Keystone · River Run · Ski-In Ski-Out
Black Bear Lodge
Black Bear Lodge is the larger of the two sister buildings in the heart of River Run, which means more floor plans to choose from and a better chance of finding the layout you actually want. It is ski-in ski-out, steps from the gondola, with a heated garage, a full amenity set, and an outdoor heated pool right next door. West-facing units catch the afternoon sun and the Buffalo Mountain sunset. For a buyer who wants to be in the center of River Run with options, this is the one with the inventory.
Written by Tucker Zimmerman, Summit County Realtor with Slifer Smith & Frampton. (303) 907-9129 · TZimmerman@SliferSummit.com
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Where
129 River Run Road, in the center of River Run Village, among the closest buildings to the gondola. Ski-in ski-out, with the village ice rink and restaurants just below.
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Built
1995, with later updates. The larger of the two sister buildings, roughly thirty units, with an elevator and a heated garage.
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The building
Elevator, heated garage parking with EV charging, hot tubs, a fitness room, a sauna, ski lockers, and a firepit. An outdoor heated pool is steps away.
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The units
One and two bedrooms, roughly 625 to 1,425 square feet, with gas fireplaces and oversized decks. South and west exposures, with ski-run, river, and sunset views.
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The larger of the two, and why that matters
Black Bear and the neighboring Jackpine Lodge sit side by side and share amenities, and the MLS groups them under one neighborhood, so you will see both in your search results. The difference that matters to a buyer is size. Black Bear is the larger building, which simply means more units turn over and more floor plans come available. If you have a specific layout or exposure in mind, you have a better chance of finding it here than in the smaller building next door.
What I tell buyers is that in a place this tight on inventory, optionality is worth real money. You are not waiting as long for the right unit, and you have more to compare when you do. The flip side is that a larger building has more owners sharing the common spaces, so if a quiet, few-doors feel is your priority, Jackpine is the one to weigh against it. Same location, same amenities, different scale.
Location and the afternoon sun
Black Bear is about a two-minute walk to the gondola, with the River Run plaza, the ice rink, and the restaurants right below it. For a ski trip, that is hard to beat. The detail I point out is exposure. West and south-facing units catch the afternoon light and, on the west side, the sunset over Buffalo Mountain, which makes a real difference in how a unit feels in winter. It is the kind of thing that does not show up in a listing photo but matters a lot once you own. I can tell you which units face which way before you tour.
Amenities and the pool
Black Bear has an elevator, a heated garage with EV charging, hot tubs, a fitness room, a sauna, ski lockers, and a firepit. Unlike its smaller sibling, there is an outdoor heated pool steps from the building that owners use. Confirm the exact pool and amenity arrangement with the HOA, since the two buildings share some facilities and the details matter, but the short version is that the full River Run amenity experience is here.
Renting and rules
River Run buildings rent well, but confirm the current rules for the parcel rather than assuming a seller's setup transfers. Keystone's short-term rental picture shifted when the town incorporated, so start with the Keystone short-term rental rules, verify the parcel on the Summit County GIS tool, and read the HOA's rental policy. A short-term rental license does not transfer on sale. Pricing moves through the year, so I keep live numbers on the Keystone condominiums page instead of quoting a figure here.
Black Bear Lodge FAQ
Where is Black Bear Lodge?
At 129 River Run Road, in the center of Keystone's River Run Village, among the closest buildings to the gondola, with ski-in ski-out access and the plaza restaurants and ice rink just below.
How is Black Bear different from Jackpine?
They are two adjacent sister buildings that share amenities and one MLS neighborhood. Black Bear is the larger building with more floor plans and more turnover; Jackpine is the smaller, more intimate one.
Does Black Bear have a pool?
There is an outdoor heated pool steps from the building, along with hot tubs, a sauna, a fitness room, and ski lockers. Confirm the exact shared-amenity arrangement with the HOA.
When was it built?
1995, with later updates noted in public records. It has an elevator and a heated underground garage with EV charging.
What are the units like?
One and two bedrooms, roughly 625 to 1,425 square feet, with gas fireplaces and oversized decks. South and west exposures bring ski-run, river, and sunset views over Buffalo Mountain.
Can I short-term rent at Black Bear Lodge?
Confirm the current rules for the parcel. Start with the Keystone short-term rental rules, verify the parcel on the county GIS, and check the HOA policy. Licenses do not transfer on sale.
Related Keystone and Summit County pages
Comparing Black Bear and Jackpine?
I will pull every current listing in both, sort them by layout and exposure, and tell you which building each is really in before you write an offer.
Tucker Zimmerman
Associate Broker, Slifer Smith & Frampton
303-907-9129 (call or text)
TZimmerman@SliferSummit.com
soldinsummit.com/contact
