The next time you book a stay at a Colorado hotel, you might see a new room option among all double queen and king rooms: bunk rooms.
No, these are not hostel-style bunk rooms shared with strangers (although there are plenty of those too). These are private rooms as you are used to, with the added bonus of one or two bunk beds (or on the mezzanine).
Designed for families and groups of people traveling together, bunk beds are becoming big business in several new and newly renovated accommodations throughout the Centennial State. Like a vacation rental, they allow groups to stay together comfortably in one place, instead of splitting up into separate bedrooms. They can also make travel more affordable and, frankly, more fun, especially for toddlers.
If the last time you happily called “dibs†on the top or bottom bunk was years ago (maybe even decades), you’ll feel like a kid again at these Colorado hotels.
The Wyman
When Shane Fuhrman and Haley Morgan bought a 1902 apartment 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 has reopened as The Wyman Hotel in May 2019.
Among its 15 rooms, the hotel has two suites that incorporate bunk beds: one with a king bed and two extra-long twin beds raised above it, and the other with a king bed, an adjacent set of bunk beds extra-long twins and an extra-long daybed. (The Wyman also has a bunk room shared with 10 beds.)
They’ve added bunk beds to the suites — which also have kitchenettes — to help bridge the gap between a traditional hotel room and a vacation rental. Silverton is off the beaten path in southwestern Colorado and it’s tiny (home to about 500 residents), so there aren’t many options for groups or families coming to ski the experts-only terrain at Silverton Mountain or drive off-road vehicles in the San Juan.
“We just wanted to maximize the capacity and utility of the building,” said Fuhrman, who is also the mayor of Silverton and owns two hotels in nearby Durango. “We thought there was a better way to do double rooms and be a little more fun and creative, a little more edgy.”
The Wyman Hotel1371 Greene Street, Silverton, 970-799-4952
Landing of relatives
Kinship Landing offers room layouts and options you won’t find in a traditional hotel. (Example: it has an outdoor “camping deck” where guests take out their own tents and sleep outside, as well as private and shared dorms.) That’s because the hotel’s goal- boutique is to help travelers connect with Colorado Springs residents and have authentic experiences in the area, not spend all of their time (and money) tucked away in their rooms.
For the same purpose, Kinship Landing has six bedrooms featuring a queen-size bed topped with a raised twin. They’re designed to be 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.
“We like to bring people here, then push them to our doorsteps and let the Pikes Peak area be the hero,” said Bobby Mikulas, CEO and co-founder of the hotel. “This insertion into the local scene, this transfer to the best of our trails or art galleries or live music, it’s something we do in a unique way.”
Landing of relatives415 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, 719-203-9309
Ptarmigan Inn
Located right at the foot of the slopes at Steamboat Ski Resort, the Ptarmigan Inn has long been a favorite among skiers and boarders in the winter and hikers and mountain bikers in the summer. In 2019, crews completed a $5 million renovation of the iconic ski-in, ski-out property, built in 1969 when the resort still had dirt roads. In the process, they created a handful of bedrooms with one king bed and an adjacent set of bunk beds.
These rooms give families a bit more room to spread out (especially when traveling with gear). They were also a hit with traveling sports teams.
“They’re really popular in these outdoor venues,” said Shirli Sensenbrenner, senior vice president of design and development services for CoralTree Hospitality, which manages the Ptarmigan. “For families, it creates that really special moment – kids love bunk beds.”
Ptarmigan Inn2304 Apres Ski Way, Steamboat Springs, 970-879-1730
The Eddy Taproom & Hotel
Golden gained a new hotel – and several new bunk beds – with the opening of The Eddy Taproom & Hotel in June 2021. The Eddy has bunk beds in three of its 49 rooms and suites, including a spacious junior suite with two beds queen, each surmounted by a lobed twin. (There’s also a sleeper sofa for even more space to spread out.)
With their whimsical sleepover vibes, the bunks so far help The Eddy stand out in a sea of ​​boutique accommodations.
“You walk into boutique hotels and a lot of people do the same thing. What can you offer that provides differentiation and a unique experience to our customers? said Shirli Sensenbrenner (see above; CoralTree also runs The Eddy). “The bunk beds provide another option so you don’t get the same old room you stay in at every other hotel.â€
The Eddy Taproom & Hotel1640 8th Street, Golden, 720-442-8150
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With easy access to four major ski resorts, numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, gold-medal fly fishing and other outdoor activities, Silverthorne is a popular destination for families and groups of friends. When Lynne and Rob Baer built The Pad along the banks of the Blue River (incorporating recycled shipping containers into the design and construction), they wanted to offer rooms for all price points and situations – from from $45 per night in a shared dorm-style room to $350 private suites and everything in between.
The Pad, which opened late last year, also offers rooms with a queen bed and an adjacent set of extra-long bunk beds (with access to a shared bathroom), as well as guest rooms with a set of extra-long bunk beds. and an adjoining bathroom.
“We liked the idea that a group of friends traveling together could comfortably stay in a room together without too much effort,” said Lynne Baer, ​​co-founder and chief executive of The Pad.
Buffer491 Rainbow Drive, Silverthorne, 970-445-7767
House of Life, Basses-Terres
When opening its Lower Highlands location in November 2020, Life House created a unique new space for family and friends to gather in Denver. For travelers or locals staying, the 17-room boutique hotel has several bunk rooms, which are rooms with four, six, or eight bunk beds designed for groups.
Bunk beds feature full-size mattresses and luxurious velor privacy curtains, so everyone in the party has a spacious, private space to retreat to at night. And after exploring Mile High City all day, everyone can meet up for dinner and drinks at Wildflower, the hotel’s cocktail bar and restaurant.
House of Life, Basses-Terres3638 Navajo Street, Denver, 866-466-7534
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