1030 Park Ave., Monte Vista, CO, 81144, 719-852-5151, 877-552-5151
Rates: start at $100 a night for the Anne Ellis room and $110 a night for the Susan Anderson room, which share a bath; the elegant Isabella Bird room is $120 a night, and the sumptuous Margaret Brown room is $125 a night, both with in-suite bathrooms. WiFi and off-street parking are included, as well as the gourmet breakfast.
Stay here if you: are looking for a relaxing change from hotels and motels in the northern San Luis Valley, close to Great Sand Dunes National Park and a convenient stopover on the way to Taos or Santa Fe.
It’s close to: Alamosa (20 miles) to the east and Del Norte (15 miles) to the west. It’s just off U.S. 285 on U.S. 160.
The rooms are: named for pioneering women from the turn of the century, when the house was built. Rooms are elegant and exceptionally comfortable, which is a surprise in a part of the valley not keenly known for its attention to the appointed details. The house is awash in antique furnishings that beckon you to stay a spell in your own room. The Susan Anderson (a physician from Fraser) room has a lovely queen-size bed, a cozy corner sink and private balcony that’s a sweet hideaway on a warm evening. The Anne Ellis (a San Luis Valley native who cooked in the mine camps) has a historic iron bed with quilts that rival the best around. The Isabella Bird (a Brit known for climbing Longs Peak) brings you back to the days of laid-back afternoons and cozy evenings with a bed that swaddles you to sleep, or relax on the lush day bed. The private bath has a unique corner shower and lovely heated tile floor. The Margaret Brown (aka Molly Brown of Titanic fame) is romance personified with fireplace and king-size bed, a fainting couch and private bath that adds to the sumptuousness.
They put all of the money into: the house. The history of the Mansion — it was once home to the mayor of Monte Vista — is evident in each nook and cranny. Built in 1909, the two-story brick building sits on the main road through town. Innkeeper Eileen Ford has spared nothing with her attention to the details of a long restoration of what was once an antique store. From the tin ceiling in the large living room to the rich woodwork and bold staircase with beveled leaded-glass picture window at the landing, the Mansion is a taste of elegance in this area. The front glassed-in porch with comfy wicker furnishings is a favorite spot in which to while away the evening with a tea or libation as you overlook the lush, well-manicured gardens.
The bottom line: I’ve stayed here several times in the last five years and can’t get enough of this place. Ms. Ford is a lovely presence who offers a gourmet breakfast that’s both tasty and filling — fresh fruit, a quiche that varies but is always delightfully tasty, freshly made scones, biscuits and muffins, and a variety of juices. It’s wise to make reservations for March to September, the busy season.
David Migoya
