Philanthropists Archer and Sandie Bishop see Aspen as more than just an outpost for their favorite recreational pursuits. For as much pleasure as they receive from the fabled mountain town’s wild and untouched lands — vast expanses for their family of horses and rugged terrain primed for fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, paddle boarding and Nordic skiing — they find just as much joy out of giving back to their close-knit mountain community. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, the Bishops have spent the last 28 years carving out a place for themselves, their four children, their seven grandchildren and the future generations of Aspen residents. Their charitable interests are almost as vast as Colorado’s landscapes, ranging from the Aspen Valley Hospital Medical Foundation Board (Archer Bishop, a retired orthopedic surgeon, is chairman) to the Aspen Music Festival Board, the Aspen Art Museum Council and the Aspen Historical Society. The town’s blossoming cultural scene holds particular importance for Sandie Bishop.
“When you look at cities like Paris, London and New York, their cultural worlds are well-established and well-documented,” she says. “And yet Aspen has so much of the same talent coming here, whether it’s major collectors, important dealers or musicians. I want to make sure it all stays here.”
The Bishops have planted those very cultural seeds on their 4.5-acre property just yards before the Aspen city limit, where they have hosted countless fundraising events over the last 10 years. They’ve entertained as many as 200 guests on their land, typically in the summer months on the flat lawn near their estate’s quarter-acre trout pond with a sitting area and totem pole — “the largest in Aspen,” says Bishop. The living room and dining room — which feature large, expansive windows opening to unobstructed views to Smuggler, Shadow Mountain, Highlands, Pyramid Peak and Tiehack, forever protected by the 63-acre surrounding Moore Open Space — have also provided more intimate settings for smaller gatherings. “People don’t ever want to leave,” says Bishop.
It’s easy to see why. Listed by Susan Plummer of Coldwell Banker Mason Morse for $13,649,000 and built by Gerd Zeller, the south-facing, 9,100-square-foot residence itself is an impressive representation of rustic mountain chic. The house offers five bedrooms (and a one-bedroom Accessory Dwelling Unit), seven baths and luxurious interior spaces that provide the kind of comforts a sophisticated buyer would appreciate. There’s also an additional 1,800 square feet of heated garage space.
“Nowhere else in Aspen offers all of these amenities, plus a trout-filled pond with sand beach, horse pasture, miles of trails, waterfalls, streams, gardens, vast lawn areas and covered patios,” notes Plummer. “It’s just one and a half miles to the gondola.”
The Bishops have been particularly enamored with its proximity to town — all while enveloping them in a sense of privacy.
“It’s a piece of paradise,” adds Bishop. “I think it’s so fitting that it’s located on Hideaway Lane, because it is truly hidden at the end of a long, flat driveway. When you turn into it, you see this fantastic view. There’s not one other house in sight. Wait…does it sound like I don’t want to sell it?”
Of course, she is only jesting. Surely, her family’s generous spirit will prevail in sharing their prized estate with the next homeowner.
The Bishops’ generous mountain retreat is on the market for $13,649,000. For more information, call Susan Plummer at (970) 948-6786 or email susan@masonmorse.com.
