Live Your Outdoor Dreams Without "Roughing It"

About Gary Oba

Happy to take "the road less taken," I'm not afraid to be lost--unless, of course, there are hungry wolves, mountain lions, or bears running quickly in my direction. A 30-year career as an American diplomat allowed me to explore and become intimately acquainted with far-flung locales in West Africa and East Asia, but my Colorado roots provided continuity and an enduring sense of home. I am a firm believer that quality of life is enhanced with active and regular participation in outdoor activities and exercise. No where have I found a place more suited for outdoor activities than the area surrounding the Aspens Lodge. While I have had to adapt my regimen to the geography, climate, and culture where I have been at the moment, I enjoy walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, hiking, trail running, snorkeling, swimming, taiko drumming, and doing yoga or strength training. My participation in triathlon and other endurance events has led some to acknowledge my stamina but question my sanity. Having retired, I'm turning over a new leaf as the owner/operator of The Aspens Lodge. Having fished commercially for salmon in Alaska, organized dog-sled races and Eskimo dances as a City Manager in Alaska, and labored as an intrepid diplomat representing the United States in far-flung posts around the world, I now look forward to sharing the natural wonders of this beautiful area in the mountains of Northwest Colorado.

Why Gary Oba chose Meeker

The Aspens Lodge is located on a mountain-side tract of land that borders the Buford-New Castle road. My parents purchased the place from the original homesteaders many decades ago. I currently live in the original but renovated homestead cabin. The nearby "lodge" or guesthouse was built much more recently to accommodate visiting family members who insisted upon modern amenities and creature comforts during their infrequent sojourns to the "cabin in the woods."

What makes this Lodge unique

While cellphone access is available along with limited bandwidth satellite internet, this remains the ideal location to take a cleanse from the digitalized world. Unplug. Detox. Instead, listen to the river or the calls of a pair of sandhill cranes that nest nearby. Read a good book while resting in the shade of the aspen and spruce trees. Breathe the fresh air. Relax. Revitalize. Each season is different, but each season is beautiful.