The Tyrolean is a classic small Aspen Lodge, family owned and full of ski history.  Rooms are clean, well maintained, surprisingly spacious and have new fully equipped kitchenettes.  Each room has 2 queen beds, 1 twin bed and sleeps 1 to 5 people.  Our sixteen comfortable hotel rooms are ideal for the budget minded, economy traveler in search of a hidden gem. The Tyrolean is Aspen’s most affordable quality lodging. Our staff is friendly and knowledgeable of the area.  There is an antique Ski Museum and Aspen History throughout the hotel. Centrally located on Aspen’s Main Street, within easy walking distance of the brew pub, downtown shops, restaurants, bars, Aspen Mountain and the Music Festival. The free skier shuttle to all four ski areas stops in front.  For value and tradition, come visit the Tyrolean Lodge.

Our History

Sculptor Lou Wille arrived in the Roaring Fork Valley in 1950.  He came from the New York art scene and decided to go west after hearing tales of marble strewn along the banks of the Crystal River from the Yule Marble Quarry.  He founded an art school where he met his future wife, Lynne.  After they were married, they both taught art in the old miner’s house they were turning into apartments.  Next-door was a vacant lot on Main Street. They bought the land, built the Tyrolean Lodge, and started up business in 1970.  They decided to name the hotel after the Tyrol region of Austria in the Alps, where some of the first ski resorts began. Lou, being a sculptor, added the finishing touch to the lodge with a colossal eagle sculpture made entirely of chrome car bumpers atop the chimney.

They had four children who were all avid ski racers, mountain adventurers, scientists and artists.  Andre and Pierre Wille still make skiing a high priority, whether it’s first tracks on a powder day, steep backcountry lines in the surrounding Elk Mountains in the spring, or Nordic racing in the town series. The Wille brothers still compete in the epic Elk Mountain Grand Traverse (a 40-mile, all-night backcountry ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen every spring) and the demanding Power of Four ski mountaineering race that climbs, descends, and links all four Aspen ski mountains over 25 miles and 11,000 vertical feet. The eldest son, Raoul, was a member of the US National Nordic ski team in the early 1970’s and was the Aspen Nordic head coach for many years. Raoul operated the lodge from the 1980’s till his untimely death while climbing Mt. Baruntse near Mt. Everest in Nepal in 1998. The Willes’ daughter, Shauna Young, was a professional geologist who loves all things rocks and fossils. This knowledge is very useful in her metalsmithing and lapidary work. After living all over the world, Shauna now lives in Carbondale and is currently the co-president of the non-profit Aspen Thrift Shop. The second son, Andre, is a retired Aspen High School science teacher and now full-time skier, climber, mountain-biker, kayaker, and stream and river water quality consultant. I am Pierre, Lynne and Lou’s youngest son, and I have been The Hotel proprietor for the past 22 years.  I have considerably upgraded the condition and quality of the Lodge and integrated a comfortable, inviting vintage ski decor. The Lodge has made a commitment to the environment through extensive energy-efficient upgrades and contributions to preserving wild places and our local community. On behalf of the Wille family, I would like to welcome you to the Tyrolean Lodge. We have a long tradition of clean, spacious rooms for reasonable rates in a great downtown location. I look forward to your visit.

— Pierre Wille