The Lone Wolf Cabins and Getaway are located in the heart of the San Juan Range at the base of the Weminuche Mountains. Tall pine trees border the four-acre property with six small cabins and two larger vacation homes in a U-shape at the clearing in the center of the property. All of the cabins have private kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Lake Vallecito is across the street from the property, where guests can go boating and fishing. Family reunions and retreats are common at the Lone Wolf Cabins as there are many activities on the property, such as tetherball, horseshoes, and corn hole. A large common area with two firepits and a grassy play area offer more gathering space for large groups. The Lone Wolf Cabins are open year-round.
The Lone Wolf Cabins are located in Vallecito Lake, Colorado, just across the street from the lake. At an elevation of 7,800 thousand feet, this small area is in the center of the great outdoors at the base of the Weminuche Mountains. The Lake Vallecito's marina is four miles down the road from the Lone Wolf Cabins, and the town is eighteen miles from the large city of Durango, Colorado. The property is U-shaped, with all of the entrances of the cabins facing the center. Each cabin is set apart from the other, and pine trees surround the cabin borders. Two large firepits, a grassy lawn, and an outdoor games area sit in the center of the four-acre property.
There are six cabins available for reservation on the property. Three of them are one-bedroom, one bathroom cabins, two are two-bedroom, one-bath cabins, and a single three-bedroom and two bathroom cabin is available in the U-shaped area of the property. Two larger vacation homes are located in the corners set apart from the cabins. These larger homes have multiple living areas and wrap-around decks. Each of the homes at the Lone Wolf Cabins are themed after the outdoors. These themes include the Fishing Lodge, the Hunting Cabin, the Bear Den, the Rustic Lodge, the Wolf Cabin, the Eagle Cabin, and the Creekside Cottage.
The rooms are decorated with tapestries, antique furnishings, hand-sewn bedspreads, and thick curtains. Upon purchasing the property Laurie Strong and her son installed new flooring in each cabin. A small store is located in the property's main office where hats, shirts, key fobs, and games are sold. There are many activities to do on the property, including tetherball, bongo ball, cornhole, horseshoe, Yardzee, outdoor farkle, and more. Every cabin has a private charcoal grill and their own picnic tables. Internet is hardwired to each cabin, and every guest has access to private heating and air conditioning. The personal kitchens in each cabin are fully stocked with dishes, and basic spices guests may need when they cook. Extra linens, soaps, and bedding are also supplied to each cabin.
Lake Vallecito and the nearby Weminuche Mountains are the main attractions of the area. A network of hiking and biking trails cover the Weminuche Mountain front, and Lake Vallecito is across the street from the property. At the lake, guests can go fishing and boating. During the winter snowmobiling, and ice fishing are popular past times along with skiing at the nearby ski resorts and sledding. ATV and boat rentals are available, along with tubs for river floating. There are only a few restaurants and stores in the small town. These include La Comida, Weminuche Bar and Grill, and the Fur Trappers. A small market and gas station is a mile down the road from the Lone Wolf Cabins. The cabins are open year-round, but the vacation rentals are only open from May to October.
Laurie Strong purchased the Lone Wolf Cabins in 2015 with the intent of creating a family-friendly space where groups can stay in a rural area but still have access to everyday amenities. Family reunions are the most common type of gathering at the Lone Wolf Cabins as they can be reserved all together so each family can have their own space but not be far from one another. Weddings often take place on Lake Vallecito, and the families of those being wed will stay at the Lone Wolf Cabins.
A guest book is left out in each cabin for visitors to leave suggestions for improvements or to comment on things they enjoyed about their stay. This helps the managers to develop a feel for their guests and understand what they can do better. The property's main focus is to create a retreat where guests feel welcome and at ease without pressure to follow an itinerary to visit certain places. They don't have to leave the property their entire stay if they don't want to.
Each cabin is not only themed, but they are all decorated according to the season. For July, an American flag is hung on each cabin, and the flower boxes surrounding the cabins are filled with blooming red begonias, white mums, and blue salvia. Many visitors will spend time at the Lone Wolf Cabins during winter when the cabins are all decorated with their own Christmas trees and covered in twinkling lights. A nativity and cross are on display in the main common area during this time, and the manager will often bring out the property snowmobile and sleds to take guests sledding.
The Lone Wolf Cabins host many return guests each year. Most come for family reunions, school or church group outings, or occasional work retreats. Balloons and party supplies are available if there is a birthday for someone on the property as well. Everyone is included on the property, including dogs. Two dogs are allowed in each cabin. "The Lone Wolf Cabins were the perfect getaway for my husband and me on a recent stay. It was clean, comfortable, and nicely equipped. We enjoyed the privacy, our own deck, and the homey atmosphere," said a guest at the cabins.
Laurie Strong is the owner of the Lone Wolf Cabins. She was a teacher for thirty-two years and an educational consultant for eight years in remote villages throughout Alaska. She has a strong bond with nature and knew that she wanted to spend her time in the mountains when she one day retired. She does most of the online and reservation operations while her son and his small family manage the property. Laurie lives down the road from the Lone Wolf Cabins, and her son lives on the property. She purchased the cabins in 2015 and spent the first year alongside her son, updating each cabin as much as possible without taking away from their natural charm. They added new flooring and bought decorations themed after each cabin's name.
The cabins were initially built as lodging homes for loggers in the 1950s. Each cabin was numbered until Laurie purchased them and decided to name each one. The owner before Laurie owned eight cabins in addition to the six Laurie now owns. He split the property before he sold it, however. Laurie and her son hope to continue offering a family-oriented space where guests can gather for nature-based fun. A large gazebo and additional updates to the cabins such as new carpet and kitchens are planned to be built and renovated in the coming years.
18039 Co Rd 501
Bayfield, Colorado 81122
United States
Campground
Laurie Strong
