Ronnie Wolf
Designed for families and groups of people traveling together, bunk beds are becoming big business at several new and newly renovated lodgings throughout the Centennial State. If the last time you gleefully called “dibs” on the top or bottom bunk was years (maybe even decades) ago, you’ll feel just like a kid again at these Colorado hotels.
When Shane Fuhrman and Haley Morgan bought a 1902 building in downtown Silverton in late 2016, they had their work cut out for them, and spent the next 2½ years renovating and restoring the property, which reopened as The Wyman Hotel in May 2019. They added bunks to the suites — which also have kitchenettes — to help bridge the gap between a traditional hotel room and a vacation rental.
(Case in point: It has an outdoor “camp deck” where guests pop their own tents and sleep outside, plus private and shared bunkrooms.) That’s because the boutique hotel’s goal is to help travelers connect with Colorado Springs residents and have authentic experiences in the region, not spend all of their time (and money) hidden away in their rooms.
They’re designed to be just the right size for small groups or families, who still have plenty of room to spread out in the hotel’s light-filled common areas and beyond. Located right at the base of the slopes at Steamboat Ski Resort, the Ptarmigan Inn has long been a favorite among skiers and snowboarders in the winter and hikers and mountain bikers in the summer. “They’re really popular in these outdoorsy places,” said Shirli Sensenbrenner, senior vice president of design and development services for CoralTree Hospitality, which manages the Ptarmigan. With its easy access to four major ski resorts, abundant hiking and mountain biking trails, Gold Medal fly-fishing and other outdoorsy activities, Silverthorne is a popular destination for families and groups of friends. “We liked the idea that a group of friends traveling together could stay comfortably in a room together without a lot of effort,” said Lynne Baer, The Pad’s co-founder and general manager. When it opened its Lower Highlands location in November 2020, Life House created a unique new space for family and friends to congregate in Denver.
The bunks have full-size mattresses and luxurious velvet privacy curtains, so each person in the group has a roomy, private space to retreat to at night. And after exploring the Mile High City all day, everyone can meet back up for dinner and drinks at Wildflower, the hotel’s on-site cocktail bar and restaurant.
