The Wall Street Journal Spotlights 1872 Christie Drive's Après-Ski Bar

The Wall Street Journal featured 1872 Christie Drive in a national story on the growing trend of private après-ski bars in luxury mountain homes. The piece, published March 26, 2026, highlights how ski homeowners are investing in custom bar spaces as a core feature of the mountain living experience, and Covington Builders' Steamboat Springs project was spotlighted alongside homes in Aspen, Snowmass, and Lake Tahoe.

Developer Robert Covington and The Agency Steamboat Springs' Chris Paoli were both quoted in the story. Covington described the thinking behind the bar at 1872 Christie Drive, plus the 80s arcade games included, noting that ski vacation gatherings require serious gathering space. Paoli captured the broader shift in the WSJ article: "People are having a lot of fun with the bars. They are creating spaces where the party keeps going—and where the kids want to come back and hang out."

The 7,305-square-foot residence at 1872 Christie Drive sits at the base of the Steamboat Ski Area, with a main-level and basement bar, and will be coming to market soon. The six-bedroom, 6.5 bath home explores a contemporary mountain palette of wood, steel, and glass, with wide-plank white oak flooring and expansive glazing that frames views from the Steamboat ski slopes across Emerald Mountain and the South Valley.

The adjacent 1870 Christie Drive sold for $8.2 million and sets a clear benchmark for what Covington delivers: walls of glass, a glass elevator, wide-plank white oak floors, a quartzite kitchen island anchored by a 48-inch Wolf range, and panoramic views from the ski area to Emerald Mountain. 

The Christie Drive feature is part of a broader story playing out across Steamboat's luxury market. Buyers at this level aren't just looking for square footage and ski access; they're looking for homes that function as destinations in their own right. Several properties currently represented by The Agency Steamboat Springs reflect exactly that thinking, with bar and entertaining spaces that deserve their own mention.

795 Twilight Lane | Offered at $6,500,000

The game room at 795 Twilight Lane anchors the lower level with an under-lit quartzite bar, beverage refrigerator, and an adjacent wine room—a setup that makes entertaining feel effortless and comfortable. The 5,046-square-foot Barn Village residence pairs 200-year-old barnwood siding, white oak flooring, and ViewRail glass-and-steel staircases with ski area, Emerald Mountain, and More's Barn views. A Crystallos Sloages quartzite island anchors the kitchen alongside GE Monogram appliances and a butler's pantry, while two stone fireplaces with vintage mantels, WarmBoard radiant heat, and a snowmelt driveway carry the same attention to detail throughout. Read our full editorial on the home. Represented by Chris Paoli. View Listing →

33800 Catamount Drive | Offered at $9,950,000

The entertaining level here is genuinely its own destination. A stone bridge passes over a cascading water feature before arriving at a wine cellar and tasting room framed by brick walls, custom cabinetry, and a copper-plated door. Separate from the cellar, a 10-seat home theater sits alongside a game and lounge room with a stone fireplace and a bar detailed in green-hued granite with a football-leather edge. At 11,492 square feet on seven private acres at Catamount Ranch & Club, this Joe Patrick Robbins-designed estate carries the full weight of its setting. Seller financing available. BTC accepted. Read our full editorial on the property here. Represented by Noah Zedeck. View Listing →

1462 Clubhouse Drive | Offered at $3,650,000

Under a mile from the ski area, this 4,600-square-foot duplex lives like a single-family home and entertains like one, too. The lower level brings together a wet bar, pool table, media space, and bunk room in a configuration that works for families, friend groups, and everyone in between. The home features four bedrooms, including two primary suites, a covered deck, and a hot tub ideal for year-round entertaining. Represented by Kenny Reisman. View Listing →

50166 County Road 80 | Offered at $15,000,000

Colorado Haven operates at a different scale altogether, offering 1,414 acres of Rocky Mountain wilderness with an open-air pavilion featuring a commercial kitchen, fireplace, bar, and outdoor dining built for gathering in serious numbers. Solar power, Starlink internet, and an extensive inventory of vehicles and equipment make it fully self-sufficient. The terrain covers elk hunting, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, and a 300-yard firing range. Twenty miles from Yampa Valley Regional Airport and entirely turnkey. Represented by Chris Paoli. View Listing →

For details on these listings or to schedule a private showing, contact [email protected].