My idyllic mountain town was once the place to be for hippies & celebs alike - but zillionaires have destroyed its soul

A MOUNTAIN town that was known for its eclectic culture and hippie residents has been overtaken by mega-rich celebs who destroyed its soul, angered locals say.

Longtime residents of Aspen, Colorado, are sensing a major shift in the city that once attracted kooky outdoorsmen and impressionable artists.

The shift was put to words by Roger Marolt - a fourth-generation resident and journalist who laid out an exhaustive history of the town to show the disturbing progression.

Starting out as hunting grounds for indigenous people, Aspen attracted settlers in the 1800s during a mining rush for precious metals.

Gambling culture permeated the town as many took great risks for the chance of lifelong riches.

"Beginning with the mining days, Aspenites have earned a reputation for being loose, uninhibited, creative, different, or, less politely, crazy," Marolt wrote for Outside.

In the next century, a Chicago industrialist decided to develop the town to attract more outsiders.

By the late 1960s, a considerable crowd of wealthy celebs had joined locals in what Marolt said was once a harmonious relationship.

He described romantic scenes of John Denver picking his guitar for native kids in the midst of gorgeous scenery that inspired Stevie Nicks to write Landslide.

However, the group of alternative musicians and writers was soon overtaken by ultra-rich celebs who came to enjoy lavish vacations just decades later.

Marolt specifically points to the memorable moment in the 1990s when Donald Trump was confronted by his then-wife Ivana over his affair with Marla Maples as a major turning point.

Trump had snuck his girlfriend inside an Aspen resort so he could see her while spending time with his family.

The celebrity antics have snowballed into media stars coming to Aspen to specifically pose for Instagram-friendly photos while enjoying stays in lux mansions that only the elite can afford - and locals aren't taking kindly to the change.

In 2014, property mogul John Miller sparked fury among neighbors in a rural community after he erected a massive temporary structure for a wedding ceremony between two New York elites.

While the Aspen nuptials was completely legal, some felt that they shouldn't have to deal with the nauseating displays of wealth and opulence.

"It's a stab in the back for all of us up there, completely," resident Pete Stouffer told The Aspen Times.

"John knows how we all feel. He's sold property to a lot of the residents up there. He knows people's desire to protect that area.

"We all support the rural and remote designations and work within the limitations of that."

The Aspen Times itself has felt the exchange of power, as it was sued for libel last spring for a write-up on a local real-estate developer, The New York Times reports.

The suit claims that the paper falsely referred to him as a Russian oligarch in the midst of a Russia-Ukraine war.

The controversy saw the termination of one editor who ran opinion columns on the fallout and at least one other editorial departure.

Despite the pushback from the press, it appears that the influx of wealthy guests isn't stopping any time soon.

Years ago, a large swath of partying celebs opted to settle in Aspen instead of the Caribbean island of St. Barts as it was left in shambles from Hurricane Irma.

Locals say the tourism is isolating and damaging to the small town, as gentrification continues to push poorer residents into worse living conditions.

Last October, a law was unanimously passed to allow subsidized housing in all zone districts, but it hasn't gone off without a hitch.

Conservative blogger Elizabeth Milias criticized the decision in an opinion piece, saying that it would destroy established relationships, while supporters felt it was a needed check out the power of development companies.

Meanwhile, Marolt feels that the time for Aspen natives is running short, and many are hanging on for as long as they can until they can no longer make rent.

"As we helplessly watch the gonzo era die, we try to figure this out," he wrote after asking who is welcome in the city.

"Perhaps we are all here because we haven't got a clue about where else we would go."

The U.S. Sun has approached the City of Aspen for comment on these concerns.