It has officially been announced that billionaire William Koch is developing his very own private Wild West town within the Rocky Mountains near Aspen, Colorado. Koch’s development will see the creation of a train station, saloon, and jail. The land currently houses ghost towns that were once thriving when local mines were in full swing.
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Koch, 72, will also build a 21,762 mansion equipped with an elevator and wine room. Interestingly enough, one-third of the house will be built underground which will help keep the massive home from overwhelming the area’s ecology. The billionaire has long shared his love of the Old West and has gone so far as to purchase the only photograph of Billy the Kid for $2.3 million at an auction in 2011.
While the mansion is sure to be of interest to Aspen rental vacationers, Koch will only make it available to his family and close friends. The public has often made requests to see his Western artifacts, which he will make available at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
Of concern to locals and Aspen VRBO vacationers is an area on Koch’s land popular with hunters, organic farmers, and miners. Koch wants to insulate his property and has proposed a land swap. Locals are not happy with the proposal and are trying to block its progress.
Koch joins a growing list of influential people who have recently invested in property near Aspen, Colorado. The reason for such an investment stems from the fact that Aspen offers a diverse mix of activities and amusements throughout all seasons such as award-winning skiing, snowmobiling, rock climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, gourmet dining, and extensive shopping. The greater Aspen area also offers high profile individuals a significant amount of privacy, which is largely one of the reasons why Koch is building his Wild West town in the region.
Locals and Aspen luxury rental vacationers are sure to be curious as to Koch’s hidden Wild West town. There are several commercial Wild West and Ghost Towns throughout Colorado available to the public for access.