No Surprise: Aspen Has 2 of 10 Priciest Sales

When Forbes published its list of the 10 most expensive homes sold in 2004, the only surprise was that an Aspen property did not register the Number one price tag.

That honor went to billionaire Ronald Perelman's $70-million sale of a Palm Beach mansion to construction mogul Dwight C. Schar.

However, Aspen claimed two in the top 10. Number two on the Forbes list: Mandalay, Hollywood proucer Peter Guber's ranch located on a gorgeous stretch of Owl Creek Road between Aspen and Snowmass Village. Guber sold it at what Forbes labeled a "discount" --the 650 acre ranch (with a 15,000 square-foot mansion among its buildings) was listed for $63 million, but Guber settled for a mere $46 million.

Number five was a place that former Goldman Sachs honcho Robert J. Hurst bought for $20 million. However, other reports last year indicated Hurst paid only $15.5 million for the Stein Ranch in the McClain Flats area just outside town, although he did buy other parcels nearby before that.

According to Forbes, the ranch "includes an older home, plus barns and stables." Not unusual in Aspen, so what's the big deal? It's a tear-down, according to Forbes, with Hurst and wife Soledad planning to replace it with a brand-new palace.