Stay + Play: Elevation Hotel & Spa, Crested Butte
View from room. Photos by Kim Fuller.
Every season is notably fantastic in Crested Butte, but there’s something about fall that just can’t be topped. Town quiets down a bit from the busy summer season, while crisp mountain air pairs with alpine sunshine as the aspens turn gold.
Elevation Hotel & Spa is a five-minute drive from downtown Crested Butte and sits at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). The hotel’s location is ideal for direct access to mountain biking and hiking trails on and around CBMR, along with convenient proximity to some of Crested Butte’s most iconic singletrack like Snodgrass and the 401 Trail Loop.
In 2022, WoodHouse hospitality company acquired the property and has made some exciting improvements. José is a modern Mexican restaurant with a focus on Guadalajara and Oaxaca-inspired cuisine. Start with an order of casa guacamole and streetstyle elotes alongside a housemade mezcal or tequila cocktail. You can sit inside or outside at José, and if your timing is right for aprèsadventure or dinner, your mountain views will be illuminated by alpenglow.
Another new addition to the property is the Billy Barr, named for local environmental researcher and advocate Billy Barr, who has been living in a secluded cabin in the ghost town of Gothic, just north of Crested Butte, since 1970. Barr is known for his meticulous records of snowpack data and wildlife observations that have helped shape climate science in the Rockies. The 2016 short film The Snow Guardian is dedicated to Barr. This lounge is in the center of the hotel and ideal for a warming negroni or refreshing amaro spritz.
It’s a little quieter up at CBMR than down in town, especially in the fall, so it’s a welcome spot to unwind for a weekend. There is a free bus to and from the town of Crested Butte, making it easy to plan a day or evening outing. Dog-friendly accommodations, a spa and fitness center, bike storage and covered parking are some of the details that make Elevation Hotel & Spa a top choice, and we’re looking forward to seeing how WoodHouse continues to improve the property and the guest experience.
Originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Spoke+Blossom.