LUXURY LIVING & SKI-IN/SKI-OUT FEATURED AT WINTER PARK RESORT
BASE CAMP TOWN HOMES, UNIQUE IN THEIR PREMIUM SETTING
By Cindy Harder / Photos by Carter Photographics

A “base camp” can be defined as a “starting place for an expedition.” Base Camp Town Homes, located adjacent to Jane Creek and bordering Winter Park Resort along the Corridor Trail, can be likewise defined. If you are looking for that magical place for a second home to base your adventures from, this is certainly it!

These luxury townhomes are in a dreamy setting, surrounded by mature fir trees along the primary ski trail connecting Mary Jane to Winter Park Resort. With ski-in/ski-out access, this property provides a luxury amenities complemented by luxury living. Gazing up at the entry from the cul-de-sac driveway, one is immediately taken by the incongruity of the number of buildings to the size of the land space. Tucked into the woods in a horseshoe shape, and almost one with the forest, the 18-townhome property seems carved out of the trees and nestled in the winter landscape.

Jane Creek, covered with winter snow, runs so close to the property that it is a natural part of the engineered landscaping. During the summer, wildlife, including foxes, bears and deer, may be seen within their natural environment right outside the main floor windows of the homes.

The height of the buildings, enhanced by creative steel arch supports, hand-stacked stone, and wide barnwood siding is reminiscent of castle-like turrets and luxury lofts found in real estate at high-end ski destinations. These homes are easily of such quality and design to be found in any luxury Colorado resort.


The roundabout driveway is heated by a hydronic exterior slab snowmelt system,, creating an oasis of pavement rarely seen during the winter months. Owners and guests are able to pull directly into a single car garage beneath each home with hardly a thought to boots and mukluks. The garages are convenient and comfortably sized for an SUV or other fourwheel- drive-size vehicle. With an interior door to the main landing, the weather is never an issue departing or returning from the building.

The developer, a longtime resident of Grand County, incorporated an intuitive and well-thought-out approach of split levels to accommodate density in this rather tight setting. Using height instead of breadth, the town homes offer space that isn’t vacuous or overbuilt. Rather than leading you straight up a steep flight of stairs, the homes take a tiered split-level approach. Bedrooms and dens with wet bars and private bathrooms are featured on the first level, with bedrooms and dens located on the top floors.

Putting a description on the main floor of the home is difficult by any means of eloquent wording. One simply has to see it! In appreciation of the human tendency to gather and socialize, the great room, kitchen and dining area are all one spacious and comfortable area, surrounded by windows with views that peer deep into the forest or gaze down valley over the Continental Divide.

The split step-up into the kitchen from the great room is complemented by richly colored arched handrails and knotty alder trim – so fluid they are like a satin ribbon, welcoming you to slide your hand across their smooth, polished texture. The great room windows are framed by radial arches of cut glass and wood trim, enhancing the artistic feel of the building and expressing the developer’s fine sense of design.

This is by no means a “cookie-cutter” project, as each townhome has its own individual feel and individual setting within the property. Floor plans are similar in material and quality construction, yet offer different characteristics.

Wide floor boards of rough-cut pine, stained to a deep chestnut, are warm to the touch, as are the slate tiles in the bathrooms, all heated by radiant flooring throughout the home, a divine feature in a cold climate. Cabinets and trim complement each other in their chestnut hue and provide plenty of pantry area without imposing on the entertaining area. A doublesided gas fireplace looks out onto the deck. The warm light of the gas logs can be seen from inside and outside the home, and add to the cozy feel of the room, naturally enhancing the exterior setting. A large island bar counter encourages guests to gather and mingle around the “camp-range-style” kitchen while toasting glasses of wine.

The fixtures and interior blend of materials and colors throughout the townhomes were chosen by Theresa Cinocco of Distinctive Design Interiors, with decorative lighting by Michael Forrest Lighting. Working closely with the owners, Cinocco selected a warm, earthy palette of colors that soften and blend with the natural landscape. She states, “The owner was specifically looking for a contemporary edge with clean lines but a mountain feel.” This is very evident in the master bathroom where the cut-bottle glass, porcelain bath tubs, steam room and a separate shower offer the amenities of a luxury spa. However, the warmth of a two-way fireplace separating the bath and bedroom root the design in a genuine mountain setting.

Up one level from the main room are the den and bedroom areas which are surprisingly modest in size. The design is intentional. After all, one spends the least amount of awake time in the bedroom, so the bedrooms were scaled back to allow more size to be attributed to the great room and main floor. The master bedroom features loft-style ceilings, walk-in cedar-lined closets, steam room, shower stall and whirl tub complete with a private two-way gas fireplace. This room provides a sanctuary for self pampering.

The floor plans of the townhomes are similar with the exception of the two duplexes located at the bend of the horseshoe-shaped property. These townhomes have the most exceptional views of the forest and a feeling of privacy. Arched wood trim frames the radial curves of the windows in the great room and kitchen area. Massive fir trees surround the northern side of the building, and from the bedrooms, it seems one is in a tree house. BaseCamp is wheel-chair-accessible with widened doorways and halls.

However, most unique and of value is the elevator, which accesses the common floor landing and garage to the top bedroom level of the home… so beneficial when unloading a car full of groceries.

Big Valley Construction incorporated energy-efficient and environmentally conscientious features as well. The multiple roofing areas were built above code to retain heat in a more efficient manner, ranging from R38 to R49 factor. Also, all of the homes are installed with 98-percent-efficiency boilers, as well as a separate boiler for the snowmelt exterior driveway, providing consistent savings in heating.

Glancing out the window, one is again captivated by a feeling of being in an enchanted forest, with privacy and seclusion that is uncommon in a town home project. How does this all work? Robert Neiberger of Big Valley Construction, general contractor for the Base Camp project, puts it all in perspective. Appreciating the holy trinity of a construction project, Neiberger praisesthe gifts of the developer for his design; the architect, Alan Carter, for being able to translate the design into plans; and the team effort of Big Valley Construction and their subcontractors with being able to work together flawlessly in executing this project.

Neiberger remembers the difficult nature of the site and how easily it could have been overcome by obstacles. Removing boulders “the size of trucks,” laying 30-foot foundations next to a live and active creek, setting water mains under 15 feet of roadway in the backyard of an existing resort development – all challenges that were met head-on by all parties. Neiberger says he is most impressed with “the personal touch among all three parties. There was never any disconnection or someone not following through.”

Neiberger credits much of the success to the developer and his vision. Architect Alan Carter has mutual respect and pride in working with the developer and the builder. “There were very few changes from the original design,” Carter recalls, “and it was really important to the developer to preserve the landscape around the property and offer the owners a feeling of privacy.” That’s why Base Camp feels so “tucked in.” The townhomes have the illusion of seclusion! Carter’s architectural design, from the developer’s vision, is defined in terms of “horizontal separation.” This explains why a project can seem so tight and yet offer so much space.

All involved agree – the reason this project attains luxury status is because the developer had a dream – a dream of beautifully designed townhomes in a ski-in/ski-out setting equivalent to a premium development in any quality ski resort destination.


READ MORE STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE:
• The Green Parade: Green Building Certification
• Beetle Kill: A Cycle of Forest Renewal
• Special Lifestyle Section
• 2008 Feature Articles