Dunton Hot Springs

Telluride, Colorado

The state of Colorado in the American west, surrounded by Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Utah, possesses a host of spectacular and varied landscapes. In the west and the south of the state, we find deserts with red rock formations, deep canyons and sand dunes, and in the east, the Great Plains covered with corn fields and high plateaus, and of course the magnificent Rocky Mountains which give Colorado the highest elevation in the United States. The state has 54 summits, the highest of which rises to a height of 4,267 meters, with a large skiable area famous for its 300 days of sunshine. Ski resorts include Aspen, reserved for the rich and famous, Breckenridge, one of the highest in altitude, Vail, a competitor of Aspen and Telluride, a 19^th century miner’s city.

Thirty million years ago, volcanoes erupted violently throughout the region, and ten million years ago, in the still hot subsoil, precious minerals condensed forming veins of gold and silver. In the mid 19^th century, these veins were discovered and before long, small towns began to flourish, inhabited by prospectors and their small cabins, their sheriff and their saloon. After the gold rush, they became ghost towns although some of them have been transformed into trendy ski resorts while conserving the vestiges of their past.

An authentic ghost town

The ghost town of Dunton Hot Springs is situated near the Dolores River in Navajo Indian Territory. Abandoned by gold prospectors more than a century ago, it was awakened from its long sleep by two Hollywood producers, whose off the wall project was to restore it building by building in order to create a luxury version of an old western town. Over a seven-year period, the former miners’ cabins surrounded by the saloon were rebuilt log by log and became comfortable rooms for this out of the ordinary encampment. Very little has changed as far as the exteriors are concerned, as they have preserved their rustic appearance. Inside however, the restoration is spectacular. A degree of authenticity has been preserved thanks to the existence of Navajo tribal objects and false bear and bison fur. However, to add splendor to these rustic log cabins, there are Turkish kilims, beds from Rajasthan, Chinese furniture and a variety of antiques to remind visitors that they are in an upscale hotel.

In the saloon, the soul of the property, one feels that Butch Cassidy might come through the swinging doors at any moment. Dinner is served at a long communal table not far from the open kitchen. The Chef proposes a menu of both traditional and modern cuisine using products from the farms in the region. At the end of summer, guests can enjoy freshly gathered cepe and chanterelle mushrooms from the nearby mountains.

Climbing, rafting kayaking, yoga and pilate classes, and of course, skiing in winter, pulled by a helicopter if you so desire, are all practiced here, making the thermal baths ideal for relaxing at the end of the day. The famous hot springs gush from the earth at temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. The hotel offers treatments administered either in the wood cabins or inside the Indian teepee, which also serves as a Jacuzzi.

According to the hotel managers, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid took refuge in the original saloon after their holdup in Telluride. Their names are carved into the wooden bar.