Spruce Lodge/grand Mesa

[CANNONMAN]

What do you guys think about Spruce Lodge on the Grand Mesa? I know that in the past it has had it's share of problems. Al ot of problems and it appears not to be very snowmobile friendly. I am very close to having a deal with the current owners as to buying the lodge. I have to make a decision in the next 9 days as to whether to go ahead and purchase or not. My question is there enough traffic in the winter up there to support a properly run lodge that is open all the time with good food, warm comfortable lodging, have gas/oil, misc. parts, and large parking available, along with a very friendly staff who actually realizes that the customer is the heart of the business? I find it to be a phenominal riding area, with I think tons of room for improvement, and am looking for opinions as to potential for additional winter expansion of services. Will it fly, or is it a bottomless pit for cash influx that will never make it? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated and if we buy anyone who resonds will be entitled to a free beer! Thanks

 

[Hotwatkins]

I think the biggest obstacle would be overcoming what the current owners have done. IE, not snowmobile friendly, or friendly at all. no consistency at all. I am not taking anything away from Ken at all, but it seems as tho there is a lot of room for more amenities. It would take some time to build it up but certainly possible.

Talk to Mike at Electric Mtn lodge. They have worked very hard to get where they are today and have made a ton of improvements over the previous owners.
Just what you said. Good food, a good place to stay and a friendly staff.

I think you could put some packages together along with them to have a service that a lot of people would like. Not really a partnership but a destination type area. There is a ton of area on the mesa to play.

Good luck, The hill could use someone else in that place. I'll come buy the first round.

 

[crashleroux]

I would love to see some new owners come in and make this place hospitable. I grew up in that area and in the past 20 years they have had numerous owners and at one time they were very customer friendly we would ride there eat get gas and ride home. In the past 10 years this has not been the case, we have stopped by there once and there was no one there.

I think it will take some money and some time to get things turned around. Maybe a lot of advertising that there are new owners and that you actually want peoples business. You are looking at 2 years just to get people to change their habits and start trickling in the more people that have a good experience the better its a tight group that are regulars to that area the word will get out.

As for parking that will need some work and I'm not sure you will find the area to do it. Definitly a premier riding area that is only going to grow, I have wanted for years to have the money to buy it. GOOD LUCK let everyone know and you will have the business.

 

[OuraySledder]

There is definately enough traffic up there. Grand Mesa is so busy on weekends that I just wont go there. Running a lodge up there should be viable. There is a lot of summer tourism up there too and as much as I loathe ATV's, there sure would be plenty of business from those folks in the summer too.

 

[POLZIN]

The mesa is an awsome place a full service lodge that could keep it together should make money!probably not going to get rich, but the work enviroment is nice to say the least.I would help support it I never stayed there but I would like to the ameniteys are better than available elsewhere. I think a few upgrades in the cabins as well as the lodge would a great place to go.

 

[AZ800]

Read the thread in the Colorado riding section here. That will give you some good ideas on what needs to be improved. With that said, the best part of it is, IMO, 90% of what needs to be improved is the SERVICE.
I think you'll have a little difficulty attracting the people back there right away, but Grand Mesa lacks in advertising overall. (Great for locals, especially now that I am one, but bad for business if you're earning a living off the tourists.)
I probably won't be spending any nights there, but would sure frequent the Spruce for food and drinks when out riding. Cabins were fine, I thought, except they need heat! That's the one capital improvement I saw needed.
Would love to see new owners there. PM me if you want to ask anything.

 

[Kong]

Be sure to talk to the county and other reg agencies. I thought they had a big problem with the kitchen remodel a few years ago. Just make sure you know all the costs.

We used to stay there all the time around 1999-2002 or so. The people that owned it then were great and awesome dinner. The owner was a serious chef.

Their plumbing used to be a problem a lot.

I had heard that the original owner 2002 tried to remodel the kitchen and ran into huge regulations. Don't know if that is true or not, but we sure enjoyed staying there with friends and our club several times a season. That road in is a total bear to keep plowed for access when towing a big trailer.

Ken is a great guy and as helpful as he could be, but I liked the cabins at Spruce better and nice to be able to get dinner when you get home.

Good luck, let us know if you do it.

 

[Winterfreak]

Spruce

Sent you a pm... call me.

 

[CANNONMAN]

Ttt

 

[CANNONMAN]

ttt

 

[Belle Star]

Posted a reply in the Colorado riding area. It would be great to have someone who would really care about that lodge and Alexander Lake Lodge too. Not sure if your looking at both or just the Spruce. It has so much to offer, just a great place to go all seasons. Hope it works out for you.