ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
03.15.08
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Tabernash, CO
GET THAT ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH JOHN DENVER WAS ALWAYS GOING ON ABOUT AT THIS LUXURIOUS, ECO-FRIENDLY RANCH THAT’S ONLY A SHORT DRIVE FROM DENVER.
The scenery around Devil’s Thumb Ranch is amazing. As in change-your-life amazing. The skiing is obviously fabulous in winter, but when the weather is warm you can really enjoy the scenery and not freeze your patookas off trying to relax under that breathtaking star-lit sky. It’s luxuriously rustic, it’s family friendly, it’s even eco-friendly. And heck, you might even run into TomKat and little Suri while you’re out hiking, biking or soaking in the geothermal pool.
hiking the ranch
geothermal pool
cabin bedroom
The scenery around Devil’s Thumb Ranch is amazing. As in change-your-life amazing. The skiing is obviously fabulous in winter, but when the weather is warm you can really enjoy the scenery and not freeze your patookas off trying to relax under that breathtaking star-lit sky. It’s luxuriously rustic, it’s family friendly, it’s even eco-friendly. And heck, you might even run into TomKat and little Suri while you’re out hiking, biking or soaking in the geothermal pool.
LOCATION
• Set in the Tabernash, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, west of Denver, 10 minutes from the town of Winter Park.
PLAYING
• There’s plenty of room to roam at Devil’s Ranch. 5000 acres to be exact. So kiddos can get out and hike, bike, fish, swim, horseback ride, etc, with a minimum of hassle.
• There’s also a year-round indoor/outdoor geo-thermally heated pool and hot tub. And a spa. And a wine cellar. So you can all relax.
• If you get cabin-fever (I guess it would technically be ranch-fever), you can head to the nearby town of Winter Park to find 600 more miles of mountain-bike trails (world-renowned I guess), a rodeo every weekend and a nearly mile-long Alpine Slide. Who-hooo!
• There are also 3 golf courses within minutes of the ranch for the guys, shopping about 40 minutes away in Grand Lake for those looking for more-ahem-civilized diversions.
EATING
• All cabins feature a kitchen (although the lofts only have microwaves).
• There’s a Safeway only 10 minutes away to stock up on food and other supplies.
• Restaurants include the upscale Ranch House restaurant (reservations required) the more relaxed Saloon (all Ranch House menu items available) or you can dine in their gorgeous wine cellar. Private dinners, only I believe.
SLEEPING
• Cabins available in loft, 2, or 4 bedrooms configurations. All feature wood burning fireplaces, luxurious mattresses and environmentally friendly heated floors and kitchen units
• The newly opened Lodge boasts 52 rooms and suites and an old-fashioned bowling alley.
TIPS
• Pack ’n plays can be provided by the Ranch, make your request when reserving.
• There are no tvs, so bring your portable dvd player if you like. The also have tv/vcr units they rent and they have a library of kids vhs cassettes…which will sort of make it a learning experience as you explain to the kids all about these ancient artifacts called “vcrs” and “videocassette tapes” (oohhh, bulky, ahhhh, ugly. “They don’t have chapter skip?”).
• In winter you can rent skis for the little ones, or chariots if they’re not ready to hit the slopes on their own
the wine cave at the Ranch
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
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photo credits: images taken from devilsthumbranch.com