For more than 50 years, the best room at one of Vail’s best lodges was unavailable to the public. The penthouse suite at the Sitzmark Lodge was where longtime proprietors Bob and Helen Fritch lived and raised their three children, while helping Vail become the world-renowned destination and soulful community that it is. The space was easily one of the sweetest suites in Vail Village: 2,800 square feet facing the mountain from an elevated, sunny perch. But when the Fritch daughters sold the hotel to Lodging Capital Partners last November, ending a family institution that had been in place since 1974, that meant the penthouse suite would no longer house its proprietor. 

One of the first things new owner Steve Kisielica did was commence a reimagining of the suite, adding four beds to increase sleeping capacity to 13 and updating the interior. “It was a complete cosmetic renovation: new furniture, paint, flooring,” Kisielica says. “We made it accessible to larger families and took advantage of the views by redesigning the layout.” An office became a bunkroom. A greenhouse, the new family après lounge (the Fritches were noted horticulturists and a driving force behind the formation of the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens). Now there are four bedrooms and three bathrooms. 

For the first time ever, the lodge welcomed paying guests to the suite in mid-December. It proved to be a hit during ski season, often attracting three generations of one family or multiple families vacationing together (rates range from $2,500 to $6,000 per night depending on the season; sitzmarklodge.com). The conversion represents something of a cultural renaissance for the iconic hotel, but Kisielica is quick to point out that his primary goal is to maintain the charm and feel that made the Sitzmark stand out. 

“It’s a huge responsibility that we don’t take lightly,” says Kisielica, a local of 10 years who lives in Edwards. “When Jeanne sold the hotel, I think she chose the buyer carefully in that she wanted to make sure we were going to honor the legacy and tradition and partnership that the hotel has with the local community. I made my commitment to her, to really build on this legacy. Keep it a hotel, keep the family-oriented operation, but still invest in the assets to make sure it’ll be here for another 50 years.”

The penthouse suite is only the start of the Sitzmark’s transformation. This spring, a much larger interior renovation began throughout the property, again with the goal of creating larger units for family stays. Kisielica says he hopes it will be completed by the end of summer (the property remains open during construction). 

Meanwhile, he’s working on one final touch to add to the penthouse: a plaque that christens the “Fritch Penthouse Suite at the Sitzmark,” next to a framed photograph of Bob and Helen skiing at Vail with their friends.

House Triumphant 

This past winter, longtime local luxury property manager Triumph Mountain Homes debuted a six-property docket of rental homes it is calling the Apex Collection, ranging in nightly rental fees from $3,540 to $24,950. The latter price is for a home at 99 Vail Road, “Opus,” that was originally developed by the families who owned Webster and McGraw-Hill publishing. It was part of the most expensive real estate deal in Vail’s history—a $57.25 million sale in 2020. The new owner, biotech executive Kevin Ness, then invested $5 million in renovations before listing it for rent. The six-story home includes two elevators, nine bedrooms, and 15 bathrooms spread out over 15,089 square feet, as well as two swimming pools and two outdoor hot tubs. If 25 grand per night is a little out of your price range, Apex also offers the Tellurium Beaver Creek estate, five bedrooms and seven baths at the opposite end of the Apex rental rate spectrum.