I had a solid 4-star experience renting from this place! We stopped by here to pick up some wooden…read moresandboards before heading into the national park for a day of sandboarding on the dunes. The service we received was very nice, welcoming, and friendly, which made for a great start to the day. On top of that, the entire process was an easy transaction, and it was super convenient that they take credit cards for payment. The rental prices were also somewhat reasonable for a quick day activity. The only downside was that the boards themselves were not particularly great quality; they were kind of hard and thick, which made navigating the sand a little bit clunky. However, since these are rental boards and I am sure people beat them up constantly out on the dunes, we were totally okay with that. Overall, it's a super convenient stop right by the park entrance, and it definitely gets the job done for a fun day on the sand!

There's not a ton of businesses right near Great Sand Dunes National Park and this one is perfectly…read morepositioned as you are about to enter so that you can rent gear like sleds or snow boards to slide down the dunes. Unfortunately for us the day we visited it was drizzling all day and had rained earlier so the dunes were wet. Something I really appreciated was that the folks working were super transparent with us and said they weren't sure we'd have much fun trying to sled down when the sand was packed like that with water. Because of that we passed on renting gear, even though that was our initial reason for stopping here. While there we did some shopping, instead picked up some sand toys for the kids, and purchased a sticker. All in all it was a nice little shop and I can't say how much I appreciate them for their kindness and honesty - they could have just taken our money but they gave us good feedback and we will for sure rent from them if and when we make it back this way. Also it's worth noting that they were right. There were folks that had rented sleds and were sledding but it was a slow process for them. With two kids in tow and wet sand to deal with we were happy to not have to lug sleds that we wouldn't have used on our hike.

Don't let the name fool you. This place feels more like a rural motel than anything else. My room…read moreappeared to have been recently remodeled, but the work was clearly rushed with poor craftsmanship everywhere. It's an odd mix of new and worn, with a muggy atmosphere and questionable beds. I even found insects on the bed, and the window was difficult to open. To make matters worse, the balcony is open, meaning anyone, including an unruly child, could easily access your window. The only positives are the location, the view and the friendliness of the staff. Unfortunately, that's not enough to justify a higher rating,I wouldn't give it more than one star. Breakfast is advertised, however, gas station breakfast seems to be superior. Overall, this place has a great potential, but why anyone should invest in making this place better? Their rooms are overpriced and the return is only the near location to the National Park. A hotel in Alamorosa is 30 min away, and perhaps a better choice.

3-3.5 We stayed at the Geodesic Dome, and overall it was a…read morefun and unique experience. As the website mentioned, it features a queen bed, small heater, a power outlet, and a light. However, both the heater and the light were already plugged in, so in practice, there wasn't really a free outlet available--unless I missed something! One interesting thing to note about the dome is the "window" situation. The curtains only cover about four out of the six panels, meaning there are gaps around the edges where people can see in. We ended up using towels and pillows for privacy. The shared bathrooms were exactly as described and totally functional! Not a big deal, but a couple more hooks or maybe a small shelf would make a nice difference. while I don't have a photo, I have to mention the adorable resident cat named Peppermint, who patiently waited outside the bathroom for some pets. So cute!

This place is absolutely absurd in all the right ways, if you enjoy quirky roadside attractions as…read moreI do. It's got a little history about mutilated livestock and strange sitings by campers through the years but, otherwise, it's just a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy a little fun. It's minutes from the highway, a little bit of a drive from the Great Sand Dunes. At a $5 cover and easy parking, with a menagerie of handcrafted oddities representing aliens and saucerships and other such things out of this world, why would ya pass it up?

Along the 'Cosmic Highway' is the UFO Watchtower. It is in the middle of nowhere but close to hot…read moresprings and Great Sand Dunes Park, don't miss it. The UFO Watchtower is an observation platform and campground where tales of UFO sightings have been reported. Located below the platform is a "healing garden" where visitors leave objects to hopefully receive some sort of healing. The garden has "three vortexes that several psychics say are in her front yard. The vortexes are guarded by two invisible beings. You can feel the power when you move close. Larry the supper nice owner and his informative trusty ex military assistant Lee and his rescued Lab Rats regale us with UFO stories. There have been many sightings here and when you climb the watchtower you can see why. The tiny indoor museum houses the remains and story of the mutilation and death of 'Snippy' the horse in 1967 which gained headlines due to unusual circumstances. The head was stripped bare to the bone. The precision cuts on the flank could not have come from a coyote or even a pack of them. A strong chemical smell akin to acetone lingered in the air. Indications of an aircraft landing on the terrain featured "circular exhaust marks", "squashed bushes", and circular indentations in the dirt. A geiger counter alleged reported high radiation counts around the exhaust marks and flattened bushes. Beginning in the 1970s, the US experienced waves of cattle mutilations which were likened to Snippy's death.Mutilation investigator Linda Moulton Howe revisited the Snippy case, interviewing witnesses for her 1989 book An Alien Harvest. A must for UFO fans and roadside attractions and the small entrance fee is worth it. Ask lots of questions and you will get lots of interesting answers.

I recently stayed here on a visit to Great Sand Dunes NP. This was a really cute and quirky motel…read moreand I absolutely recommend it to anyone, but especially families with little kids. Pros: Super cute setting with the historic drive-in. Cute artwork throughout and the actor names outside each room is a lovely touch. Rooms were cleaner than I expected. This was close to an hour drive to GSDNP - however, it felt shorter and was a BEAUTIFUL drive. Close to quaint downtowns with good breweries and restaurant options. Super friendly people. When I woke up and left my room to grab breakfast, I heard this strange baaahhhh noise - and BAM! Right outside the room as far as I could see- SHEEP! Right after I grabbed my to-go breakfast, this tall rancher came out with a big cowboy hat and rope, followed by 2 herding dogs to herd the sheep. It was a sight! The kids were ecstatic. I want to say - whether intentional or not - it is SO NICE of the rancher to drive his sheep up so close. It was an unexpected surprise and it honestly bumped up my mood for the rest of the day. What an experience! Suffice to say - this is a great deal and I highly recommend. Cons: Due to COVID precautions there was no hot breakfast (see breakfast room photo below). I was disappointment because I made my reservation via phone to Corporate and they mentioned that a hot breakfast bar was included. More than that though- what a beautiful view! I am sad to have missed out on breakfast there. That said - there are picnic benches outside and so...I still had that great view :) The movies playing that night were a Bon Jovi concert and Scoob. I had zero interest in watching a drive-in Bon Jovi concert - so the front desk attendant mentioned that from my room I would be unable to see Scoob well, so she switched my room out. Unfortunately - all of the rooms are set for one screen option - so even though I could kind of see Scoob from an angle (I could see Bon Jovi concert dead on), from the room, my only audio was the concert. You can hear the other screen if you park your car downstairs and listen to 88.1. OR - bring a radio. It would be nice if they left radios in the rooms. I kind of think it would be fun to make the 2 options like a classic movie and a family movie. The soaps are on the wall in the shower in a box-like container. I pushed super hard and was able to get body wash and conditioner, but I think mine was out of shampoo. That - or I didn't push hard enough..? Unsure. You have to push HARD.

The rooms were very tired, shoddy and bare bones for the price $160 per room per night. We were put…read morein "the annex" and the parking spot in front of our rooms wasn't even paved. They had mice traps outside in front of "the annex". But this was the only option in this area. Don't let the gimmick of the drive in movie get to you, either. It's not worth it. Keep driving. The best I can say was the sheets appeared cleaned.

We were doing a long weekend with our daughter and our two small pups. Del Norte was a nice…read morestopping point for our first night, so we booked at Mellow Moon. Lauren was very responsive via text answering all my questions. She texted me access info so when we arrived, which ended up later than we planned, we were able to go right into our room. The beds and pillows were quite comfortable. Enough that I was asking where she got the pillows. We all slept well. The pups got me up in the night and I took them for a short walk. The temp outside was cool, so I opened the window to let in some of the night air. The shower was interesting with the slanted floor. I liked the sliding barn door for the bathroom. The retro decor is inviting. I wish we could have stayed longer. They have a coffee shop in the Rodeo Mercantile. I discovered this after my husband and daughter had popped out to a local bakery to get us breakfast sandwiches. If we stay again, I'll for sure get a latte. This suited our needs. Simple, cozy and restful

Had a wonderful short weekend getaway here. Lauren was very responsive. Loved the amenities on…read moresite. Thanks Mellow Moon Lodge!

Very friendly and accessible owner, pristinely clean rooms, very quiet even near the highway. Firm,…read morecomfortable beds. The location is unbeatable, with a short walk to food downtown Saguache. We were really pleased with our time at Big Valley Motel and would stay here again in the future. It's the real deal.

I called to see if there were vacancies and left an pessimistic message, so was surprised when the…read moreproprietor returned my call minutes later and confirmed rooms were available at $65/n+ tax. Having spent the afternoon trying to find lodging at any reasonable price in the middle of hunting season in Colorado's backcountry, I gave in knowing the price was inflated beyond reason. The room had no less than SEVEN (7) notes stuck to lamps, curtains, bathroom walls, kitchen walls, bedroom walls, and tv explaining aside variety' quirks. I almost found the amusement value worth the 100% seasonal up charge! Gaining an extra star was the simply wonderful addition of two extension cords it the room. I've stayed in many a fancier hotel that did not have the brains to use these in rooms to make plugs accessible!

Don't let the outside scare you away. Like an oyster the real treasure is on the inside. Nice…read morelooking dining room with a cozy feel. Wait staff was exceedingly friendly. They kept thinking things were taking too long to come up but it wasn't really. I'm willing to wait a little bit for good food. Had the Texas Double and man you needed to be a cowboy to finish that one. Onion rings were fresh and everything tasted great. If you're hungry and passing though give this place a consideration.

Lovely meal on Saturday night. Staff was able to accommodate us, everyone was so nice. Table…read moresettings and decor were beautiful, food was great; had the fried oysters. So glad to have a nice place to go in Walsenburg.

OK, first of all this is the only show in town…read more The pros... 1. The hotel is family owned which is nice. 2. The views of the dunes and sunsets from your back patio are astounding 3. The people at the front desk are friendly 4. Location!!! The hotels proximity to the park is perfect! You can see the park sign from the hotel. 5. Watching the hummingbirds at the many feeders outside the rooms was fun after a long day at the park. The cons... 1. The rooms are dated and small and could use some updating. 2. The beds have been well used and don't have much life left in them. 3. We stayed for 2 nights and the room wasn't freshened after the first night - no one made the bed or tidied the room. Maybe that's not what they do in rural Colorado but that's the first ever hotel where I've experienced this.

We recently stayed two nights Labor Day weekend. Way overpriced. The front desk staff were friendly…read moreand helpful. The breakfast was adequate. Two comfortable queen beds, refrigerator, microwave, bathroom, two folding chairs, rooms were clean. Outside your room are piles of debris attracting rodents. Garbage all over the GSD lodge. Such an eyesore.

This ranch is absolutely amazing. From the accommodations, to staff, to the view and location this…read moreplace is 5 stars! I hope to be able to go back soon. Highly recommended!

From the owner: Zapata Ranch is a 103,000-acre ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy of Colorado where guests can…read moreride through and learn about our conservation herd of 2,500 bison, integrate themselves into daily life on the ranch and participate in extensive nature programs. Managed by Ranchlands, Zapata Ranch in nestled at the base of Southern Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains and shares a border with the United States' tallest sand dunes: The Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

I have stayed at this hotel before and my previous visit was much better. This time, the room…read morewasn't very clean -- especially the shower -- and there was zero hot water in the evening or in the morning. The room I had was also much noisier than an average room. I could hear every conversation in the room next door and since this room was near an exit and a stairwell, all I heard all night was door slamming. This was probably in some part due to the fact that the door wasn't flush to the door jamb. I could actually see out into the hallway the crack was so large. In the past, I would have highly recommended this hotel, but after this experience, I am hesitant to ever return from a cleanliness, noise or safety standpoint.

Good service, clean and modern room. Decent buffet breakfast. Nothing amazing but quite…read morecomfortable.