For locals and seasonal visitors alike, no one is as synonymous with Aspen luxury than Stephane De Baets, the longtime owner of the iconic St. Regis Aspen. As for the fact that the Colorado destination has maintained, and even grown, its status as a go-to for the international jet set? The Belgian-born, Aspen-based entrepreneur is certainly among those to thank.
Now, Stephane, along with his wife, Sabrina De Baets, herself a seasoned industry pro, are ready expand the area’s draw for A-list visitors way beyond ski season.
The certified hospitality power couple have recently acquired the historic Redstone Castle. Located about 40 minutes outside of Aspen in the charming town of Redstone, the picturesque property dates back to 1902, when it was built as the home of industrialist and coal magnate John Cleveland Osgood, one of the richest men in America at the time.
Boasting a storied past (hosting the likes of John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, and Teddy Roosevelt over the years) and idyllic landscape (including natural hot springs, remote hiking trails, majestic mountains, and the Crystal River running through), the estate makes for the perfect year-round retreat for those looking to unwind and unplug. So it’s no wonder the De Baetses have plans to breathe new life into the landmark by turning it into a five-star spa and wellness oasis that marries history, nature, and modern luxury.
As they launch into the exciting redevelopment of Redstone Castle, Stephane and Sabrina chatted with us about all their plans – and the secrets to providing world class hospitality to an elite clientele.
How did you first come across Redstone Castle and decide that it was the right location for what you were looking to do?
Stephane: So we’ve believed for many years that the future of luxury hospitality is going to revolve around wellness. We’ve been actively looking for a location in Pitkin County, simply because when you come and hang around Aspen like we do, you realize that it’s all about mindfulness [and wellness]. People want to be fit, they care about nutrition – there’s no fast food. And I thought, if there’s one place in North America that could be the capital of wellness, Aspen is the natural choice.
So we tried several avenues in Pitkin County, until I was sitting at dinner with a good friend of mine and he said why don’t you take a look at the Redstone Castle? So we drove there – our five-year-old heard we were going to a castle so she put on her princess dress – and we looked at the property and it’s a little bit like meeting the right partner in life: When you know you know.
We stood there and everything was right. The grounds are right, the little town is right. And I said that’s it, that’s where people are going to want to go and do a five-day reset, mind, body, and soul.
Sabrina: And the owner said, ‘Now that you’ve brought me a princess we cannot sell it to anyone but you!’
How will you navigate the preservation of the original architecture while updating the property for clientele that expect a high level of comfort?
Stephane: There are a couple of things that we need to be careful about. We are not running a museum, but we are using a historic property and building, and giving it a new meaning in life. Because if you were to run an eight, nine-bedroom Bed and Breakfast, and many of the past owners have tried to do that for the past hundred years, they all failed – it just doesn’t work. So you need to be careful about preserving some of the original elements, but then making it viable in today’s environment so that you can actually sustain – and preserve – the history.
Our idea is to preserve what can be preserved, to use the main castle as the center element, but then to repurpose the other buildings on the grounds to offer the quality of service that one would expect in the 21st century. A certain degree of comfort, of safety. It’s going to be a mix of the old and the new cooperating together for the best of both worlds. But you need to be able to be open-minded and compromise, because we’re not building in 1902 anymore!
How would you describe your philosophy when it comes to providing luxury hospitality?
Stephane: Our philosophy for hospitality is very simple: It’s all about service more than the ‘bling bling.’ And that starts with making sure your staff is the happiest. Because when you have well taken care of and happy staff, they pass on that happiness to the customer. And that is the number one compliment we always have at the St. Regis Aspen, that our staff is just amazing. So we believe in service and we believe that happy people make other people happy.
Now Sabrina, you formerly worked closely with André Balazs and helped to open the Top of the Standard (FKA Boom Boom Room) in NYC. Tell us a bit about your background?
Sabrina: I grew up in hospitality, so it’s in my genes. My family had a Bed and Breakfast – you know, not on the same level of luxury but to me, hospitality is you treat everyone alike. I don’t make any changes whether you’re a celebrity or not, because I treat everybody like one. So when I started working with André in New York, I applied the same method to everyone – everyone got loving, caring, kind service. And I love that job! So now I get to apply that to the wellness area and I’m super excited.
What services and experiences can we expect once everything is up and running?
Stephane: We’re looking at three years before the grand opening of the new wellness retreat and spa, but prior to that, starting this season, we’ll be doing boot camps and small retreats – very intimate – where we’ll invite top trainers, yoga masters, and microgroups of maybe around 10 people for a social wellness experience.
Sabrina: We’re still building the programming but we will have different factors that will really revolve around the guests. Whether it’s bringing in chefs and nutritionists, sex educators, yoga masters, or meditation gurus, each program will really be built around our guests. You can also add experiences like fly fishing, horseback riding, a jump into the natural hot springs, rock climbing, guided hikes – there is just so much to offer!
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[Photos by Daniel Bayer courtesy Stephane & Sabrina De Baets]
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