I can't remember the year, (a true sign you are getting old) but it was in the early 90s around Thanksgiving. We were returning from Grand Junction, Colorado and decided to take the back way through the mountains, since the weather was clear and no snow was expected. An old army buddy of my husband's had become the building inspector of Pitken County, which includes Aspen. We arrived on Saturday about 3:00 p.m. Our friend was paged shortly after to go to a project and inspect a portion so they could continue. The project was on a fast track so that it could be completed for Christmas. He asked us to come with him, and we would have dinner in Aspen after that. He said, you really have to see this dump.

We entered the gated community, and the road curved around and up in a series of switch-backs. As we passed the low-income section of the subdivision (they start at 3 million and go up from there) he pointed out who owned each home as we drove to the project. On the right, was John Denver's house and on the left was his X-wife's home. There was Goldiie and Kirk's and Barbie Benton's homes too. A couple of miles in on snow packed dirt roads we entered a gate. The road beyond was paved and dry. He pointed out that hot water pipes heated the road underneath. That way the owner could call ahead, have the caretaker flip a switch and the roads would melt any ice or snow by the time the owner arrived.

It was still 3/4 of a mile to the project. As we rounded the bend, there on the hill, tucked into the pine trees in a spot selected for maximum security was a massive new home. It was the size of a small hotel. 38 bedroom suites, two kitchens, servants quarters for 5 families, small and large sitting rooms, a full bar and game room, a foyer the size of a small house, dumb waiters, elevators, and a bullet proof master suite with three bedrooms. 40 bathrooms, a kitchen that many restaurants would die for, an underground parking garage for a fleet of 20 cars which included a maintenance bay. There were about 100 workers there that day, frantically finishing before Christmas so the owner could celebrate the holidays in their new home. The owner was willing to give the general contractor a 1.5 million-dollar bonus if it was finished on time. The carpet that was being imported would not arrive so they were going to lay regular wall to wall carpet (at least 30 dollars a square yard.) which would be replaced with Persian carpets and teak wood floors after the holidays.

As we went room to room looking at the imported tiles in each of the bedroom suites, we became bored after awhile even though each room was different and the tiles were beautiful. The indoor Movie Theater adjoined the exercise room and Olympic size indoor swimming pool. The landscapers were bringing landscaping for the gardens that could be replaced after the holidays in the spring. They were putting the finishing touches on the living room fireplace, that was large enough to cook a lamb. I had never seen that big of a fireplace. Everything had been imported from Europe or the Near East.

Who was the owner? It was Prince Bandaar, from Saudi Arabia. Our friend pointed out a beautiful home on a hill, about a mile away. The Prince was in the process of purchasing it because he didn't want neighbors that close.

Our friend made a couple of statements that day. He said, if things keep going the way they are we would see the street signs of Aspen printed in both English and Arabic. He also said that in Aspen it wasn't enough to keep up with the Jones, it was necessary to blow them out of the water and then some.