Discover the Largest House in Colorado And Just How Big 56,000 Square Feet Really Is 

Colorado is known for its premier ski resorts and beautiful landscapes of mountains and forests. The Centennial State is a perfect spot to escape everyday life and enjoy hiking and hot springs, hitting the slopes, and more.

In the 20th century, Aspen gained popularity as a premiere destination for skiing enthusiasts. Then, sometime around the mid-80s/early-90s, Aspen transformed once again into a hotbed for celebrities and uber-wealthy individuals to vacation, writes CPR News.

The largest house in Colorado is now owned by one of these celebrities. Discover all the luxury this 56,000-square-foot property has to offer.

What Is the Largest House in Colorado?

The largest house in Colorado is known as Hala Ranch, located just north of Aspen. Hala Ranch measures 56,000 square feet and lies on an incredible 95-acre estate. The home contains 15 bedrooms, all with patios, and 16 bathrooms.

The master suite in particular could not be more luxurious. It includes a room set aside for massages, pedicures, and styling, according to Forbes. Some of the guest bedrooms open up onto the courtyard, which contains a serene reflecting pool and waterfall.

The Hala Ranch estate includes a number of exciting amenities. They are a tennis court, indoor swimming pool, fishing pond, racquetball court, and heated hay barn and stables, to name a few.

Finally, the property is also equipped with a water treatment plant, as well as a mechanical shop that comes with gas pumps and a car wash. The property even includes well-maintained cross-country ski trails.

History

So who owns Hala Ranch — a house so luxurious it was once the United States’ most expensive home? This largest house in Colorado was originally owned by a Saudi Arabian diplomat named Prince Bandar bin Sultan. Prince Bandar served as an ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005.

Prince Bandar purchased the land near Aspen in 1989 and built the main home in 1991. He named his estate Hala, which means “welcome” in Arabic. This wealthy diplomat added practical features to the home such as a state-of-the-art security system, but the estate doesn’t skimp out on beautiful luxuries.

Design

Hala Ranch features a rustic style design complete with mahogany wood and bronze hardware. Stained glass windows and a wood-burning fireplace add to the home’s allure. Hala Ranch even features an interior elevator and the main house bathrooms are reportedly finished with gold fixtures.

The rustic design of Hala Ranch fits in well with its tree-covered surroundings. On winter evenings the property is even more beautiful with its many lights shining through the snow.

New Ownership

In 2006 Prince Bandar listed Hala Ranch for sale at a steep price of  $135 million. However, the house did not find a new owner until 2012, when it was purchased by hedge fund billionaire John Paulson for $49 million. Paulson confirmed the purchase with Forbes, stating:

Hala Ranch is one of the most beautiful properties in Aspen located on over 90 acres located in the exclusive Starwood community. Initially offered for sale for $135 million the purchase price represents a substantial discount to the asking price.”

Forbes

Paulson’s purchase included a separate 38-acre parcel known as Bear Ranch that had never before been offered for sale. With the new property and considerable discount, it’s safe to say Paulson bagged an incredible deal.

Location

Hala Ranch lies within Aspen’s only gated residential neighborhood known as Starwood Community. It is nestled beneath Red Mountain just north of Aspen, CO. Red Mountain is actually a set of several peaks that gets its name from the reddish iron ore rocks that give the peaks their color.

Aspen has earned a reputation as a favorite spot for the rich and famous. This ski resort town in central Colorado boasts high-end restaurants and boutique shops. However, there’s another reason celebrities flock to Aspen.

Mauricio Umansky has been in the spotlight as an acclaimed real estate broker, as well as the husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards. Umansky owns a home in Aspen. While speaking with Fox News Digital, he explained the allure of the ski town for celebrities.

“A place like Aspen is unique because it’s difficult to get to and private air is important in order to get to it,” Umansky told the outlet. In other words, celebrities can enjoy a luxury experience with less concern about being hounded by fans.

Celebrities in Aspen

In 2007 the New York Times reported that actress and former Playboy playmate Barbi Benton lived not far from Hala Ranch. Benton starred in B-movies such as Hospital Massacre and The Deathstalker in the early 1980s.  

A number of other wealthy and famous individuals, including Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, have purchased or built homes in Aspen. However, Aspen wasn’t always a playground for the rich and famous. In the 1970s, the property that would one day become Hala, contained only ranch land.

During that time, Aspen combined elements of the hippie counterculture with Hollywood celebrity style, wrote the New York Times. Though celebrities could be seen in Aspen as the town moved onto the ’80s, it didn’t yet have the flashy signs of extreme wealth that the town is known for today.

Pitkin County Sheriff Joe Di Salvo told CPR news that “celebrities were more interested in being locals than it was us being attracted to their celebrity.” Di Salvo also joked that the celebrities came to Aspen to feel “poor and local” rather than flash their cash.

Other Large Houses in Colorado

While Hala Ranch is by far the largest house in Colorado, the state boasts several other impressive mansions. Let’s take a look at a few of the most notable.

Clearview Farm

The most expensive home in Denver (also known as Clearview Farm) was listed for an impressive $28.9 million in 2022. The estate is located in the Cherry Hills Village neighborhood and spans a total of about 16,400 square feet, according to CNBC. The main house contains five bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

This gorgeous home features a charcoal wood finish that was achieved by exposing radiata pine to a hot flame until it is charred. This design took inspiration from a traditional Japanese architectural technique called Shou Sugi Ban which uses a similar charring method.

In addition to its stunning exterior, the most expensive home in Denver includes a 15-acre estate with a 1.5-acre pond and scenic views of the Rocky Mountains. The home’s outdoor space hosts a multi-level sundeck and pool while the interior includes an elevator that accesses all three levels, in-floor heating, and more.

730 S Galena Street

Another notable home in Aspen, CO lies at 730 S Galena Street. This incredible 14,154-square-foot property contains 10 bedrooms. It was built by Chris Hemmeter in 1979, according to realtor.com, but the home shows no signs of going out of style. The interior includes high ceilings and an open and luxurious design.

In 2022 the home was listed for $100 million. If it sells at the asking price, the Galena Street mansion will be the most expensive home in all of Colorado.

Part of the mansion’s allure comes from its slope-side location, perfect for skiing enthusiasts. In fact, the home is about 100 yards from the gondola that carries skiers up the mountain. The third floor also includes terraces where tenants can watch the gondolas pass by and enjoy their tree-covered surroundings.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © KaraGrubis/ via Getty Images