A top-floor penthouse at Element 52 in Telluride, Colorado, has been listed for $8.1 million, offering a rare blend of ski access, full-service amenities, and a walkable location inside the town’s historic core. The 48-residence building sits along the San Miguel River, and its Southwest Building penthouse, Unit SW402, exemplifies a combination that is difficult to find in Telluride: a residence that lives like a standalone house while providing the conveniences of a full-service hotel.
Telluride’s resort area has two bases: the historic town at the bottom of the mountain and Mountain Village, a gondola ride over the ridge. Most full-service, ski-in/ski-out lodging is in Mountain Village. In town, ski access exists at a handful of condominium complexes and a small hotel near the lifts, but ski access paired with full residential service is rare. Element 52 is one of the few places that offers both.
The penthouse’s location provides direct access to the slopes via a private funicular that carries residents to the Telluride Trail, eliminating the need for a shuttle or walk to a lift line. The free gondola and Lift 8 both start at the Oak Street plaza, a few blocks from the building. In summer, the same address connects to the San Miguel River trail, which runs from the property to Town Park and its festivals, including the Bluegrass and Blues & Brews events. Main Street, with most of Telluride’s restaurants, bars, and galleries, is close enough to reach on foot any time of year.
“While it’s located in a full-service hotel, this unit lives like a single-family home on the slopes,” says Rick Fusting, the listing broker. The penthouse’s position at the top of the Southwest Building, with only one neighboring unit, supports that claim. Its 2,797 square feet are spread across two floors, giving it the vertical separation of a townhouse. The unit shares only five feet of wall with one other penthouse and none with any other unit. The materials follow the building’s mining-era design, with stone and plaster walls, walnut and stained-concrete floors, and radiant floor heating throughout. The kitchen has a gas range, and the unit includes three full baths, one with a steam shower, and a half bath. As a corner unit, it receives light from two sides and offers mountain and town views, plus a deck.
The bedroom plan includes three bedrooms and a bunk room, accommodating owners, guests, and overflow for ski weeks or festival weekends. An elevator runs directly from the residence to the garage, where the unit has two heated, covered parking spaces. A snowmelt system keeps outdoor surfaces clear. The home is offered fully furnished, with custom selections and paint palettes by the design studio Tweed, so a buyer can move in or begin renting immediately. Rentals would run through Auberge, which manages the building’s rental program, though the unit itself has not been rented.
Element 52’s service is extensive: a year-round staff runs the front desk, a ski valet has gear ready each morning, and the concierge team handles grocery stocking, dinner reservations, and a local car service. The concierge’s reach extends into town, where much of Telluride’s dining sits within a few blocks. After skiing, owners can walk to après at Oak, at the base of Lift 8, then return to the on-site spa or one of the building’s two heated outdoor soaking pools.
For buyers seeking a mountain home that balances privacy with hotel-style service and year-round walkability, this penthouse represents a rare offering. The combination of ski access, full service, and a walkable address each exist elsewhere in Telluride, but inside town limits they rarely come together in a single building, and even less often in a residence that lives like a house. That scarcity underpins the property’s appeal and its $8.1 million price tag.
