**LAST MINUTE SPECIAL - Book March 12-16 (4 nights at $75 off per night)
Our Calendar is up to date. No need to 'inquire' unless you have questions. Simply fill in your dates and click "book it". We also lowered our prices a bit to offset VRBO's recently added percentage charge to customers. Also, if you "input" 7 nights, a discount will be applied so you aren't charged for 7th. (except during Christmas Break).
There are places for 8 people to sleep - but honestly - you are crawling over each other with that many guests. Two of the bedrooms are small (queen bed in one and twin over full bunk in the other - bother are 10x10' rooms. We have had a few complaints at the small size of these two rooms. We do have dressers in the closets to put stuff and get suitcases out of the way to help out. Anyone on the sofa bed will be in the middle of everything - just so you know.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS :
Our mountain side home looks out over Little Cascade Creek! You will love the unique placement of our home because it allows you to look upstream for 100 yards of the creek / river where you can see multiple falls which run directly at you. (Note - sometimes the water isn't flowing like in spring photos.) The peaceful sound of the rushing water will sooth you as you relax by the fire pit or sit in the hot tub on our deck. Occasionally you will see wildlife crossing the creek or in the meadows below. Mark stocks the stream with rainbow trout each spring, too. NOTE : Sometimes, the water is NOT as pictured. Our beautiful river water is channeled to our creek from a larger creek 6-8 miles up stream and when they are repairing that flue system, it can be "shut off" for a while.
The bay windows of the dining area surrounds our huge round dining table (with a lazy-susan) and offers a great view of the creek, as well. This will be a place for making memories with your family and having intimate conversations as you enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We have a box of fun and unique questions on or near the table to help kick start interesting conversations, and all the fancy utensils, and serving items one would need for an elegant Dinner.
The living room windows on each side of the river rock fireplace look out over the rushing water of Cascade creek as well. You won't know where to stand and take it all in. Well - yes you will - the deck is simply amazing! The weather up here at 8800 ft above sea level is 10 - 15 degrees cooler than in Durango just 25 minutes away - you won't want to go inside! Note - there is no AC for summer heat, August can get up to 80 during the day, and down to 55 at night. It cools off quickly in the evening, and September and is back to cool quickly. there are fans in each room.
Our cozy living room is furnished with two leather sofas (one is a sleeper with memory foam mattress.) A 60' HDTV and all the channels of entertainment you need hangs on the wall above a cabinet full of books. Besides, did I mention the view from the deck? You won't want to be indoors spring, summer or fall. So grab one of those books and spend some time outside. If it is chilly, you can fire up the glistening fire pit with the turn of the gas valve and the strike of a lighter, or light up the fireplace and warm yourself indoors from stacks of firewood on the front porch. As dusk comes, watch a dozen automatic timed candles turn on around the living room and stairs. It's a magical place.
Our kitchen is outfitted everything you need for the gourmet chef in you. Cook up something delightful to enjoy on the deck or around the table. You'll find lots of tools you would have at home. A blender for making margaritas to sip on by the fire, and many other 'necessities' for your use and enjoyment - stashed away in the large pantry.
The bedrooms are upstairs. To the right you will find a romantic get-a-way in the master Bedroom, complete with a huge window - creek view by day, and twinkling stars at night. A crystal chandelier table lamp will put a soft light on the linen tufted King size bed. Complete with Adjustable "air" bed, and memory foam topper. The bed is so comfy you won't want to get up in the morning and go on any of the amazing adventures all around you.
At the other end of the upstairs hall is another much smaller (10x10) room with elegantly appointed linens on a Queen bed, a Mountain Sheep fur wall hanging, and cozy mountain cabin feel complete with grand art work and Direct TV in these first two rooms. The sun streams in early and invites you to the great outdoors on this east side room.
In the small kids bunk room, where four little ones can easily sleep, there is a DVD/TV combo along with cowboy and Indian Artwork and a giant fur bean bag. Bring your favorite DVDs, but we have plenty on a shelf in the closet.
Though the house is only 1600 sq ft, is it elegantly appointed and invitingly cozy. the living area is room and spacious, and we have had 6-8 people many times.
The Needles Store is just 3 miles down the road - handy for things you run out of or forgot in Durango! If you try the amazing food truck at the NUGGET bar and grill across the highway from our street, you probably won't cook anymore! Fantastic! The Ski Resort up the road (1/2 mile down the highway) has a pizza joint and a fancy restaurant called 'Purgy's'. The kids will love the alpine slide and other fun summer things as well as all the winter activities. School house bar has amazing pizza (near needles store.)
For your small pets, we have a cute little doggie hotel in the living room under the stair way landing. It is made out of wood, and is intended for keeping your pets from roaming at night or bothering you while your eating. Since it is wood, we don't intend it to keep your pet while you leave on an excursion for the day, as they would surely fear being left behind and try to chew out. 2.3x5 feet x 2.2 ft high.
National forest borders all around. You literally walk down to the creek and get lost for hours as you explore along the creek and hike to the north (Columbine Lake - 30 mins) or hike to the left (south) and see the magnificent Electra Lake (a couple hours) to the south. The southern hike is too treacherous when the creek is flowing strong - like in the pictures. Don't try it! This southern hike is an "extreme" hike - with falls and dangerous things to maneuver - my kids love it when the creek is low and they can rock hop down the stream! (take a rope for getting up and down some tough areas.) You'll see all kinds of wildlife if you are quiet and looking. Bear, Big horn sheep, Elk, turkey, beavers, Eagles, geese, Deer, mountain lions and even an occasional moose are possible. There is so much to take in! Due to repairs on a dam and pipe up stream, sometimes the creek is barely flowing. Fishing in this stream is more for kids, as it is too tight for fly fishing. There are big trout in the small holes, even when creek is low. You have to sneak up and cast in before you get there, or they go under rocks
Remember - get all 7 nights of a week for the price of 6 (except Christmas and New Years weeks) Simply input all 7 nights, and the system will give you a discount that takes the price of one night off.
***Note - we don't have AC in our home. Most summers are 75ish in the day and 50 at night. Sometimes Mid August is a bit more. There are fans in every room.
*****NOTE: 4x4 - 4 wheel drive is necessary in the winter. No exceptions! And if you have 4x4 with street tires, you need chains. The larger the vehicle the more they struggle. I've never needed chains with good all terrain tires and 4x4. But I have seen 4x4 vehicles stuck because they had highway / high speed tires only (like a BMW SUV might have). Lake Purgatory Drive is 1.5 miles of up and down and will have patches of ice on steep hills. In fact, most winters, it is packed snow you are driving on the whole time. It is plowed as soon as we get snow, so you can get out and in, but it is still icy often. A couple of hills are steep and long and north facing = ice. Notice the pictures above to see the winter conditions. This is the real deal ... dangerous conditions... but totally doable if you are prepared. We've seen out of control cars and trucks on ice while the locals are walking their dogs. There is talk of banning VRBO guests during the winter because of this. So please take care of the details on this issue.
WINTER SKIING - Purgatory has some awesome skiing and you can park in the lower parking (where the locals do) and then walk across the road to the bunny lift for a free ride up to the base area where tickets,etc can be purchased.
We try to do a great job sanitizing and preparing for your arrival. With the current conditions and fears about Covid and other Virus "pandemics" floating around, we do encourage the following practices - and we encourage - treat others as you would want to be treated!
***** Covid - 19 and other pandemic Notice *** - Please contact me about booking. Sometimes there are local "shelter in place" "orders" going on in La Plata Country (Durango Co). On occasion, the city is discouraging any tourism. Also we are trying to follow the Colorado state guidelines to keep everyone happy. The locals are worried. The following are the state "guidelines" that will help us not reach herd immunity any time soon.
COLORADO Sales and Lodgers Tax ID # 29843016
