Snowmass council takes up review of Gwyn’s remodel

In its first meeting of the new year, the Snowmass Village Town Council will take up the special review of an application for a remodel and minor expansion to the on-mountain Gwyn’s High Alpine restaurant.

Like the rest of the ski area, Gwyn’s operates on Forest Service land and has been authorized by that agency to now undergo review by the town, which will consider both an expansion in the restaurant’s use and an increase in its square footage.

At 18,000 square feet in size and with about 600 seats inside, Gwyn’s is the largest food-and-beverage operation on Snowmass Ski Area in both physical size and seating capacity, according to a staff report prepared by Town Planner Chase Anderson.

Aspen Skiing Co., which leases the building to restaurant owners George Gordon and Gwyn Knowlton, wants to modernize the cafeteria area, move the bar to the main level, improve the entry and create accessible public restrooms on the main level, a change that necessitates a slight expansion of the building’s footprint, according to Anderson’s report.

The expansion would occur in varying locations on the east and southeast corners of the structure, while the main entry would expand by 1,718 square feet.

“The location, basic form and structure of the building will remain intact,” the staff report says. “The recreational uses of the surrounding area will not be changed.”

Gwyn’s High Alpine has operated in the building for 36 years. Construction on the remodel and expansion would occur during the summer.

The council will have two readings of the application, the first during today’s meeting at 4 p.m. in the Town Hall council chambers.

jill@snowmasssun.com