Silver Queen cabin fetches $1,500 in eBay auction

An eBay auction for a cabin from Aspen Mountain's Silver Queen Gondola didn't draw much interest, but it did lure a buyer determined not to walk away empty-handed.

Only two people bid during the week-long auction. The first bid was $900 on Sunday, matching the minimum the seller would accept. A second party waited until 13 minutes before the auction ended at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday before placing the winning bid for $1,500.

The bidder was identified only by an eBay user name.

The Silver Queen Gondola cabins were taken out of service after 19 years when the ski season at Aspen Mountain ended Sunday. Bigger gondola cabins will replace them by July.

Faced with the dilemma of having 162 unwanted cabins, the Aspen Skiing Co. offered them for sale for $550 apiece in December. One of the first buyers, Michigan businessman Don White, wanted to purchase all of them. The Skico offered him half for an undisclosed "small discount."

Even before he was able to pick up his purchase, White flipped one of the cabins via the auction and made nearly $1,000 in excess of what he paid. It is unclear if he intends to offer more cabins via eBay.

Skico spokesman Jeff Hanle had no comment on White's profit.

Scott Condon's e-mail address is scondon@aspentimes.com