ‘Blackberry state of mind.’” Homesites from $1.5 million to $6.75 million for .33 to 43 acres; blackberryfarm.com/living/home-ownership

Pinnacle at Promontory

Pinnacle at Promontory is a one-of-a-kind mountain retreat (just 64 homesites on 143 acres), overlooking one of America’s most celebrated resort towns: Park City. It is, basically, a club within a club—inside the already uber-exclusive Promontory Club compound. Because of its seclusion in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains (at elevations ranging from approximately 6,500 to 7,400 feet above sea level), each of the homesites has complete privacy while taking advantage of panoramic mountain views. Buyers can choose from three design-forward, multigenerational home options featuring an uncluttered mountain-modern design or select from a collection of oversized estate homesites on which members may custom-build a private retreat. Skyhouse, an architecturally stunning, stone-and-glass building, is a community gathering place with a pool, spa treatment rooms, a fitness-and-movement studio, a showcase kitchen, and an outdoor entertaining terrace. Semi-custom homes from $6.4 million; promontoryclub.com

Martis Camp

Private Lake Tahoe community Martis Camp, with approximately 653 homesites and move-in-ready homes, appeals to families seeking a mountain lifestyle for all seasons. On 2,177 acres with elevations ranging from 5,900 to 7,100 feet, the ultimate Tahoe retreat offers private ski access to Northstar California Resort (20 lifts, three gondolas, and 3,170 acres of skiable terrain), and in summer, to a Tom Fazio–designed residential golf course. Play among pines, firs, hemlocks, and rocky outcroppings on nearly every hole, particularly the 18th where The Cliff Room sits atop a 70-foot wall of granite. Fazio called this site one of the finest natural pieces of property on which he’s ever created a golf course. The Family Barn has a pool, bowling alley, theater, and a popular-with-kids soda fountain; the Camp Lodge features white-tablecloth dining, a fitness center, and a spa. Martis Camp also has miles of hiking and cross-country trails through the pristine Tahoe wilderness. Homesites from $2.9 million; homes from $6.3 million; martiscamp.com

Tributary

Private residential community Tributary reached numerous milestones in the past year including a record year in sales in 2021 (more than $50 million) and a recently unveiled 27,000-square-foot clubhouse. The community offers three- to five-bedroom residences, but based on recent demand from buyers, the team is halting construction on new three- and five-bedroom residences in favor of increasing its four-bedroom residence inventory. Open floor plans, the use of local materials, and low-maintenance landscaping contribute to a relaxed, but refined mountain style. All homes feature walls of glass for views of near and distant mountains and many of the homes will be built with “super garages” with extra space to accommodate recreational toys like snowmobiles and ATVs. Homesites plus home plans from $2.5 million; tributaryidaho.com

Moonlight Basin

Moonlight Basin is one of three private clubs set among the grandeur of the Madison Range of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Montana. (The other two are: the uber-exclusive Yellowstone Club and the only slightly less exclusive Spanish Peaks.) The year-round, 8,000-acre mountain community located on the back side of Lone Mountain offers ski-in/ski-out access to world-class Big Sky Resort (seven lifts, five terrain parks, 400-plus inches of snowfall, 5,800 skiable acres), the exceptional wildlife habitats of Lee Metcalf Wilderness, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. A member services team assists with everything from travel and transportation to arranging childcare. Signature membership, $50,000, after you’ve purchased a home. Homesites from $4.75 million; condos from $2 million; homes from $5.1 million; moonlightbasin.com In 2024, the resort will introduce the first community of One&Only Private Homes in the United States, offering 62 freestanding Olson Kundig–designed private residences from $8.45 million; oneandonlyresorts.com

Aspen Valley Ranch

The Residences at Aspen Valley Ranch, a gated community spanning more than 800 wilderness acres, features 5,700- to 13,000-square-foot, four- and five-bedroom homes concepted by two local design visionaries, Michael Fuller and Poss Architecture. Loaded with amenities, the ranch includes The Ranch House (with a home movie theater, wine room, Steinway Spirio player piano, dining room for up to 14 people); the Historic Barn (a game room with five arcade games, air hockey, foosball, ping-pong, and pool tables); and the Toy Garage (snowmobiles, four-wheelers, electric bikes, dirt bikes, Polaris RZR, and snowshoes). For equestrian enthusiasts, there’s a Horse Barn complete with horses, a wrangler, and an exterior riding arena. At the Gym/Pool House, find a pool, hot tub, steam room, and a full weight room. For the art aficionado, the Residences at Aspen Valley Ranch showcase a collection of curated works from world-renowned artists Domingo Zapata, Jonathan Bermudes, Natalie Victor Retali, Jeff Koons, Tony Cragg, Gilles Roussell, Johanne Cinier, Richard Rhodes, Laurence Jenkell, and Samuel Prudden, including more than 40 distinctive pieces (photographs, paintings, sculptures, mixed-media works, and tapestries) throughout the homes and public spaces. In addition, a Les Clefs D’or concierge arranges weekly housekeeping, car service, airport transfers, golf carts (transportation around the ranch), sommelier service, grocery delivery, private chef services, in-home spa and salon services, babysitting, and event planning. Aspen Mountain House (425 Aspen Valley Ranch Road, 5,602-square feet, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms), $18 million; masonmorse.com

Double D Ranch

Ranches for sale in Idaho offer opportunities in the varied resort communities of Teton Valley, Sun Valley, and Coeur d’Alene. Each of these iconic areas offers a different lifestyle, community feel, and landscape. Sportsmen know that Idaho offers the best waterfowl around the town of Twin Falls, big-game hunting in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and upland bird hunting across the state. Henry’s Fork River has large trout that can be tricky to land, but these cunning fish make the challenge all that more rewarding. In the middle of the state, where rainfall and green fields are abundant, Double D Ranch is a beautiful 162-acre property located on the western slope of the Teton Mountain Range between the small mountain towns of Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia and near world-class skiing at Grand Targhee Resort. With diverse land characteristics—open meadows, dense aspen groves, and two streams—the property offers seclusion with convenient proximity to the recreational and cultural activities of the Teton Valley and Jackson Hole. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of conservation easement property, it’s protected from development and a prime candidate for a conservation easement having been identified as a “high priority” parcel by the Teton Regional Land Trust. $3.2 million; livewaterproperties.com

C Lazy U Ranch

Celebrate the traditions of the American West at C Lazy U, established as a guest ranch in 1919 and now, over 100 years later, offering homesites with a Ranch Membership so owners can take advantage of amenities and programming, including private fly-fishing on Willow Creek. The membership program includes housekeeping, landscaping, ranch hand services, home maintenance services, grocery and liquor delivery, shuttle services, vehicle fueling, and home check and inspection services. Owners/members enjoy access to over 200 ranch-owned horses, a 12,000-square-foot heated indoor riding arena, and unlimited access to the horse-riding program. A structured and supervised children’s program (for ages 3–17) includes fishing, camping, rafting, and horsemanship. All 40 homesites sit on 35 acres with a one- to two-acre envelope where you can build the Colorado mountain ranch home of your dreams. From $1.35 million; clazyurealty.com