When planning a winter getaway, you might be tempted to focus solely on your desired activities — skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and more. But the most seasoned cold-weather travelers know that where you stay is often just as important as what you do. After a day on the snow you’ll welcome a cozy retreat for hot cocoa, s’mores around the firepit, board games, hot tub soaks, stargazing and movie nights under the blankets.
As you make plans for winter, consider booking a room at one of these new / newly refreshed Colorado hotels.
The Carlin
While ski racing in Europe, Phil Armstrong found himself hungry at the end of his long days. He’d look for a restaurant in whatever mountain town he was visiting and tuck in for a hearty meal. Several times as he wrapped up his dinner a staffer would mention there were rooms upstairs if he wanted to spend the night. That warm, friendly, eat-then-sleep style of hospitality stuck with him, and this summer his team at Destination Hospitality Restaurant Group opened The Carlin in downtown Breckenridge.
The Carlin is a “restaurant with rooms,” as Armstrong describes it. While the main attraction is a seafood-focused restaurant on the ground floor, there’s also a cozy tavern in the basement. And, for those who don’t feel like going far to find a bed, there are four welcoming hotel rooms upstairs.
If you’re traveling as a group book the Royal Tiger, a bright, spacious retreat with a king bed, twin bunk beds and a private balcony overlooking Main Street. No matter which room you choose, enjoy the European-inspired touches, such as the heated towel rack in the bathroom and the Frette Italian linens on the beds.
200 N. Main St., Breckenridge, thecarlinbreckenridge.com, 970-771-3795
Aspen Meadows
Situated on the grounds of the Aspen Institute — a 40-acre property designed by famed Bauhaus artist and architect Herbert Bayer — Aspen Meadows Resort has long been a beloved place to stay in the Roaring Fork Valley. Guests this winter will enjoy the results of a major renovation of its 98 guest suites, restaurant, bar and lobby.
Designers refreshing the guest suites paid homage to Bayer’s distinctive design ethos by incorporating bold yellows, reds and blues — the preferred color palette of the Bauhaus art school in Germany where Bayer studied and taught in the 1920s. They also added modern conveniences including platform beds with built-in storage and a gear drop station inside each room.
Be sure to check out the latest exhibit at the new Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, which is located within walking distance of the accommodations. Titled “Concept of a Visualist: Herbert Bayer’s World Geo-Graphic Atlas,” the show explores the groundbreaking, 368-page atlas Bayer designed between 1947 and 1953.
845 Meadows Road, Aspen, aspenmeadows.com, 888-221-4851
The Western
Long before it became known as the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray was a rugged, gold and silver mining town. Many of the men who ventured west to strike it rich in the late 1800s stayed at a downtown boarding house. Now, that 132-year-old structure has been reborn as The Western Hotel & Spa, a fully renovated boutique hotel with 16 guest rooms.
Built in 1891, the newly refreshed three-story building is said to be one of the last surviving original wood-frame hotels in the country. It took the team at Zeppelin Development two years to carefully restore The Western, but all that time and energy paid off. Today, the property is a gorgeous ode to Ouray’s rough-and-tumble past — with all the creature comforts of a modern hotel.
In the saloon, you’ll find the original hand-carved bar, as well as a unique 20th-century floor mural depicting a woman named Jezebel. Other historic touches include the original tin ceiling, remnants of cherished wallpaper and the original front desk. Dark wood, leather, original taxidermy and stained glass windows add to the Old West vibe, while floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light. The Western also has a wood-fired restaurant, a general store and a Nordic spa.
210 7th Ave., Ouray, thewesternouray.com, 970-497-1057
Trailborn Rocky Mountains and Trailborn Rocky Mountains Outpost
Venture up to Estes Park for a serene snowshoe hike or a lively sledding session at Rocky Mountain National Park, then retreat to one of two new hotels in town: Trailborn Rocky Mountains and Trailborn Rocky Mountains Outpost.
The sister properties, which are located about a mile apart, are part of a group of new boutique hotels in scenic outdoor destinations across the country, including one near the Grand Canyon and another in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
In Estes Park, the company bought and renovated two existing hotels, transforming them into Instagrammable, modern-meets-rustic retreats with shared amenities that include two pools, event spaces, a Mexican-inspired restaurant called Casa Colina, firepits, and game areas.
Choose from 86 rooms across the two properties (with another 70 rooms under construction) and take advantage of complimentary bikes, connections with local guides, and adult-friendly activities like whiskey tastings. Kids can get in on the action, too, by setting up a camping tent in their parents’ rooms or going on a Trailborn scavenger hunt.
Trailborn Rocky Mountains, 130 Stanley Ave., Estes Park, staytrailborn.com/rocky-mountains, 970-586-4471, and Trailborn Rocky Mountains Outpost, 1040 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park, staytrailborn.com/rocky-mountains-outpost, 970-586-5338
The Benson Hotel
If you can’t get away from the Front Range, consider a staycation at the new Benson Hotel and Faculty Club on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. This 106-room hotel was designed to be a love letter to the West and features 600 works of art created by Colorado artists. It also sports a full-service bar and restaurant called the Common Good that incorporates local, seasonal ingredients into menu items like pistachio bucatini pasta and achiote-rubbed Colorado lamb.
13025 E. Montview Blvd., Aurora, thebensonhotel.com, 720-627-5958
The Rochester Hotel
Durango’s iconic Rochester Hotel, built in 1892, has undergone a total refresh, thanks to new owners Shane Fuhrman and Haley Morgan. They’re no strangers to historic renovations, having recently completed an overhaul of the Wyman Hotel, built in 1902, in nearby Silverton.
With that experience under their belts, the pair turned their attention to the 131-year-old Rochester, a two-story brick building located two blocks off the town’s historic Main Avenue. They’ve transformed the 33-room former boarding house into a dreamy boutique hotel with 15 spacious king and double-queen rooms decorated with botanical artwork, velvet headboards and gold hardware. There’s also a chic lobby bar featuring beers and natural wines, as well as a tree-lined courtyard for concerts, events and weddings.
726 E. 2nd Ave., Durango, rochesterhotel.com, 979-764-0035
Mollie Aspen
The Roaring Fork Valley’s newest hotel is Mollie Aspen, a 68-room property overlooking Paepcke Park just a few blocks from Aspen’s downtown. Here, designers skillfully combined hand-dyed textiles, ceramics and natural wood to create a luxurious-yet-understated aesthetic that feels more like a cozy home than a hotel. After a day on the slopes, head to the lobby bar and restaurant for après-ski fun or take in the views of Aspen Mountain while soaking in the rooftop pool.
111 S. Garmisch St., Aspen, mollieaspen.com, 970-925-3434
The Hotel Melrose
Since 1908, the Hotel Melrose has stood guard over downtown Grand Junction. Over the years, it’s garnered quite a bit of notoriety for being haunted (primarily because a previous owner was convicted of murdering his wife). Now, the stately brick building is shedding its spooky reputation and reopening as a tranquil boutique hotel.
The building’s new owners gutted the interior and worked with interior designers to create 16 warm, retreat-like guest rooms with luxurious Western flair. Before you turn in for the night, you can enjoy a cocktail at the on-site, speakeasy-style bar called the Melrose Spirit Co. or gaze up at the stars from the outdoor terrace.
337 Colorado Ave., Grand Junction, thehotelmelrose.com, 970-852-5611
