From Silver Boom to Ski Town Glamour: The Newberry House Aspen

The Newberry House Aspen, also known as the Judge Shaw House, is a Shingle Style Victorian built in 1895 that tells the story of Aspen’s transformation from silver boomtown to world-class ski and arts destination. Nestled in the city’s prestigious West End Historic District, this landmark home blends architectural grace with over a century of cultural, legal, and even Hollywood history—including its long-time ownership by actor Jack Nicholson.

 

Property Snapshot

• Location: Lake Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611

• Developer: Eben W. Newberry (early Aspen businessman)

• Designation: National Register of Historic Places (#87000158, listed 1987)

• Current Use: Private residence (formerly owned by Jack Nicholson and Lou Adler)

• Year Built: 1895 (remodeled 2015)

• Architectural Style: Shingle Style with Victorian features

• Size: 7,921 sq ft home (per Pitkin County Assessor)

• Lot Size: 11,921 sq ft (0.27 acres)

• Zoning: Residential (West End Historic District)

 

Did You Know?

The Newberry House Aspen is the only home in Aspen that integrates its original carriage house into the main residence, a one-of-a-kind design feature. Source: National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Colorado Historical Society

 

Why It Matters

The Newberry House Aspen is not just a preserved Victorian—it’s a rare heritage property that embodies Aspen’s shifting identities. From Gilded Age mining wealth to Judge Shaw’s legal influence in the city’s cultural rebirth, to its later life as a discreet celebrity retreat owned by Jack Nicholson, the home bridges more than a century of Aspen’s evolution. In today’s market, where sleek new builds dominate, a historically intact estate like this offers enduring prestige and authenticity.

 

History Through the Decades

• 1895: Built during Aspen’s silver mining peak for Eben W. Newberry.

• 1922–1969: Home to Judge William Shaw, who oversaw real estate transfers that enabled Walter Paepcke’s post-war vision, transforming Aspen into a cultural and skiing hub.

• 1970s–2013: Co-owned by Hollywood legends Jack Nicholson and Lou Adler. Nicholson famously enjoyed the property’s excellent television reception for watching Lakers games.

• 2013–2015: After Nicholson’s sale, the house underwent a major renovation—lifted to add a basement, expanded to ~8,500 sq ft of living space, while preserving its historic exterior walls.

• Today: The Newberry House Aspen remains a prized West End residence, embodying Aspen’s layered legacy of mining wealth, cultural rebirth, and celebrity allure.

Architectural Features

• Two-tone exterior with clapboard siding on the first story and cedar shingles above.

• Distinctive fishscale shingles and half-timbering in attic gables.

• Asymmetrical façade with wraparound veranda and complex roofline.

• Integrated carriage house—unique to Aspen’s residential history.

Explore More of Aspen’s History:

Explore more of Aspen’s heritage real estate, including the Aspen Historic Properties and the Smith–Elisha House, and see how history continues to shape Aspen real estate today.