Simple Pleasures
The Outlook Lodge, in Colorado’s Green Mountain Falls, offers guests a chance to slow down the clock and step up the style
Imagine if you could climb 7,800 feet into the rocky Mountains and step back in time. Now imagine that you could stay in a charming Victorian retreat that looks like a house where your grandmother might have lived if she happened to have flawless taste and access to groovy furnishings. Well, that place actually exists, and you may have just conjured up an image of the Outlook Lodge, tucked into the lovely forest of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado.
It’s the sort of intimate six-suite inn that caters to travelers who enjoy exploring picturesque little towns and glorious trails by day and then settling down in a rocking chair with a cold microbrew on the wrap-around porch as the sun goes down. Quiet and private, the lodge employs a local host rather than a traditional front desk, and full concierge services are available.
Guests of the Outlook Lodge, built in 1889, enjoy rustic-chic décor that artfully blends vintage and contemporary, featuring original artwork by Jason Willaford, sleek Midcentury Modern furniture, cushioned window seats, sloped ceilings and stained-glass windows. And to complete the picture of homey perfection, there’s a backyard fire pit encircled by cool, contemporary Adirondack chairs. The vibe at the lodge is understated: stylish simplicity with an unpretentious sophistication.
And Green Mountain Falls, situated 11 miles uphill from Colorado Springs, is no ordinary small town—it’s been a favored Pikes Peak area resort destination for more than a century. The year-round population of around 1,000 swells during the summer season, and the local community has a thriving arts scene. The summertime Green Box Arts Festival attracts a creative buzz, with dance, music, literary, visual arts and even astronomy events harmonizing in the mountains.
IF YOU GO Guest rooms and suites include a queen-size bed and private bath. The three-bedroom Family Suite has a queen bed and two bunk rooms. Rates from $109/night, or book the entire lodge for $1,475 per day. outlookgmf.com
