The newly constructed Stone Turtle Lodges at the northern edge of Cortez offer travelers and vacationers a comfortable and scenic alternative to the routine hotel room.
Owners Keith and Janice Moen toured Colorado for the best location to start their lodging business, and found Cortez to be ideal for its mild climate and tourism traffic.
“When we walked the property and saw views of Mesa Verde and Sleeping Ute Mountain, we new exactly where to build,” Janice says. “We love this community and this area.”
The formerly retired couple built three 840-square-foot cabins at 26965 Road N using local contractor Mountain View Builders.
Each furnished cabin features a bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen on the ground floor. A loft, accessible by a built-in stairwell rather than a ladder, has three beds and nice views.
“Travelers will love that they are staying in the peaceful country, but are close to town and Mesa Verde,” Janice says. “The stargazing is amazing here too.”
Keeping it reasonable priced, at $135 per night, is a bargain for friends and family traveling together, adds Keith.
“They have a comfortable place to stay, can cook their own food and enjoy the countryside on the deck,” he said.
The name comes from an ancient, carved stone turtle Keith found on a ranch in Arizona many years ago.
“I’ve been saving the name all of these years for when we got back to our country roots,” he said.
For more information call 970-403-5310, or check out their website at www.stoneturtlelodges.com
