Kyle Zeppelin grew up in Summit County in the 70s and 80s. His carefree time on the slopes embodied a purist quality preceding cell phones, EpicMix and high-speed six- pack chair lifts. So, when the founder of Zeppelin Hospitality — the award-winning development team behind Denver’s wildly popular RiNo projects The Source Hotel and Market Hall and Zeppelin Station — conceived his latest attraction, he wanted to celebrate Colorado’s rich ski culture lineage while treating guests to a modern mountain experience.

The answer: The A-Frame Club, a throwback to classic, time-honored mountain hospitality with cabins and a historic saloon situated on three acres in historic Old Town Winter Park.

“A-Frame Club is taking mountain hospitality back to the heyday for skiing in the 70s and 80s that I grew up with,” says Zeppelin. “It’s a throwback to a simpler time with cabins at the base of the ski hill that open up directly to the forest and a turned up party in the lodge.”

The project’s throwback Saloon opened in December 2022, and the first A-Frame cabins opened the following month, drawing locals and Front Rangers with stylish, 1970s-inspired design nods, elevated culinary offerings and an expansive patio.

“The response has been overwhelmingly strong and positive,” says Zeppelin development COO Adam Larkey. “The locals who remember the old Adolf’s days have been so appreciative that we leaned into the history of the property and kept as much as we could, like the actual wooden bar itself.”

Developers tapped Portland-based Skylab Architects to shape the 31 standalone, 475-square-foot A-Frame cabins with privacy and ambiance in mind — a geometric snowflake-shaped elevated boardwalk connects the cabins, preserving existing pine trees while creating a natural, wooded, together-but-separate community.

Constructed with cedar, fir and birch panels, each two-story chalet matches the tree line and contains a main floor living room, kitchenette and full bath with a lofted bedroom (don’t miss the custom designed, tufted, leather headboards and Noguchi lighting) and freestanding Onsen-style soaking tub. Tall windows peek out at the surrounding forest and Fraser River, and a communal event lawn and fire pit invite that old-school summer camp vibe and community connection.

Nostalgic highlights show up in an old Wagoneer to ferry guests up to nearby Winter Park Resort (less than a half-mile away) for summertime hiking and biking, furry taxidermy, Malm fireplaces and vintage ski art, and original Hunter S. Thompson photographs taken by renowned photographer David Hiser.

Open daily to the public and hotel guests, The Saloon celebrates French Alpine-inspired eats with culinary director Nic Weber of the James Beard Award-winning team at Denver’s Mercantile Dining & Provision at the helm.

Standouts include Weber’s French onion soup, grilled vegetable mosaic and campfire banana split. “You’d also be hard pressed to find a better burger,” Larkey says. Higher-end dinner items include a charred beef short rib with bone marrow mustard glaze and venison schnitzel with wild mushroom fricassee.

The A-Frame Club’s rustic bar features a linger-worthy outdoor deck, perfect for post-hike hangouts paired with classic cocktails, herbal liquors, Colorado beers and a large European wine selection. Expect a crepe station, live DJ and happy hour patio offerings to unfold this summer.

aframeclub.com

Originally published in Summer + Fall 2023 issue of Colorado YOGA + life.

LISA BLAKE
Freelance Writer
lisablakecreative.com