Nearly three decades after his death at age 53, a portion of the late John Denver’s longtime Denver estate is newly available. The legendary singer-songwriter had the mountain getaway in Aspen’s exclusive gated Starwood community custom-built at the height of his career in the early 1970s. While the main residence is off the market, a couple of buildings on an adjacent parcel are now up for grabs, with an asking price just under $8.5 million.
Originally designed as a guesthouse and recording studio, the property was last sold this past April for nearly $4.8 million. Since converted into a full-fledged home courtesy of extensive renovations, the two wood-sided and metal-roof structures feature a total of five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in a little more than 2,900 square feet of rustic living space that still retains a stained-glass installation from Denver’s tenure.
Tucked away on five acres of land overlooking picturesque valley and mountain vistas, about 15 minutes outside of downtown Aspen, the single-story residence is highlighted by a spacious great room boasting wood-beam ceilings and a wall of sliding glass doors opening to an expansive deck. Within that space, a cozy living area is warmed by a striking stone and copper wood-burning fireplace flanked by built-in shelving, and a sleekly designed kitchen is outfitted with a central island, stainless appliances, and an accompanying dining area.
The separately deeded lot with its own driveway also hosts a fireside primary suite, a relaxing hot tub, and a one-car garage. A $750 annual HOA fee provides the new owner access to Starwood’s exclusive amenities, which include 24-hour security, postal and fire stations, a conference room, tennis courts, cross-country ski trails, horse pastures, and 70-plus acres of meadows and hiking trails.
One of the most popular and bestselling acoustic performers of the ’70s, Denver’s numerous hits included “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” and “Rocky Mountain High.” In addition to an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Grammy win for “Best Musical Album for Children,” he founded the environmental foundation Windstar. The New Mexico native died in October 1997 when an experimental plane he was piloting crashed into California’s Monterey Bay, with his cremated ashes scattered across the Rocky Mountains.
