Custom Cabin Retreat 2 Miles to Ski Cooper, 25 to Vail. Views!

Eagle County, CO, USA

House1500 sq. ft.
Bedrooms2
Sleeps6

Bathrooms2
Half Baths0
Min Stay2 - 4 nights

House, 2 Bedrooms + Office, 2 Baths, (Sleeps 6-8)

4WD or AWD car or SUV or truck is necessary in the winter!

The El Capitan Lodge: Stay in our custom built, timber framed home on 12 wooded acres and enjoy expansive views of the Rocky Mountains from our sunny deck. Located near Tennessee Pass at 10,500', this off-grid 'green' home gives you a chance to experience the beauty of clean-energy living. Think of the house as a front-country cabin, rustic yet has the comforts of indoor plumbing and electricity. We may not have TV or a microwave, but the views, stars and peacefulness more than make up for it. The house is heated by wood burning stoves and powered by the sun. So step back into a simpler way of life.

The house is a 1500 sf, 2 bedroom, 2 bath house with a huge deck that can sleep 6 in beds, and then an additional 2 - 3, if necessary. We have 2 sleeping pads, and a pack-n-play for the youngest visitor.

We have local phone service, internet, and some cell service is available. There is no television. We do have a stereo that plays radio and cd's and we invite you to borrow a book from our library, or a cd or dvd from our collection. Escape the hustle/bustle and enjoy the serenity of the mountains without the distractions of TV, traffic, or city life. You can take in the views, watch the snow quietly fall, or sit by a glowing fire with a hot cocoa.

Right out the door, we have hiking, cross country skiing, mountain biking, snowshoeing and sledding. In the winter you are welcome to use our snowshoes or sleds. In the summer, you can enjoy our scenic fire pit for a campfire, and the kids can play in the treehouse or huge sandbox. Hiking and biking trails abound.

We are 1.5 miles from Ski Cooper, 25 miles to Vail, a 2 hour drive to Denver International Airport, and an hour from the Eagle-Vail airport. You can take advantage of the many nearby attractions of dog-sledding, horseback riding, river rafting, rock-climbing, visit historic Leadville (a 20 minute drive /10 miles) or go shopping in Vail or Beaver Creek Village. Winter activities abound.

No snowmobiling or ATV riding is permitted on Forest Service Rd. 731. There are rentals and outfitters in Camp Hale and other nearby areas.

4 wheel/all wheel drive is necessary in the winter.

Keywords: off-grid, vail hut trip, mountain cabin, solar powered, private, skiing, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, vail cabin, back country skiing, timber frame, 10th Mountain Division, hut trip

2 Bedrooms

Sleeps 6

Owner

Melanie Dennis

Member Since 2011

Speaks:
english

Calendar last updated:
Oct 18, 2018

About Melanie Dennis

My husband and I have lived in the mountains of Colorado for the last 20+ years, and we love the adventures and beauty of a mountain lifestyle. Together we own a construction company, called Fiddler Creek Company (online at the same name), and we specialize in the construction of timber framed and 'green' homes. We built our off-grid home in 2003, and have lived there up through 2011, when we moved to the town of Minturn to be closer to schools for our kids. We are happy to share our house with you through VRBO. We use our house when it's not rented, as we enjoy the hiking, skiing, biking and the solace of the location.

Melanie Dennis purchased this House in 1997

Why Melanie Dennis chose Eagle County

We bought our 12 acre property back in 1997, after an extensive search through Colorado, looking for a property that was both close to amenities and community, and also offered us the experiences of the backcountry. We were also looking for a place to build our own home. This property accomplished this perfectly for us. We are nestled in the mountains between Vail and Leadville, can easily ski at Cooper, Copper, Vail, or the Summit County areas as well. In the summer there are numerous rivers for rafting, and there is awesome hiking and biking without having to drive.

What makes this House unique

Our neighborhood is surrounded by National Forest with recreational opportunities everywhere. While only being 10 short miles to Leadville, it feels like you're many more miles into the wilderness. In an hour's hike from the front door, you can be standing on top of Taylor Hill, with 360 degree views, and not a sole in sight, except perhaps,for a roaming herd of elk or a soaring red tail hawk. Or, in a 5 minute's drive you can be at Ski Cooper or the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center. For the more adventurous, you can ski/hike the 3-4 miles instead. In the 1800s, our property was in a gold and silver mining area. As you explore the surrounding forest you can sometimes find remnants of a bygone era, like a broken down miner's cabin or tin can, that has been rusting for over 100 years.

Amenities

Internet
Children Welcome
Parking
No Smoking
Heater

Bathrooms

2 Bathrooms

Bathroom 1
toilet, shower
Bathroom 2
toilet, tub, Clawfoot tub

Location Type

Mountain View
You are looking at part of the Sawatch Range, a range within the central Rockies that includes the highest concentration of 14,000 foot peaks. The triangular peak is Homestake Peak, at 13,200 ft.
Ski-Out

Theme

Romantic
Family
Away From It All
Historic
Tourist Attractions
Adventure

Meals

Guests provide their own meals

General

Telephone
Heating
Primary heat is by wood stove and back up heat by propane heaters.
Linens Provided
Parking
We limit the number of cars to 3.
Internet
Towels Provided
Wood Stove
(2) One wood stove is in the kitchen and the other is in the living room.
Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
We can easily accommodate up to 3 cars, even if you have a trailer or camper with you. No snowmobiles or ATVs are allowed.

Kitchen

Refrigerator
We have a unique 12 volt DC fridge, that uses little energy. As such, it is located in a cooler area of our kitchen/mudroom.
Coffee Maker
Percolator and drip melita filter cones.
Pantry Items
Spices, cooking oil, and sugar. napkins, paper towels, and hand towels provided.
Dishes & Utensils
Kitchen is set up with dishes, pots, pans and utensils. No extra electric appliances.
Kitchen
Kitchen has a 4 burner gas stove and oven, and double sink. No dishwasher or microwave.

Dining

Dining Area
Dining
The dining area is part of the kitchen. The table seats 6, and we have extra chairs and seating in the kitchen area.
comfy seating for 6 people

Entertainment

Stereo
CD Player
Books
Games
Music Library
Video Library

Outside

Outdoor Grill
Deck / Patio

Suitability

Long-term Renters Welcome

Attractions

churches
cinemas
library
museums
playground
live theater
restaurants
health/beauty spa

Leisure Activities

horseback riding
sledding
shopping
wildlife viewing

Local Services & Businesses

ATM/bank
groceries
hospital
laundromat
massage therapist
medical services

Sports & Adventure Activities

mountain climbing
swimming
fishing
skiing
golf
mountain biking
hunting
fly fishing
freshwater fishing
hiking
ice skating
cycling
rafting
spelunking
whitewater rafting
ski lift privileges
cross country skiing
hot air ballooning
kayaking
rock climbing
snowboarding
snowmobiling

House Rules

Check-in: 3:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Cancellation Policy

100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.

29 Reviews

Exceptional5/5

1 - 6 of 29

Perfect summer stay

5/5

Stayed Jul 2018

Richard P.Longmont, Colo

The house and setting are beyond believable. We stayed pretty much the month of July. We mostly did outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, 4WD and kayaking. El Capitan was a great home base for these activities. But it was also wonderful to recoup at home. If you're going for an extended stay, consider bringing a pressure cooker. I did at Melanie's suggestion and used it tons (no electric appliances like microwave, electric coffee pot, crockpot, dishwasher). I loved that it was green (solar!). The water was fabulous (well water!). On demand hot water for showers. I felt like we were living in a fairy tale house. Melanie and Greg were terrific hosts and just a phone call away. Reliable internet, no cell service ("land line" though, for incoming calls and local calls). Some of us could text if the internet was on. I want to go back in winter and get snowed in!

fantastic

5/5

Stayed Jan 2018

Jason R.

The property was secluded, just what we wanted. No tv, no distractions, just great family time! Minutes from Ski Cooper. While the road was steep, it was no problem for a 4x4.

Beautiful roomy cabin in a gorgeous location

5/5

Stayed Jan 2018

Laura D.

This cabin is utterly gorgeous and was designed and personally built by the owner. It is full of charming details, like painted tiles and sinks and arched doorways. It was very clean and comfortable. When we woke up and saw the knock-out view, we liked it even better. The cabin has everything you need (games, warm beds, a big soft couch, sleds, snowshoes, fully-stocked kitchen), and the owners even laid a fire for us. Our kids spent about 3 hours sledding on the property, while we drank tea by the fire. Melanie and Greg were responsive, local, and gracious, and we even got to meet them, as they were skiing up behind their property. It was very close to Ski Cooper/Tennessee Pass/Leadville, while feeling a million miles from anyone. I could have spent the winter there!

Two cautionary notes:

1)This cabin is off-grid, meaning no TV, no microwave, probably no cell service (ours didn't work), and most of the heat comes from the wood stoves. We loved this, but it might not be for everyone.

2) The road up to the cabin is in good shape, but dirt and rather steep. We have an all-wheel drive SUV that usually does fairly well in city snow, but we DEFINITELY needed our snow chains. I suspect any car could make it up in the summer, but you may want to consider this if you're visiting in the winter.

We hope to come back! It was really a great visit. Thank you Melanie & Greg!

Love this Unique Cabin!

5/5

Stayed Dec 2017

Brandy G.

This cabin is not just a place to stay, but an amazing experience. We loved the wood stoves and all the attention to detail with this cabin. It is amazing fun for kids and adults both! Great family time spent with no tv! We visited in the winter and the wood stoves and gas back up heat kept us cozy and warm. This is a dream house!

Plus very close to Ski Cooper Resort, great small ski resort that we loved as well!

Charming and relaxing

5/5

Stayed Dec 2017

Carye B.Kerrville, Texas. USA

Beautiful home with glorious Mountain View. A great place to stay!

Absolutely beautiful! The perfect mountain retreat.

5/5

Stayed Jun 2017

Lori M.

We just arrived home and I find myself missing the cabin already. It is so lovely. It had everything one could ever want in a mountain retreat. From the moment you see the property as you are coming up the drive you are in awe. It is absolutely adorable. As you enter the home you know you have chosen well. Our family has been renting properties for vacations for many years. This property was by far the loveliest of all. So many things to love about it. We hadn't been in the home for more than 5 minutes and we were planning our next visit. This is a one of kind property. Secluded but only 10 miles from Leadville or RedCliff. Hiking right outside your door. And views,views,views! I could go on and on about how much we enjoyed our time there. The only thing we needed was more vacation time.