Remote and Private Mountain Log Home Getaway
- Minimum stay:2 nights
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Nestled in the dense forests of the Sangre de Cristo Range of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Off I-25 west of Walsenburg and east of Ft.Garland, Forbes Park is a private gated community encompassing over 13000 acres of fenced and protected land. Over 5000 acres of which is commons land, preserved for residents use and can never be built on or developed. Our cabin is located approximately 13 miles into the rear of the park, a short walk to the San Isabel National Forest Trail head. Far from 'all' the civilized world's distractions. We now offer guided, birding, hiking, and wildlife viewing excursions. Miles of cross country skiing and snowmobiling from the front door on seldom plowed roads and old logging trails, which we seldom see anyone on for most of the winter months.
Off the grid, total solar, not even 'connected' to the world.
Abundant wildlife, including Elk, Deer, Bear, Porcupine, Bobcat, Turkey, and Mountain Lion, all of which have been observed 'on' the property. Interested in the bull elk you saw? Not here, but you can meet him on his turf just up the trail and into the National Forest. Hunting is permitted there and we know the folks you need to know for assistance with game ventures during the seasons. We can assist with most any seasonal arrangements for small or big game hunts.
NOTE: Forbes Park Landowners Association restricts access to the national forest from the park. All Colorado hunting regulations are supported and enforced! Absolutely no hunting or discharging of any weapon is allowed within the boundries of Forbes Park! A copy of these rules/regs furnished upon request.
Constant comfort at 10,000 feet, during the winter, provided by radiant floor heating and a very efficient wood burning heater. During the summer it is so cool you will need to wear long sleeves, maybe a sweater, at night with the windows open. Light snows can surprise you at anytime, even during the summer months.
Seven years now and we still are grabbing our book to identify new birds on our porch feeders. You can literally approach and 'touch' our Hummingbirds. We have photos of the hummers perched on our fingers. We have Gray Jays that will perch on your knee and eat from your hands. Our occasional bear visitors (no Grizzlys) are much more shy than the birds. They don't normally approach anywhere near if anyone is out and about. Bear sightings are very rare but increasing in frequency. We have photos of them, which we took from the porch, early one morning, while sitting quietly sipping our tea. Cougar sightings are extremely rare, but I have, along with several guests, observed a large cougar walking through the back yard.
Winters are not for words. Words will never describe the beauty of these mountains following a heavy snow. Never worry, first light, following moderate to heavy snows, and our snow plows are already on their way up the roads. We also own our a large snowblower for the driveway and plowing trails. Our home owners association contracts out properly maintained snow removal in excess of six inches. Occupied roads, such as ours are kept clear year round, but would it be BAD to get snowed in for a day? It does happen! Besides, most guests will already be out on our snow mobiles riding the miles of seldom plowed 'back' roads and trails which join the back of our property. We have ridden on snows well over four feet in depth from the back of the property. Kids will play tirelessly, all day on paths we plow for their sleds. You won't have any trouble getting them into bed at night, leaving you time for some Caveman television! Winter play will bring out the kid in anyone and you will not want to leave here!
Three bedrooms, a sleeping loft, and a sleeper sofa can comfortably accomodate nine (max.) persons. We live on-site to better serve our guests and assist with unexpected needs, especially during the winter months. We can 'disappear' upon request. We do stay out of your way, in our basement apartment unless invited .
Winter visiters flying in, especially during the winter months, are encouraged to purchase airline tickets that can be changed, because of the threat of heavy snow storms at any time.
There is an abundance of historical and tourist attractions within a couple of hours of the cabin. Ft.Garland's Pioneer Village, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Zapata Falls, San Luis' Stations of the Cross, San Luis itself, plenty of local museums and other places of interest.
Keywords: mountain retreat,Log Cabin, secluded, hiking, mountain biking, birding, backpacking, snow mobiling, sledding, skiing, elk hunting, deer hunting, fishing, rock climbing. Peace and quiet, solitude star gazing
Property Type
- 1600 sq. ft.
- Cabin
- 3 story
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Suitability
- Children Welcome
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 9, Beds for 8-9
Kitchen & Dining
- Kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Catering Available
- Cooking Utensils
- Microwave
- Oven
- Dishes & Utensils
- Stove
- Coffee Maker
Amenities
- Parking For RV/Boat/Trailer
- Wood Stove
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
- Towels Provided
- Linens Provided
- Wood Fireplace
Entertainment
- Video Library
- DVD Player
Communications
- Wireless Internet
Pool & Spa
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
Theme
- Romantic
- Sports & Activities
- Away From It All
- Family
- Adventure
Location & View
Activities
- Rock Climbing
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Cycling
- Snowboarding
- Hunting Big Game
- Mountaineering
- Snowmobiling
- Cross Country Skiing
- Hunting
- Scenic Drives
- Sledding
- Recreation Center
- Bird Watching
- Walking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Antiquing
- Sight Seeing
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
getaway
getaway
- Guest redneck
- Date of stay 06/10/12
- Review Submitted 11/22/12
i love it i have been going there since i was a kid if u are looking for fun or just for quietness i would recommend you come here.Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
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FANTASTIC!
FANTASTIC!
- Guest Buz
- Date of stay 10/20/12
- Review Submitted 10/30/12
This fit our needs perfectly. It is right in between luxury and roughing it. The cabin was comfortable, and put us close to where we wanted to hunt. We would go back in a heartbeat. There were six of us and there was plenty of room. Plus there was WI-FI which was crazy to think about that far out in the woods, but it was a good thing because cell service is not an option. Terri, is a gracious host also. The park is full of wildlife and beautiful views and you can start hiking right out the door if you wanted. We made a side trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park which is only an hour's drive and I would highly recommend it. The price cannot be beat.Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, sightseeing, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
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Mountain Retreat
Mountain Retreat
- Guest TN
- Date of stay 07/26/12
- Review Submitted 08/05/12
A great mountain retreat! I loved all the wildlife we saw just driving there! You really enjoy the silence of it all. Terri is great and so sweet with my kids. We really had a great time. Just never found out what was beeping at 2:20am. It happened both nights. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Would love to come again sometime!Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
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August Vacation
August Vacation
- Guest F & D
- Date of stay 08/13/11
- Review Submitted 09/24/11
This is a gorgeous “off-the-grid” location for those who truly want to get-away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The 40 minute drive from the highway to the cabin provides beautiful views of mountains and open valleys. This cabin is deeper into nature than any of our previous experiences. The outside area is a “work-in-progress” as the owners are adding a balcony and a patio, but the cabin more than makes up for this minor inconvenience!!! The view of Harrison Peak from the Master bedroom is a wonderful sight to wake up to each morning. We enjoyed our time just sitting on the balcony, soaking in the beauty, and watching all the “creatures”. The mama bear and her two cubs were a delight to see from the safety of the balcony! The owners, Terri & Jerry quickly became our friends and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay with them. They knew the area well and directed us to beautiful scenic points, tourist attractions, and locations to see the elk herds.Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
Owner response: Wonderful couple. They helped to remind of us of why we built where we did and why we continue to have guest. We look forward to your return.
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Our Sept. Stay
Our Sept. Stay
- Guest Rick
- Date of stay 09/03/11
- Review Submitted 09/22/11
We had a great time, the cabin is comfortable,beautiful ,and sets in the wild and beautiful Rockys,wildlife is everywhere.If you looking for the real getaway this is it,you'll feel the tension leave your body and you'll learn to relax again.Remote and Private is accurate and would recommend this cabin to anyone who wants a relaxing getawayRecommended for: Families with young children, sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
Owner response: Great! We feel successful and we feel we have made new friends! Wonderful! We do enjoy guests that visit us for the right reasons. This is what we are about, "Peace and Relaxation". We are not a four star hotel but we are a four star "near wilderness" retreat. No longer "in progress". We have arrived. Visit with us and sit a spell.
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Our Mountain Lodge Visit
Our Mountain Lodge Visit
- Guest 4 friends from Oklahoma
- Date of stay 08/09/11
- Review Submitted 08/15/11
This Forbes Park Home is 45 minutes into the wilderness from the gate along a twisting, dusty road. We feel the home is best suited for winter sports or a group of men who are hunters. The home is a work-in-progress with a great deal of construction debris and downed trees completly surrouding the house. The entryway was intimidating and dark - filled with tools and old theater chairs. The unfinished stairwell to the living quarters held rat poison, miscellaneous boxes of junk and tools. The top deck and the bedroom balcony need to be finished and cleared of wood piles, tools and broken chairs. The owner stayed on site most of the time to keep the generators running since the wind turbine and solar power doesn't provide enough energy to keep refrigeration and lights working at the same time. As an engineer, I helped solve some major problems with power, otherwise we would have left immediately. Water isn't potable so take plenty of your own. We lacked several amenities, especially in the kitchen - no electric coffee maker or microwave. We did expect the home to be clean. In the master bedroom, the owners clothes, shoes, and underwear remained in the door-less closet and in clear plastic drawers. The second bedroom had no closet door and the closet was filled with old rugs, the vacuum, bedding, etc. and had no clothes rod. A basic cleaning was needed. Dead bugs were thick on the windowsills when we opened windows. Kitchen dishes weren't too clean, there were no mattress pads, no soap in the bathrooms, and we had to hunt for towels. There were 1 1/2, not 2 1/2 bathrooms as indicated above. Sleeping space was for 6 only. We did enjoy hummingbirds and chipmunks and nearby hiking. We would never recommend this place until major renovations occur. Outside photos were taken with debris under the snow.Recommended for: Adventure seekers.
Owner response: I have only recently retired from a full-time position in Florida. I readily admit that managing the property from Florida has proven to be challenging. We have faced disappointment more than once when attempting to find reliable and dependable help. We have at times squeezed by with preparing for guests. We have yet had satisfactory help with cleaning, repairs, etc. I terminated my most recent helper based on what this guest told me about the conditon of the cabin upon their arrival. We were not present when they arrived. This past winter, we lost most of our solar power system, including our entire battery bank during a big winter storm. We have only recently, successfully corrected that problem. We have also added a wind generator to support the components, which were relocated into our heated basement. We are anticipating the delivery and installation of a new self starting LP powered back-up generator for winter use. We did have delays with getting everything back on line but we would have without our guests "engineering" assistance. I am finishing other suggested corrections and repairs etc. within the next wk to 10 days. I will post more photos, including some of the grounds without the snow covering the debris which is no longer there. We have been actively improving the "defenseable fire perimeter" around the cabin but there is also a pine beetle infestation which has littered the floor of much of the forest with dead trees. There are numerous insects in the forest and occasionally some get inside, even the finest of homes. Individuals with insect phobias and unrealistic concerns (fears) about our natural environment should consider another vacation cabin. We even have bear sightings here! I have always, without fail, offered a refund, and/or refused to accept money from a dissatisfied client, customer or guests. No one can please the varied tastes of everyone all the time. This guest's fee was discounted, upon his arrival and he expressed an appreciation with my offer. Simply be honest with me, up front. If you decide our "Peace of Heaven" is not for you, it's on us or we will refer you to others within the park. I always offer my thanks for any well meaning advise and/or constructive critcism. THANK YOU.
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Week of Jan 10 2011
Week of Jan 10 2011
- Guest Michael & Heather
- Date of stay 01/08/11
- Review Submitted 01/19/11
We stayed there for a week...If you are looking for a true off grid experience, then this is it. We had a great time and Terri was a pleasure to stay with. If you are considering living off grid, then you must stay here and see all the things that can /will happen. They have a very nice cabin, and their dog Chance was great. It's a great place to hear nothing but the wind & birds. You will enjoy the piece and quite and just sit back and live life as it should be. Jerry the only thing i have to complain about is the wood stove. Man i hated getting up every three hours to load it with wood..LOL...But again it was 10below out and the wind was blowing around 35mph..Soo i guess that wasnt so bad. Again we loved it and totally enjoyed the experience and made some great new friends. Jerry, Terri were a pleasure. We cant wait to get our cabin built and see everyone again.Owner response: Honest but true comments, and they say they will be back! Good News. Great news, we completed moving all of the solar electronics and batteries into the basement, where they won't freeze again. Now we have a fully functional radiant floor heating system again and the fire is again "optional". Soon to complete our wind generator for supplemental power. Join us during the winter months for endless hours of fun in the snow, enjoying our "on-site" snowmobiles. One, possibly both of us will be available during the warm months for short or overnight hiking expeditions. Terri is open to company on an extended hike over a section of the Colorado Trail this summer.
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Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Rate 2 night min stay |
$119 | $129 Fri, Sat, Sun |
$847 | $2972 | ||
| Snow Season "If there is snow" Nov 1 - Feb 15 2 night min stay |
$149 | $973 | ||||
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Location
- Nearest Airport: Alamosa, Colorado at 50 Miles
- Nearest Train: The Forbes Park Gate at 13 Miles
- Nearest Barpub: Ft. Garland at 30 Miles
- Nearest Restaurant: Ft. Garland at 30 Miles
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2006
About the owner: My wife and I were raised in Florida but fell in love with Colorado. Our first visit we purchased land in Forbes Park a gated community between LaVeta and Ft Garland. We RV'd on the property for several years while researching log homes before deciding to build from a custom designed log kit. We incorporated radiant floor heat and a cozy but very efficient wood burning fireplace. We have spent many sub-zero temperature nights in the cabin and stayed very comfortable. Nothing like walking on warm floors in the winter months. We don't feel inconvenienced when 'occasionally' stranded for a day, until the snow plow clears our road.Terri is a First reponder so help if needed is close.
Why the Owner Chose Fort Garland:
The property is very secure yet well isolated from other homes. We wanted a place remote and private yet with road maintenance and snow removal. We wanted the best of both the civilized and the uncivilized worlds. We are so remote most of the wildlife is near tame and we can hand feed the birds including the hummingbirds. We keep our snowmobiles on site as we access the backroads and trails from our front door. We also own, and keep on site a skidsteer snow blower large enough to clear trails for our guest to sky, hike or snowmobile. Summers we hike and mountain bike primarily on the trails of San Isabel National Forest, a 10 minute walk from the front door.
The Unique Benefits at this Cabin:
We spend a great deal of time watching 'caveman' television, 'the fire', during the heavy snow months! We can accomodate the more modern forms of entertainment too. We also are guilty of feeding the wildlife and watching them, especially the hummingbirds. We have photos of them perched on our fingers. We do a great deal of walking on and around the property. We occasionally join with other locals for an extended day hike. Winter 'snow' months we ride the snowmobiles and sleds on the back roads which we access from the back of the property. We offer guided, wildlife, birding, and hiking excursions into the national forest.
Contact us
- Primary: +1 850-380-0055
- Secondary: +1 850-380-3423
Links to more information:
Photos
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Always ready to explore the back country. Two snowmobiles available.
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Cozy fire and radiant floor heat. Nice warm floors and a heated towel rack.
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This is where kids love to sleep. It has a balcony for watching the wildlife.
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Terri hand feeding the Grayjays.
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The Great Sand Dunes. Yes that is water! Cool visit during the summer months.
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Yep! The corner of our property. Time to ride the fresh trails.
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Well... We do have restrictions on age when loaning out the snowmobiles.
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I counted 144 Elk in this herd, by the big lake, 5-10 min. from the cabin.
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Colorado Trail hikers. Terri 'Our Pro' is wearing the red head band.
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There is a wood fired hot tub under the snow. We will dig it out for you!
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Main gate into Forbes Park.
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We cook a great deal on the wood heater but you can use the new gas stove.
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View of dining room area.
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Our friends are back! Spring is here? Taken April 10th!
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Zapata Falls, just before the Great Sand Dunes. Another coool summer site.
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View from our commons land, a couple miles down, following a light snow.
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View from the 2nd level deck. He disappeared the second he saw me.
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Day hike view from the summit of West Spainish Peak.
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Date last modified - Wednesday, May 22, 2013
+1 850-380-0055