The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Pop-up restaurant coming this month to celebrate the change
[ By Mark Reaman ]
One of the largest properties in the north end of the valley changed hands on Monday, August 1. The Elevation Spa and Hotel located in the Mt. Crested Butte Base Area was purchased by Dallas-based hospitality company WoodHouse from Boxer Property and Resorts out of Houston.
The 262-room hotel is ski-in ski-out and includes a restaurant (9380 Tavern), spa, a fitness center and swimming pool, conference and ballrooms, some retail space, a parking garage and expansive lobby areas. Boxer purchased the property in 2013. Hotel operator Highgate, a real estate investment and hospitality management company has been contracted by WoodHouse to oversee the hotel’s daily operations.
WoodHouse founder and CEO Brady Wood has visited Crested Butte over the decades and he said he loves the area. He has started and operated hospitality properties in Dallas, Houston and Miami but this is his first property in Colorado.
“We are excited by the endless opportunities presented by the Elevation Hotel and Spa and look forward to maximizing the property’s potential, while better connecting it with the local Crested Butte community,” said Wood.
“For decades, my family and I have frequented Crested Butte and the greater Colorado area. This is home to many special memories for us and we’re honored to help steward the Elevation into its next chapter.”
Wood said specific plans on how to “reimagine” the property are in the initial stages, but his goal is to have the property reflect the vibe of the local community. He is open to suggestions from residents and emphasized that his properties are not formulaic but reflect the place where they are located.
A company spokesperson emphasized that, “WoodHouse will look to every aspect of the Elevation as an opportunity to connect with locals and enhance overall guest experience. While WoodHouse will look to initially improve the hotel’s food and beverage offerings, it will also be exploring additional enhancements that can be made throughout the entire property. While formal plans have not yet been made, WoodHouse sees tremendous opportunity in the realm of local events and programming, interior design and space-planning, enhanced amenities, entertainment, activations and overall experience.”
“We are thrilled to kick off this venture in Crested Butte and look forward to working closely with the local community to make this property worthy of its location in the base area of CBMR,” said Nick Klaus, managing director of Elevation Hotel and Spa. “We want this to be a gathering place and community anchor for locals and visitors alike. Crested Butte’s brand of mountain adventure is second-to-none and we aim to create an experience at the Elevation that best reflects that.”
It was announced in a WoodHouse press release that, “to celebrate the acquisition and set the tone for enhanced future hospitality experiences, WoodHouse will debut a pop-up concept of its award-winning Dallas restaurant, José, as part of the hotel’s 9380 Tavern food-and-beverage offering. Set to begin service later this month, the José Pop-Up menu will offer a selection of regional Mexican-inspired dishes, cocktails and extensive tequila collection. José’s Dallas location was a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Hospitality and Best Chef Texas. José executive chef and WoodHouse corporate chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman will lead the pop-up’s opening, working in partnership with 9380 Tavern’s culinary staff to execute the concept.”
When asked if the new ownership group wanted to be part of any base area improvements or master planning, Wood said that WoodHouse ownership/leadership is already actively engaging with local organizations, leaders and companies to ensure its plans for the hotel aligning with what is best for the community.
The hotel will remain in full operation throughout the remainder of the summer and forthcoming ski season.
