St. Benedict’s Monastery and Ranch Sells for $120 Million, Setting Record in Old Snowmass | Avant Garde Aspen Luxury Real Estate
Stephanie Kroll
Stephanie Kroll
One of the most significant real estate transactions in Aspen-area history has officially closed.
St. Benedict’s Monastery, a nearly 3,700-acre estate in Old Snowmass, sold this week for $120 million, establishing a new benchmark for record home sales in Aspen and Pitkin County. The property had been owned and carefully stewarded by Trappist monks since the late 1950s.
Public records show the sale was recorded Monday through the Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder via a Special Warranty Deed. The buyer was Espen LLC, a Delaware-based entity. National reporting later identified Alex Karp, co-founder and CEO of Palantir, as the individual behind the purchase.
The sale surpasses all previous residential transactions in Pitkin County, reinforcing the continued strength of Old Snowmass real estate and the broader Aspen luxury market, particularly for large-scale, legacy properties.
Located along Capitol Creek Road, the monastery spans rolling meadows, forested hillsides, and protected watershed land, making it one of the most iconic and privately held estates in the Roaring Fork Valley. The monks, members of the Trappist order (Cistercians of the Strict Observance), were widely respected for their conservation-minded approach to land stewardship and their deep connection to the local community.
The monastery has long served as both a spiritual landmark and a defining feature of the Capitol Creek Valley. A final public mass is expected in early 2026, marking the end of nearly seven decades of monastic life on the property.
The $120 million closing underscores several ongoing trends in Aspen luxury ranches and estate sales:
Ultra-high-net-worth buyers continue to seek privacy, acreage, and legacy value.
Old Snowmass remains a top destination for buyers priced out of or constrained by limited inventory in Aspen proper.
Trophy properties with scale and history are commanding record-setting prices despite broader market fluctuations.
While future plans for the property have not been announced, any development would be subject to Pitkin County land use and entitlement processes.
The sale of St. Benedict’s Monastery marks a pivotal moment for the Aspen-area real estate market. As opportunities to acquire land at this scale become increasingly rare, transactions like this continue to redefine long-term values across Old Snowmass, Snowmass Village, and Aspen.
Contact the real estate team at Avant Garde Aspen to sell your property, buy luxury ski property, and browse resort homes for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, and the rest of the Roaring Fork Valley.