Would you buy a Colorado ski-town parking spot for $415,000?
High real estate prices typically refer to houses, not places to put your car. But in a few Colorado ski resort towns, and to a lesser degree in downtown Denver, parking spots are now a hot accessory real estate item.
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High real estate prices typically refer to houses, not places to put your car. But in a few Colorado ski resort towns, and to a lesser degree in downtown Denver, parking spots are now a hot accessory real estate item.
“If you don’t own a condo in the central core of town, it can be very convenient to have a parking spot close to everything,” said Hank Carter, an Aspen realtor. “During the Fourth of July here, it is so crowded. But with a covered spot, you can drive and park, no muss or fuss.”
Carter worked with a buyer in Aspen who purchased a covered parking spot that listed for $415,000, described this way: “Enclosed garage condo parking space for sale – GREAT OPPORTUNITY to own a covered garage parking space in great location one (1) block to the Aspen Mtn. base area Gondola. Keep you [sic] car safe and secure. Elevator access with space for additional storage.”
Based on some online listings, the priciest parking spots are those with access to skiing in mountain resort towns where housing costs are predictably some of the most expensive in the state. These spaces are typically in condominium or mixed-use buildings where they are sold individually like a home, depending on homeowner’s association rules.
As of March 2025, there were no listings for homes in Aspen under $500,000, though there were some in Snowmass Village, a 20-minute drive away. In 2024, a home sold in Aspen for $108 million, breaking a record for the state’s real estate prices.
In Telluride Ski Resort’s Mountain Village, the Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection, opened its new Crest Club in late 2024. The $250,000 lifetime membership (not including annual dues) could be a bargain, of sorts, since it includes parking at this swanky resort with slopeside ski access (along with access to a private lounge, a pool and fitness club, among other benefits). A single parking spot at the Madeline Hotel can set you back $185,000.
For those committed to skiing, that might be a good investment. “There is an abundance of free parking in the summer,” said Madeline Hotel general manager Bryan Wood. “However, in the winter, with peak dates averaging 6,000-plus skiers on the mountain, parking becomes more scarce. (But) there is plenty of parking in the destination, not to worry, with the availability of the Madeline Hotel & Residences valet that allows access to the mountain, car to slopes in under three minutes.”
Interested parties should note that with the membership, there is no appreciation in value since the parking spot is not individually owned.
In Beaver Creek, a parking space in a garage sold for the list price of $250,000 in late 2024.
The listing described the benefits of this investment: “So your property owners wanted ski-in ski-out but ended up buying outside the resort? Here is your solution. Buy this parking space that has a ski-in ski-out ski locker and parking space in Beaver Creek. This space has quick access as you enter the parking garage. A short walk from the ski lockers and easy ski-in ski-out through Creekside Park. Don’t forget that this parking spot enables the owner to get a Beaver Creek gate transponder so they don’t have to wait at the gate; they drive right through. Priced to sell at the same price as the last two sales.”
Keep in mind that each of these real estate purchases also includes annual HOA fees and taxes that vary based on the location.
While the most expensive parking spots seem to be located in the mountain ski resort towns, Denver is no stranger to exclusive parking. At 2020 Arapahoe St., parking spots are currently listed for $15,000 each — marked down from closer to $40,000.
The listing reads: “Price reduced!” Downtown Denver Parking Space for Sale! Individually deeded parking space located in the heart of Downtown Denver at the 2020 Arapahoe Skylofts. HOA maintained parking garage covered from the elements and gated for security.”
The HOA fees are an estimated $1,020 and taxes $928 annually for this investment.
