Vacation Rentals by Owner

Beautiful House

Guest: Diane (Scottsdale, AZ)
Date of Stay: 02/22/12 Review Submitted: 03/01/12

This house is prefect for a large group. Very spacious. Close to the ski resort, but do need 4 wheel drive. We had 10 people stay at the house and it never felt crowded. There were plenty of dishes and kitchen utensils and lots of seating. Tons of activities, whether it be reading by the fire, going in the hot tub, watching TV, playing games, ping pong, or playing pool. Owners were very accomodating. One of the nicest houses we ever rented. Would love to come back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Great Christmas Week with family and friends

Guest: Faith Families (Southlake, TX)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

This house was excellent for what we were looking for. You need four wheel drive to get there, but location is excellent. (Very close to DMR) House is in good condition with large comfortable living areas. Views are wonderful offf back of house. Great living area for our teenagers down stairs. Pool table and ping pong table provided many hours of entertainment. Great electronics in all living areas. Hot tub was very nice after a day of skiing. Good kitchen facilities. Large dining area. This house sleeps 10 easy. There are actually beds for 12. Property is better than pictures. Try the open face Meatloaf Sandwhich at Ken and Sues for lunch if you make it to Durango.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Very close to perfect

Guest: Bryan H.
Date of Stay: 10/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/19/11

Rent this home without any reservation at all. The photos actually don't do the place credit. Spacious, spotless, exremely well equipped kitchen, top notch linens, ceiling fans in every room, hot tub just fof the Master bedroom, killer views. The gas jets for starting the fire work perfectly and take the mess and stress out of getting a good fire going. Fair selection of DVDs, DirecTV, puzzles and a few games give you stuff to do on a stay in day. The downstairs toys are very high quality, the pool table as true as can be, a really nice ping pong table with plenty of paddles and lots of actual good balls. The in floor heating, if you haven't experienced before, is so awesome. Of the many homes we have rented this is probably overall the nicest, best equipped and comfortable. Literally at the ski resort if you are skiing, close to Ouray and Silverton, less than a half hour back to Durango for shopping and groceries. The walk down to the lake is a bit tough, NICE JOB building the path tho, owners, but worth it. Sit in a chair by the lake, light a camp fire and enjoy a beverage in total solitude. The storage cave down there is a treat. We could not have been more satisfied with a vacation home rental. 100% recommended, no complaints at all.

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Summer heaven haven

Guest: Stuart (Joplin, MO midwest USA)
Date of Stay: 07/11/11 Review Submitted: 07/18/11

The house exceeded expectations of spaciousness and comfort. The upstairs bedrooms are far larger than the photos indicated. After leaving the 100's of the midwest, it was pure joy to waken every morning to 51degrees in July! The lake is blue-green and tranquil. Expecting to catch trout, we caught salmon...can't explain that. I grilled the best tri-tip steak ever on the grill. We went to Mesa Verde on Thursday, took the Durango-Silverton train on Wednesday, and white water rafted on Tuesday....chilling out on Friday at the house was as enjoyable as any other day. I would highly recommend the lunch at the "Last Run" restaurant just north of the ski resort entrance. I had a gorgonzola steak sandwich that was incredible. We were just overwhelmed with the whole experience.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Perfect Ski House

Guest: Clay (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 01/02/11 Review Submitted: 02/05/11

My grown kids and some friends of ours go sking in Durango every year and we have for about 15 years. We have stayed in a number of houses and condos and we all agreed that this is the nicest and best located house we have stayed in. It is very private and just a beautiful house. It is always a gamble renting from an individual because you never know what you are going to get. In this case, the pictures are not well staged exagerations and the house is bigger than it seems in the pictures. It is beautifully furnished. The lake was frozen, but I'm sure it is magnificent in the summer. The drive to the ski resort took about 5 minutes and that was with tire chains (going slow). We all agreed that we would be staying at this house next year and, I am sure, many years to come.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonder White Christmas

Guest: Deb (College Station, Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

My kids wanted to spend Christmas in Durango so my mother and father-in-law found this great place for us to stay. The view from the house was sunning, it look just like all the Christmas cards you receive and wonder where these pictures are taken; well Granny and Pawpaw found the spot. It was close to the ski resort perfect for the kids and my husband to hit the slopes. While we enjoyed day trips to Durango and Silverton. The home was clean, spacious and well maintained. The owners of the property was very helpful, we made several calls to the home owner and he was quick to answer questions and more than accommodating. We would recommend this home to anyone. We've seen the area in the winter now we need to return and see the area in the spring and or summer. We loved our Christmas vacation.

Owner response:We enjoyed having these guests at our home and would love to welcome them back for their next visit to Durango!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A little piece of heaven

Guest: Marsha (McKinney, Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

What a wonderful time my family and I had on our family vacation. We were excited about being in the mountains and having a break from the HOT Texas heat. It was so much better than we could have asked for.The pictures do not do it justice because everything was beautiful and the lodge provided everything we needed and was very well maintained.We all enjoyed the deck, the hot tub, the dozens of hummingbirds, and the slower paced meals at the outdoor table that we all loved to sit at and drink in the views.We got up in the mornings to the sun shimmering on the lake and marveled at the MILLIONS of stars we viewed at night. Thank you for one of our most enjoyable vacations so far.After seeing all the pictures we all posted on Facebook there are lots of friends and co-workers who plan to contact you. :) Marsha

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Amazing Vacation!!

Guest: City Dwellers (Dallas, TX.)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

What a wonderful time for our family! The house is absolutely gorgeous and had everything we'd possibly need. The setting is picturesque and the views are breathtaking! An amazing week away from the city to unwind and breath. We loved every minute of it and we will definitely return :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Traveling grandma

Guest: Sugie (Checotah, Oklahoma USA)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 10/22/10

This is a lovely home to stay in with plenty of room for adults and children. This home was clean and comfortable with beautiful views as advertised. My family and grandchildren stayed in August, and there was plenty of outdoor activities for all. Part of our family went horseback riding and we enjoyed the fun at the Purgatory ski slopes. There are several beautiful drives close by with many things to do and places to eat in Durango and surrounding towns. We took the Narrow Gauge train ride from Durango to Silverton which the grand kids really enjoyed! We were very impressed with the area. Great place for a family vacation!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Family Vacation

Guest: Ellen (Wichita, KS)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 07/05/10

This was the perfect house for our small family reunion. There were eleven of us and plenty of room to spread out and relax. The house is far enough from town to enjoy the quiet peacefulness of the mountains, but close enough to run in and pick up groceries. The amenities were terrific: ping pong, pool, hot tub, canoe...we enjoyed them all. The dining area was large enough for all of us to sit together and enjoy a meal then play games later. The location was perfect for day trips: We visited Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Ouray, and we rode the Durango/Silverton train...awesome! We also took advantage of the lake and did some fishing while others played golf. The property manager and the owner were great to work with and I highly recommend the BlackJack Lodge for the perfect vacation.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Black Jack Lodge review

Guest: runner bill (Canton, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/03/10

Our group of guys have been skiing throughout the West for over twenty years, and I would say that we all agreed that was number one or two in every way. The house was better than the pictures show. The proximity to the ski hill was excellent. There was clear and accurate communication between the owner and our groups representative. Everything was excellent.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/04/09 Review Submitted: 09/04/09

We are a group of nine women that travel once a year to hike and visit one of the national parks. Mesa Verde was our destination this year and the Blackjack Lodge turned out to be the perfect place to stay. The setting is beautiful and the house had everything we needed. It far exceeded our expectations! Thank you, Vickie, for making the arrangements so easy and for your hospitality.

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Guest: lisa 11 (texas)
Date of Stay: 07/08/09 Review Submitted: 07/08/09

We had a great time at the home this past week, and thank you all, especially Vicki, for all of your hospitiality. The house was great, plenty of room for all, beautiful views, and lots of fun things close by to keep us busy. Don't miss the Serious Texas BBQ, or horseback riding at the D Bar G Outfitters. The drive to Silverton and Ouray were magnificent, and staying at this home put us 20 miles closer. Mesa Verde is a must-see as well! You can't go wrong with this beautiful home in a perfect location.

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Blackjack Lodge

Guest: Texas Grammy (Stephenville, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/05/09 Review Submitted: 07/15/09

We had a wonderful week at Blackjack Lodge. The house was beautiful, and we had more than enough room for our family (6 adults, 3 children). The lake was beautiful, and we loved the wildlife, especially the chipmunks. Perfect location for Durango or Silverton. We would go back again, as the house was perfect!! (the internet pictures don't do it justice)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/30/08

Just stayed at Blackjack Lodge the week of Thanksgiving (Sat-Thurs). Absolutely a beautiful home! We traveled with another family making us 4 adults and 6 kids. There was more than enough room for all of us to have our space and then some. It is everything they describe it to be and more. You won't be disappointed if you rent here!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/19/08

We spent a week at Blackjack Lodge in July and had the most wonderful time you can imagine! The property is perfectly located and we loved the "seclusion." The scenery was just spectacular. It was the perfect lodging for our family of 10, which included our grown children and grandchildren. We packed the week with as many activities as we could and enjoyed all of it! All of us would have loved to stay longer.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/30/08

Wow, the pictures don't do it justice. We loved this place our 3 families combined was not cramped at all! Our children loved being downstairs at ages 4,5,6 and 21. The Grandparents loved the private master bedroom and the glimpse of deer out their bathroom windows. The hot tub was and awesome setting and felt awesome after jeeping for 2 days. The backporch was a place I could live forever. The hummingbirds were amazing as we gazed at them for entertainment. Who needs tv here when u have swarming hummingbirds fighting for the feeder. Awesome lake well worth the climb down there and the hike back up.Very spacious for us Okies. Too bad we had to come back home to 101 temps waiting on us? Thanks for sharing your beautiful dream home with us from Coweta, the Hollingshed Family.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/29/08

We just returned from a week's stay at the Blackjack Lodge and it was one of the most beautiful places to stay. I sat on the porch every morning watching the sun rise over the mountain, the hummingbirds feed and the little chipmunks play. My grandkids cried because they didn't want to leave they wanted to stay another week. They loved watching the wild life. The only bad experience for us was, coming from Oklahoma, getting use to the altitude. There were eight of us, three families, and we had plenty of room and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We did find that if you aren't in very good fisical shap you can't get down to the lake and back up and that was a disappointment. My son-in-law did catch some trout out of the lake.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/05/08

Wonderful home, plenty of room for everyone in our party. The hot tub and master bedroom are the best part of the house. We had a great experience and hope to stay again!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/11/07

A truly awesome place. We stayed for New Years week with our 4 boys as lots of friends. Blackjack Lodge handles a large crowd easily and there was something to do for everyone. The mountain was great as was the snow. Scenic beauty, great restaurants, shopping, skiing – Durango has it all. PS - If you are an extreme skier you have to go to Silverton Mountain only about an hour away. It is incredible.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/22/07

We recently spent two weeks at BlackJack Lodge to celebrate our 50th anniversary. The house is beautiful and easily accommodated our family, 6 adults and 4 children. The dining room table seated everyone allowing us to enjoy meals and conversastion. The lower rec room gave the children space to play games and watch their movies. The kitchen was more fully furnished than anyplace we've stayed previously. Hiking to the lake, relaxing on the deck watching the Hummingbirds, enjoying the hot tub, spectacular scenery - what could be better? A large buck and a doe appeared regularly, once as we set on the deck they came within 6 feet. Vickie gave us some good suggestions such as catching the train to Silverton in Rockwood instead of Durango. This cut two hours off the round trip. We tried several of the restaurants she recommended, all were excellent. We would suggest BlackJack Lodge for summer or winter vacations.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/25/07

The website does not do this home justice! The decor was lovely and appropriate for the setting. The floorplan was perfect for allowing 10 people to be togeher, but not on top of each other. My father-in-law with his arthritic knees had no trouble getting up 4 stairs to an upstairs bedroom, although he did not attempt the hill to the lake. The rest of us enjoyed the canoe, and caught some decent trout on the lake (we always "catch and release").We also saw a bear not far from the cabin the first evening we were there. We will be back. It was perfect!

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White Christmas

Guest: bub (Cuero,Tx)
Date of Stay: 12/21/06 Review Submitted: 01/22/11

My family and I being from Texas had never had never had a true white christmas. We had over four feet of snow. The house was every bit they said it was. We skied, played pool, played dominoes, played in the snow, and enjoyed the fireplace. What was so great was our host. What ever we needed they were accomadating. I would like to see how beautiful the area is in the summer.

Owner response:(This guests Date of Stay was actually Christmas 2010.) Our Blackjack Lodge at Lake Purgatory is a winter wonderland, but just as beautiful all year round!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Simpsons (Wichita, KS)
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/24/06

Our family stayed at BlackJack this summer (four adults, four children). The home was nicely furnished and very clean. A great place to hang out, with plenty of room and beautiful views. We enjoyed the lake view, and the boys enjoyed paddling the canoe. BlackJack is conveniently located to many activities. Tabegache Hiking trails are within walking distance of the home and Hermosa Creek trail is wonderful. The hot tub was in high demand after hiking and mountain biking. Also recommend visiting nearby Mesa Verde, and riding the Durango/Silverton train, and if you are really adventurous, drive the white knuckle Alpine Loop from Ouray to Lake City and back. Only about an hour drive from BlackJack to the trailhead. Really recommend the Dalton Ranch golf course about twenty minutes down the road. BlackJack lodge is a unique combination of a remote mountain retreat and a host of readily accessible activities to please about everyone. You'll love the beautiful views and the clean and well furnished BlackJack lodge.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Susan Hays (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/13/06

What a beautiful place! Our family had a great time visiting a part of the country that was new to us. What a beautiful area and the views from the house were unbelievable. I hope we can visit in the winter sometime. The house was so comfortable and relaxing with everything you need for a great time. Who knew we would find San Antonio's great winter weather in Colorado in June! It was a wonderful week. Thanks again.

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Guest: Anderson Families
Date of Stay: 04/26/05 Review Submitted: 04/25/05

This house is amazing. I enjoyed all the luxuries as well as the proximity to the mountain. We made a cool "jump off the hill in the backyard" game. It was awesome!

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Guest: Family Berg
Date of Stay: 04/26/05 Review Submitted: 04/25/05

McGregor, We had a terrific week here at the Blackjack Lodge. There was plenty of snow for skiing, we even got snowed in one day however we needed the break from the slopes. The views out of all windows is fantastic. My family had a great time. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to enjoy your home.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/05 Review Submitted: 03/20/05

This was an absolutely wonderful and awesome home for our yearly family ski vacation. The views from the upper level cannot be described in this email or captured by photo. Every room is decorated perfectly and we were very, very comfortable. We had 9 people at the house for a week. We never got tired of being there. Thank you to the KINGDOM OF CONVERSE for a wonderful experience. We will rent the house again I am certain. I can't even imagine how beautiful the place is in the Summer. Thank you.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/05 Review Submitted: 01/18/05

I must agree with all the other positive comments posted...WOW. The internet pictures do not provide enough justice to this wonderful home. There is more room and more luxury than meets the eye. This was a wonderful family trip and the accomodations were a huge bonus. Thanks again for allowing my friends and family the pleasure of such a GREAT place. We will be back again!!!

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Guest: Ann
Date of Stay: 07/20/04 Review Submitted: 07/19/04

Dear McGregor, Thank you so much for allowing us to spend our time in Durango at the BlackJack Lodge! The house was absolutely perfect - one of the most beautiful lodges in the most beautiful locales in the most beautiful state in the country. You and your staff went above and beyond to meet our needs, and I just want you to know how much we appreciate the time we spent there. Sincerely, Ann Jennings

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/03 Review Submitted: 09/03/03

To indicate either a POSITIVE or negative comment/category, does NOT do this home justice. This mountain property truely rates a WOW! From the hot tub on the back deck, overlooking the lake, to the mkountain views and exceptional comfort of the furnishings, you will be bathed in comfort. Your secluded retreat offers you extreme privacy, yet is located within minutes of ANY activity you desire. We loved being within a mile of the ski resort, and the quaint towns along 550. The drive north along 550 is nothing but breahtaking. We strongly encourage you take the train from Rockwood to Silverton. Also try the glider rides and jewerly shopping. The humming birds on the back deck lends to the overall atmosphere and your relaxation. Summer was a great time to visit, we went for a week, and still needed more time to explore. We are going back this winter to experience the snow views of the mountains and scenary! Lastly, your hosts, the CONVERSE's are unparrelled, who truely care that you have a superior experience, and should you need ANYTHING, they are only a phone call away. Great for local dining and travel recommendations. Enjoy!!!!!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/03 Review Submitted: 07/07/03

we had the most wonderful time,summer is beautiful and will see you again in the winter.The decoration was comfortable yet luxurious.The scenary was unbelievable.Thank you for allowing us to share your dream

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/03 Review Submitted: 07/07/03

we had a wonderful time.The decoration was comfortable yet luxurious,the downstairs game room and fourth bedroom was great for the kids.The scenary was breathtaking.The little towns were quaint and made you feel you were in another world.We will see you again in the winter,summer in the mountains was great.Thank you for allowing us to share your dream.

Owner response:Thank you Suzee for being our guest.

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