The Idylllic mountain retreat of Vailis in European terms, a fairly
recent phenomenon. In the thick of World War II, Colorado’s Gore Range was the
domain of the army’s soon-to-be-legendary 10th Mountain Division, ski-toting
soldiers who were instrumental in securing the jagged reaches of northern Italy
for the Allies. Not long after the war ended, division veterans Pete Seibert,
Bill Brown and Bob Parker returned to the scene of their training with a
crystalline thought: Why not turn a staging ground for war into a mecca for fun?
 The 6,500-square-foot home underwent a dramatic renovation, which included the
restoration of the 22-foot-high wood-beamed living room ceiling. Art adviser
Victoria Espy Burns chose a painting by Ena Swansea to hang over the fireplace
and an African Kuba cloth (a ceremonial dance skirt from the Congo) for the
adjacent wall. Tanzanian ritual house posts stand left of the fireplace. (Click image to enlarge.)
In 1962, their dream became reality as the first skiers schussed their way
down Vail’s slopes. Four decades later, the ski area, a few minutes from Avon’s
private airport, has become one of America’s most desirable winter destinations,
with a staggering array of groomed and backcountry trails as well as a ski town
that can party with the best of them. No wonder George and Lainie Garrick
decided this was the ne plus ultra spot for their vacation getaway.
An enchanting vision in stone and wood, the home’s showstopping appeal starts
with its unique location, just off a ski run not far from Beaver Dam and
LionsHead, which comprise the heart of Vail. One of very few private residences
with ski-in/ski-out access, the Garrick house is perfectly situated for the
family of five’s encounters with area instructors, who simply glide up to the
back door to pick up their students.
Top: Located just off the living room, the dining room features hand-stained and
honed pine ceiling beams. Middle: Custom pine cabinetry complements the kitchen’s
granite countertops; the stone was mined from a nearby quarry. The Wolf range
includes a built-in wok and the Sub-Zero refrigerator boasts a tempered-glass
door. Bottom: A subdued chandelier from the Shears and Windows showroom in San
Francisco is the focal point of the dining room, which utilizes local wood and
stone. The distressed wood table and chairs also came from Shears and
Windows. (Click image to enlarge.)
For those who prefer to stay warm indoors (Lainie), the 6,500-square-foot,
three-story retreat boasts oversize furniture in most of its supersize rooms,
dramatic naturally finished beams that lend a rough-hewn look and, of course,
views of snow-covered pines and a nearby chairlift from most rooms. It is the
sort of place that seems tailor-made to advertise the lodge life. But the house
did not always exude such charm.
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