ISSUE #288: The Quiet Year. (4/20/26)

"Ghost towns filled with sad people who settled for what life offered them. The road unfurls before us. Everything is possible. I feel sick to my stomach."

-- Pete Wentz

I’m always surprised at what surprises people in Aspen.  A recent article in the paper highlighted how few people are aware of yet alone prepared for the closure of Aspen’s airport in April 2027, exactly one year from now. 

No, this isn’t the seasonal resurfacing that typically shuts ASE down for a couple weeks each spring and fall during the off season. This time, the runway itself is being ripped out, relocated and widened. The terminal will also be rebuilt (opening scheduled for 2029). The shutdown will likely last a year, despite the county’s vague assertion that the closure will “only” be until November. (When was the last time a government project was completed on time?)

Are you ready? For reference, word on the street so far is that The Little Nell, The Gant and half of The Dancing Bear will be shutting down operations for major overhauls while Aspen is “quiet” without its airline passenger guests. Then talk to any architect or contractor and learn how many homeowners plan to use “the quiet year” to work on their houses too. Just think, by spring 2027, the new base development and hotel construction at Lift 1A will be in full swing, The Armory remodel will be underway and The Lumberyard across from the airport will be in its vertical construction phase. It promises to be a frenetic construction scene around here, to say the least. (Let’s hope we still have a bridge!)

The most unsurprising fact is that no one is actually in charge. There is simply zero leadership in Aspen. Sure, the county runs the airport, but they’re pretty squirrelly about reassuring the populace that this isn’t going to be wildly disruptive. Probably because this will be the most disruptive thing to jolt our lives and our economy since, well, the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893.  No entity is willing to issue an emphatic promise of “only” an 8-month closure. They all know better. 

But what about local businesses? Crickets from ACRA, which has revealed itself to be merely a tourism marketing department of the city, with no “chamber of commerce” assistance to local businesses unless you count offering discounted employee ski passes to its members (otherwise none would join). But even their “tourism marketing” skills are sorely lacking when it comes to the airport closure. There’s been nary a peep about what they plan to do about it, if anything, and no community-unifying message to protect our lifeblood industry. Only the pathetic assurance that “the next 12-18 months are critical for providing clarity and coordination.” Ya think? Maybe you ought to provide that clarity and coordination today because the airport closes in 12 months and communicating with the guests who are here in the meantime in hopes they’ll come back makes more than just a little sense.

ACRA did conduct a survey where all of 271 parties responded. A full 43% feel completely or somewhat unprepared for the airport closure. While awareness is high, preparedness is low. One might take that as a not-so-subtle nudge to get cracking.

What are the statistics on how many Aspen visitors fly in each season? You’d think we might want to get an idea of what we’re looking at and what’s at stake. But no. Despite sharing no metrics and pointing to ACRA, Aspen’s car-hater herself, mayor Rachel Richards, hopes vehicle trips will be way up to “offset the loss of those who would normally fly into Aspen.” She hopes?  Is hope a strategy? That’s surely A LOT of cars! I wonder where she wants them to park?

C’mon, folks. Food & Wine, ACRA’s marquee event, kicks off the Aspen summer season in just 8 short weeks. How about getting it together with a bold message in time for that so we’re able to reassure this key demographic and repeat customer just how “okay” it will be next year. If it will. Offer compelling pre-paid discounts on 2027 passes and lodging to lock them in. Promote the alternative airports and the affordable, regularly scheduled, non-stop, executive motorcoach transportation that you’ve surely contracted to conveniently and regularly run to and from Aspen throughout the entire shutdown. 

That’s the low-hanging fruit. Then adapt that optimistic messaging for the June and Labor Day JAS events, July 4, Theatre Aspen and the Music Festival, not to mention our second homeowners and summer visitors of every stripe. The idea is to reassure these folks with well-considered answers so their returns in 2027 are never in question. To the 37% of survey respondents who have no inclination to promote/discount in response to the closure, you might want to think again. If you build it, they just might come. Hubris, like the law of unintended consequences, is also a frequent visitor to Aspen.

SkiCo would also be wise to pay close attention.  Remember what happened when snowboarding wasn’t allowed on Aspen Mountain?  When word got out, it morphed into the widely-spread rumor that snowboarding wasn’t allowed ANYWHERE on Aspen’s mountains. Not good. While winter 2025-26 ended with a thud (or whatever a crash on slushy slopes sounds like), 2026-27 booking is currently underway, and next winter is the opportunity to offer your visitors special 2027-28 lodging and lift packages with plain-speak about how it will be worth it to work just a little harder to get here. There is absolutely no guarantee that the airport will be functional during winter 2027-28 despite hope being our best strategy. But the inevitable message that “Aspen is closed” is not your friend. This one is a runaway train.  It’s coming. Get on or get hit.

The only apparent “stress” in the community at this stage over the airport closure appears to be coming from our subsidized housing brethren.  Many seem to be concerned about attaining their required 1500 annual work hours given the likely local economic impacts. It’s a valid concern. Yes, furloughs could become a reality. APCHA’s response? Instead of pointing out the obvious and UNPRECEDENTED number of well-paying, in-town jobs associated with 2027-28’s massive generational infrastructure and construction projects, the housing authority is actually discussing “suspending” the annual work requirements. God forbid APCHA residents dirty their hands by working local, well-paying construction jobs to meet their obligations to the community (and in so doing, keeping cars off Hwy 82). Instead, without work requirements, those who can afford to will be happily skiing, golfing and biking as though they too are on vacation. As I’ve always said, APCHA has never been about work or filling jobs. 

Alternatively, are you planning your “junior year abroad?” If you can’t live without an airport and GJT or EGE won’t cut it, if massive construction isn’t your thing, or if dealing with more vehicle traffic by an order of magnitude kills your Aspen vibe, 2027-28 just might be the unique window of opportunity you’ve always dreamed of. Maybe it’s time to try something new and go elsewhere for the season(s). Update your passport and don’t sleep on calling your realtor to get your place rented if you can. My guess is once others catch on, it will be like rats leaving a sinking ship!

And for those who’ve long and vociferously been pining for Aspen’s bygone eras, specifically The Quiet Years, you just might get your wish. The tourist visit numbers could easily dwindle. No spiking the football, please, while businesses struggle and people’s livelihoods are at risk. This is what you’ve always wanted. Be humble in your ugly victory.

The airport project is long overdue and will ultimately benefit Aspen.  But how we face and address its closure will define us as a community for years to come.