This post is of the inside of the house and some of the grounds around the main house.
The $49 million purchase of the opulent 90-acre ranch home, built in 1991 by Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia while he was ambassador to the U.S., includes a smaller adjoining 38-acre ranch, known as Bear Cabin. (more on that Bear Cabin on the next post) Paulson, 56, plans to "reduce the scale of the house," according to a statement issued by a spokesman for Paulson's firm, Paulson & Co. in New York City, but it's unclear by how much. Currently it sits at 56,000 square feet — larger than the White House — with 15 bedrooms and 16 baths.
Pitkin County records show Paulson's Star Mountain Ranch LLC — initially known as Hala Ranch LLC when it was formed in March, according to state corporation records — purchased the Hala property for $41 million and paid $8 million for the smaller property. The whole 130-acre property is located in Aspen's exclusive Starwood section, a gated community on the slopes of Red Mountain, and will be renamed Star Ranch, according to the statement. The Hala property, once listed at $135 million and the most expensive residence in the country, has fallen into disrepair. Paulson, whose wealth is listed by Forbes at $12.5 billion and once was ranked 45th richest in the world, has vacationed in Aspen for more than 25 years. Two years ago he purchased a 12,500-square-foot home for $24.5 million.
(Also one of Ward's projects, more here ) "He and his family intend to stay in Aspen for many years to come," the statement said. Guest rooms open to a courtyard with a waterfall that leads into a reflecting pond. The property also has horse stables, an indoor swimming pool, a tennis court, a water treatment plant and a high-tech security system. A mechanical shop is also on the property with gas pumps and car washes.
This rock water feature is in the entry
The Staircase
Riding in the elevator to the top floor
This is the racketball room that is going to become the home theater
One of the gorgeous views from one of the many balconies
Looking down into the great room
The view from a balcony across the courtyard to the other part
of the house
Just some of the etching on the mirrors
The salon bathroom
The tennis/basketball court through the trees
Looking across the pool, little stools for eating or drinking in the pool
View out the pool windows into the courtyard, those windows will
be replaced with sliding glass doors/wall
The bottom of the pool
Jolene's favorite part, the far left corner is a door that leads to the indoor
hot tub
part of the pool with the "kitchen/bar behind them, off to the right
is the steam room
The sky light in the hot tub room
Indoor hot tub
Another great room
The art work on one of the bathroom walls
Just one of the many views from the bottom level of the house
One of the dining room, great view into the courtyard
Another view
One of the many fireplaces with marble
Another marble fireplace
The fireplace in the great room
looking back at the house and courtyard, heading to the upper
patio and firepit. There is a pond behind the glass table on
the patio
our girls, look how yellow the trees are
Posing on one of the patios
The girls wanted to make a grand enterance
