Historic Crags Lodge Review
If you're visiting Estes Park in Colorado, this is an awesome place to stay!
One of the fun things we get to do with our travel writing is recommend excellent places to visit, including where we stay. We love sharing our experiences so others might have the same opportunity to enjoy them.
When we first started, we reviewed every hotel or resort we stayed in. But when you do this 365 days a year, it becomes exhausting and tedious to write about, and quite honestly, most hotel chains are basically the same.
So we decided only to share the properties we think are different or unique.
Today, we’d like to tell you about the Historic Crags Lodge from our visit to Estes Park in 2022 because it’s a lovely place!
Why Choose Historic Crags Lodge?
Ever since we became members of DRI (now Hilton Grand Vacations), we knew we wanted to stay at this resort. The only problem was finding availability because they are always booked up — for good reason!
So Donetta and I couldn’t believe our luck when we booked six total weeks at this amazing place. It was well worth the wait!
One thing to know: hotels in Estes Park aren’t cheap.
Depending on the time of year you visit, rooms can easily cost $200-$300 per night. Unless you’re independently wealthy or just on vacation, this isn’t optimal if you’re living in hotels full-time as we do.
Because of our Hilton Grand Vacation membership, we get access to deeply discounted rates for bookings under 90 days or less, which really helps. And sometimes we find insane deals by using our vacation points.
That being said, this was the primary reason we ended up at Crags, though the experience was priceless.
1. The staff is awesome!
Without a doubt, the people working at this property deserve incredible praise, especially Barb Legg, who manages the lodge. She was truly amazing at helping with our accommodations and needs.
We also got to really know Bob, Sharon, Aki, Steve, and Rose Mary, all of whom became a part of our extended family.
Leaving Estes Park was hard because we love that place and those people.
2. The location is perfect.
Nestled up on the side of the mountain, it provides stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and the surrounding area.
It’s conveniently located next to Highway 36 which leads directly to Rocky Mountain National Park and a two minute drive to downtown Estes Park (and easy access to free parking).
There’s plenty to do and see without going very far.
3. The property is excellent.
When visiting the Historic Crags Lodge, it’s important to remember the historic part of the experience.
It’s not a brand new property by any means and needs some minor updates to the rooms, but we loved staying here. In fact, the quirkiness and old lodge feel are what make it special. Plus, seeing the elk and deer up close was thrilling.
Our favorite place to hang out at the lodge was the outdoor areas. You can easily enjoy an adult beverage while gazing in awe at the mountains.
4. The rooms were comfortable and cozy.
Donetta and I got the opportunity to experience a variety of rooms, each with a unique layout or scenery.
While we have our favorite room, which we’ll keep a secret, we enjoyed all of them. Plus, they have kitchenettes so you can cook your own meals and save money. Overall, there are no complaints.
The only downside is that they don’t have air conditioning in any of the rooms. If you visit during warm seasons, it can get a bit toasty.
5. The restaurant is a bonus.
The onsite restaurant offers a fine meal, and the bar serves a variety of cocktails and craft beers. Plus, the owner and staff are super friendly and welcoming.
And they make a hell of an empanada!
We will definitely stay here again!
The Historic Crags Lodge really felt like home, and it’s the best place we’ve stayed in the past four years due to all the reasons above.
Hopefully, if you make it to Estes Park, you can stay here. We think you’ll fall in love with it as we did.
Update 2024: Unfortunately, we have discovered that Historic Crags Lodge has shut its doors for good and is no longer an option.