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NAME: Koch Lumber Park
ADDRESS: N. Garmisch St. & W. Cooper Ave.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 1 & 2, Koch Lumber Subdivision Exception
Plat, City & Townsite of Aspen
DATE PURCHASED: June 3, 1985
HOW FUNDED: Lot 1 – Trade, Lot 2 – Charitable Gift
LEGISLATION: Ordinance #30, 1985
DEED: Special Warranty Deed Book 500 Page 386, recorded
12/2/1985, Reception No. 273646
Special Warranty Deed Book 500 Page 906, recorded
12/5/1985, Reception No. 273746.
William Koch was one of Aspen’s first settlers. In 1880 he was appointed
Postmaster of the new city, and in association with this duty, he ran the Aspen-
Leadville stage service. This site was used for his equipment and horses. It was
probably used by the Koch Company as a stage barn, and later for its lumber
business. By 1907 a lumber mill operated on this site, and the Koch family
successfully ran the Aspen Lumber Company until the 1970s.
As part of the Aspen Mountain Lodge approval in 1985, the applicants
requested that the “Koch Lumber property”, located generally in Block 62 and
Block 1, Eames Addition be subdivided into 2 lots, “Lot 1” being approximately
21,084 sq. ft. and “Lot 2” being approximately 40,931 sq. ft.. “Lot 1” was traded
for the Capitol Hill Addition and “Lot 2” was given to the City as a charitable
donation. The donation is contingent upon The Koch Lumber property to be
dedicated to the perpetual use and enjoyment of the public for open space and
recreational purposes.