Avalanche Ranch
Avalanche Ranch is best described as a Rocky Mountain Picture…
Starting at $125 per cabin per night
Alta Lakes, San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Accommodations
Starting at $1,300 per lodge per night
The Observatory is an icon in Telluride. Come and experience it for yourself! Families have bonded and made memories to last a lifetime. Friends have made toasts and laughed so hard they cried. Producers have filmed commercials here. The Observatory has been the site in Telluride where people have fallen in love, become engaged, exchanged vows and celebrated anniversaries.
Unique Features: You can visit the old Alta mining/ghost town nearby and see the original site of alternating current electricity. This mining town came into existence after Jack Mann discovered gold in 1878. The town is on the National Register of Historic Places and today, there are still original buildings including cabins, a boarding house and outhouse buildings that you can see.
Accommodations: The lodge is a large cozy cabin. Bedroom #1 has one king bed (Sleeps 2). Bedroom #2 has a Queen Bed plus two twin pull-out beds (Sleeps 4). The Loft has two bunk beds (Sleeps 4). There’s a bathroom with shower on the 2nd floor and a half bath on the main floor. Linens are provided as are shampoo and soap.
As Suite As It Gets: When money is no object, go for Bedroom #1. This has the best views. When you explore Telluride, you will be treated to boutiques, art galleries, a lesson or two in history and local flavors in gourmet restaurants.
Dining: There’s a full kitchen at the lodge for guests to make their own meals. The Observatory ‘Dinner at Eleven’ is a backcountry dining experience. You’ll depart from the town of Telluride or Mountain Village and be whisked away for an easy, guided and exhilarating snowmobile ride to The Observatory. A chef will be on site to prepare and serve a fabulous dinner from a wide range of selections. After dinner relax by the enormous fireplace, soak in the hot tub or gaze at the night sky. You’ll return to reality the following morning.
Activities: A short distance away, there are two of the three Alta Lakes. In the summer, it is popular campsite and a haven for cyclists and hikers. When there is snow on the ground there will still be some campers, but it is also a beautiful place to snowshoe (among other things).
Spa & Fitness: No, there is no spa or fitness center.
Location: The Observatory is remote. Nestled at 11,300 feet under the 13,000-foot Palmyra Peak and Silver Peak of the San Juan Mountains, The Observatory is located 13 miles from the town of Telluride, Colorado. To obtain access to The Observatory, there is an unmaintained county road that is about five-miles-long. A two wheel drive can make it, when there is no snow, but a four-wheel drive vehicle is preferable. When the snow arrives, The Observatory is accessible only by snowmobile, skis or snowshoes.
Closest Airport: Telluride, Colorado is 13 miles away. Montrose, Colorado is about 2 hours away. Telluride is known across the globe for cultural events including the Telluride Film Festival, The Bluegrass Festival, Blues & Brews plus a number of other events. Christmas Eve is always spectacular thanks to the Torchlight Parade, and the 4th of July parade is another not-to-be-missed event.
Children’s Programs: No, they do not have any children’s programs.
Pet Friendly: Yes, small pets are allowed. Restrictions may apply. The Observatory is Pet Friendly, $50 fee per pet.
Weddings: Yes. The Observatory is truly a special place. Bridal couples love the ambiance of the Observatory for its remoteness and the millions of blooming wildflowers. The Observatory can accommodate up to 45 people for an outdoor wedding celebration. If your wedding party exceeds 45 persons, perhaps then The Observatory is the perfect venue for the Rehearsal Dinner or a Post Wedding Day Brunch.
Meetings: Yes. You can definitely hold small meetings at the lodge.
Extra Info: You can see remnants of the aerial tramway at the Alta ghost town that used to move the ore from the mine to the mill a little ways down the mountain. Just a few miles away, Telluride’s L.L. Nunn joined forces with Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse to build the world’s first commercial alternating-current power plant. It was used to fuel the operations of the Gold King Mine, which was just south of The Observatory.
Avalanche Ranch is best described as a Rocky Mountain Picture…
Starting at $125 per cabin per night
Nestled in the spectacular Rocky Mountains, near Marble and Redstone,…
Starting at $150 per cabin per night