Previewing an Aspen Pocket Listing with Blake Appleby
When Blake Appleby of Douglas Elliman invites you to tour his pocket listing, you hop in the car, cue up the GPS, and go. Because you know what you are about to experience is truly unique.
Pocket listings are reasonably standard in the Roaring Fork Valley. For this particular Aspen property, priced at $35 million, a pocket listing is often in the best interest of both the seller and buyer. As Blake notes, they crave their privacy and quite simply, don’t want the publicity on either side of the transaction. For sellers, it is about quality, not quantity, when it comes to showings of the home. For buyers, these listings are an exclusive opportunity and far different from the MLS listings typically found on their house hunt. Blake’s pocket listing certainly piqued our interest.
As we made our approach to the property the morning of our visit, the bustle of town and buzz of jets started to fade away. The green of trees enveloped us in a lush silence. We parked our car, slipped our shoes off at the front door, and entered one of the most soothing and beautiful spaces we’ve ever stepped foot inside. Beyond the front door, you feel ensconced in a private Aspen retreat.
The property embodies a modern aesthetic with a teak-infused warmness, instantly welcoming you. A wall of floor to ceiling windows in the great room beckons the beauty of the surrounding Castle Creek Valley inside. The hand-selected collector-grade furniture practically begs for you to sit down and soak it all in. Unpretentious, clean, calm, and full of natural grace, it’s hard to put just one word to this property.
We can attest it is a rare find.
With acreage out every door, attention to detail plays out from the limestone walls and light fixtures to the tasteful door handles and restrained light switches. Meticulously sourced, it is clear every material was chosen to infuse a sense of respect for traditional craftsmanship. Every selection is coupled with a fresh eye for design and homage to the natural surroundings.
The most striking sensory aspect of the home was not the sights, or the soft acoustics clouding you in a cocoon of calmness. But instead, the texture that summoned our senses, from the hardwoods underfoot to the custom plaster walls as we passed through the hallway.
This home features seven en suite bedrooms, a guest house, two mudrooms, hot tub, pool, fire pit, and a rooftop deck. This mountain oasis is sure to make the most discerning buyer feel welcome. The location of this Aspen pocket listing affords privacy year-round, with just the aspen trees as visible neighbors and Ashcroft Mountain touching the distant horizon. As Blake prepared for an afternoon showing of the home, we were tempted to linger before returning to the hustle of town and the buzz of activity. If only this home were small enough to fit in our pocket and go with us.
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For the protection of the current owners, Blake does not offer details publicly but can show the property to interested parties and their respective brokers upon request. Please contact Blake for details.
Blake Appleby’s migration to Aspen is a story you often hear as local lore. Quit the corporate city life. Came for one ski season. Stayed for decades. However, it’s not the journey to the Roaring Fork Valley, but rather within, that is most notable for Blake.
After his first winter SkiCo job at Snowmass, Blake looked for summertime work and landed employment with a general contractor. Several years in, he saw an opportunity for property management, eventually starting his own company that catered to second home owners. 25 years later, he sold his business and transitioned into real estate. For Blake, becoming a broker was “a culmination of all the things I’ve done in my career.”
This natural progression has allowed Blake to continue to work incredibly hard, in a fun and challenging new way. By his account, he has built his business on three key aspects to success: service, integrity, and relationships. Standards he feels are important, no matter what you do.
Image courtesy of Blake Appleby and Drone X
“I like to creatively think about putting people together with opportunities,” Blake says. Given his career track, it is evident that he has the ability to assess a property very quickly and to clearly help a client understand what they are buying. Or tell a seller what they need to address when putting their house on the market. He truly understands properties inside and out.
Blake recognizes that the second-home owner community helps drive what happens in Aspen. These residents not only, “want to feel local and be a part of the fabric of the community, but they also value our community as a very special place.” Involvement with non-profits, including a summer cycling event for World Vision, creates even more opportunity for kinship. It is evident in Blake’s dedication to his clients and his community that this phase of life suits him; where he is taking care of others and selling the dream.
Image courtesy of Blake Appleby
When we sat down with Blake to better understand why he continues to live and love Aspen, it is obvious he is passionate not only about the place, but the people as well. “We have arts and first-class restaurants, things that are unusual for a town of 5,000,” he noted. “Our lifestyle is unsurpassed. We have a great blend of small town, a personal feel, and a very safe community coupled with so many outdoor opportunities.” These aspects have served as an anchor for Blake and his wife, Alana, to raise their two sons.
For Blake, there is a premium on being healthy. While you might expect him to ski all day, wait for the phone to ring, and close a couple deals a year, that is not the Blake Appleby we all know. Proactive by nature, he constantly apprises his clients of the latest industry news and keeps his finger on the pulse of the evolving Aspen real estate market. Blake notes that, “staying current is a daily task.” It’s not an uncommon sight to spot Blake filming footage for a new listing (on skis, of course) or interviewing a local business owner for a spotlight on his blog.
Image courtesy of Blake Appleby and Drone X
During off-season, Blake balances work with the occasional mountain bike weekend in Fruita. For the most part, he and his family stay put to not only enjoy the town once it quiets down, but because real estate never sleeps, especially for locals. By summer you might spot Blake on his favorite outdoor terrain, the Hobbit Trail. And by winter, don’t be surprised if you see him on a bike next to you at Cyclebar or sipping coffee at Gorsuch, where the people watching at the base of the gondola is top notch. While Blake admits every day might be a little different, it is this place he calls home that remains a favorite constant.
To learn more about Blake, visit his website and sign up for his newsletter to stay in the loop (on and off the trails).
SCOUTED // Brand New Holiday Rental Opportunity in Town
Looking to stay in Aspen a bit longer this holiday season? Look no further than this spectacular downtown penthouse.
Conveniently located in the heart of the Aspen shopping and restaurant scene, this three bedroom, two and a half bath vacation rental is just above Moncler.
Newly completed and never before available, this beautifully furnished Aspen vacation rental is turnkey. Pack your bags, bring the kids (there is a bunk bed waiting for them) and enjoy the ultimate in Aspen vacation living.
Just two blocks to the gondola and in walking distance to everything, you can leave the car at home. $2700 per night, 10 day minimum. Contact Blake Appleby for more details.
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