Most expensive house for sale in America hits Aspen market

The most expensive house for sale in the country hit the housing market in Aspen last week, a 74.1 acre property listed at $300,000,000.

The property’s residence, referred to as the Little Lake Lodge, has 18 bedrooms, 20 full bathrooms, and four partial bathrooms. It was built by California billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick, who co-own The Wonderful Company and founded the Aspen Institute’s Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies. The Resnicks bought the property, located at 161 Stillwater Road off Highway 82 heading toward Independence Pass, from the Benedict family. 

“It’s a legacy property,” said Brenda Wild, broker and owner of Aspen’s Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Signature Properties and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s real estate representative. “A parcel that size next to downtown Aspen is just unprecedented.”

Wild has previous history on the property — her husband was the property manager for five years starting in 1996. She noted the architect used for the Little Lake Lodge was the same architect who designed the original Wilderness Lodge at Disney World, Peter Dominick.

Mandy Welgos, global real estate advisor and broker associate for Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty who is the listing agent of the property, credited the significant asking price to a number of features — its assemblage of four parcels of land one mile from downtown Aspen, a private six acre lake, its 19,500 square foot already-built home, entitlements to build another 19,500 square foot home, its privacy, three additional homes, 45 parking spaces, and trail system built for hiking, cross country skiing, and biking.

“The Resnick’s Aspen Estate could easily be perceived by a purchaser to be the most important residential property in the continental United States,” said Michael J. Libow, a realtor with Compass and one of Beverly Hills’ top producing real estate agents for over four decades. “When it trades, the sales price of the Aspen estate will likely set a baseline for a property of its caliber on a global scale.”

To date, Aspen’s highest single family home sale was $108,000,000 in 2024, which was also the highest residential sale in Colorado at that time, until the Resnick’s property sells.

But even with its record-setting price tag, Wild said she anticipates this property will be surpassed in price by a future listing.

“We’re not the only market that’s continuing to raise the bar as far as price points,” she said. “There will be someone else who eclipses us in that number at some point in time. A $300 million home certainly captures attention, but it doesn’t define Aspen’s identity. Our character is rooted in the people who live and work here, our cultural and recreational assets, and the incredible natural environment that surrounds us.”

She pointed out that, while the listing highlights the desirability of Aspen, it also brings attention to why the local community needs to be so committed to addressing affordability.

“We’re focused on sustaining a diverse, year-round community and ensuring Aspen remains welcoming and livable for residents and visitors alike,” she said. “Our housing market is similar to many other resort and destination locations globally, and the community as a whole sees the value and understands what the backbone of that is. (The listing) does not compromise the local character but only highlights why we have both to sustain our future.”

Libow also emphasized that, for those looking on the high-end of the market, price can be overshadowed by appreciation for a property and the area around it, which includes the community.

“There is no way to truly estimate the value of something — including homes,” he said, “when their uniqueness can be priceless to the correct buyer.”

Welgos confirmed that there are already multiple interested parties since the home was listed for sale. And even with its already high value, she said it’s possible that the property will continue to appreciate for its new owners, particularly with the restrictions on the size of homes in Pitkin County.

“This is a very unique and special property,” she said. “Nothing like this exists in Aspen.” 

For the full listing and property details, visit sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-963-mzy8yj/161-stillwater-road-aspen-co-81611.