The Wonderview Mountain House (23-ZONE3570) is a cute and beautiful 975 sq ft house in a forest setting near the base of Deer Mountain.
➡Experience some of the best views in Estes Park.
➡Easy access to RMNP. This is about as close as you can get.
➡Relax in the pool or private hot tub after a day of sightseeing or hiking/
➡Ride the mountain coaster with unlimited ride passes (see below)/
➡Hike the Deer Mountain trail from the house.
➡Enjoy the cozy gas fireplace and watch shows on Netflix/Prime/and Disney+
This is my favorite place to stay in Estes Park. Wildlife is frequently seen passing by the deck. During the night, I like to take in the amazing views of the stars in this dark sky community. The house has a full kitchen for cooking indoors and a Char-Broil electric grill on the deck for outdoor cooking. The king bed mattress in the primary bedroom is a Casper Original (Firmness 6/10), one of the highest rated mattresses by Consumer Reports.
The main level of the house has a living room and a bedroom with an attached bathroom. The house also has a kitchen / dining area with a fold down Murphy Bed towards the back, and a second bathroom with a shower.
The lower level of the house has a bedroom with an attached half bathroom (toilet and sink only - both showers are on the main level). The lower level does not have air conditioning, but it tends to stay cool. There is a pulldown on the glass door to make it a screen door. The bedroom can be heated by the electric fireplace or by the plug in room heater. Please note that the lower level is only accessible through a door from the outside of the house.
Four amazing things about this house:
1) The views are incredible! This part of town was long ago named Wonderview because it has some of the most amazing views of Longs Peak (the tallest mountain in Northern Colorado) and the continental divide.
2) The house has four unlimited ride passes to the Mustang Mountain Coaster that you are welcome to use during your stay. Zip through the forest at nearly 30 mph or take it slow and enjoy the scenery down 3,000 ft of track. You can ride the coaster alone or with a passenger. The coaster is located at 1180 Dry Gulch Rd in Estes Park, which is a 5.5 mile drive (approximately 10 minutes) from the house. Please call or visit their website for days and hours of operation. (Some days they are closed.) Please note, there is a $250 replacement fee for each pass that is missing from the house upon check-out.
3) This is one of the best locations in the entire area. You are about as close to the main entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park (Beaver Meadows Entrance) as you can get. Pop in and out of the National Park quickly and easily. It's also just a short 2.5 miles drive to the shops, boutiques, and galleries of downtown Estes Park. Due to its proximity to the National Park, lots of wildlife passes through the area. My husband and I stay at the house periodically and we have seen deer, elk, bears, bobcats, turkeys, hawks, humming birds, eagles, marmots, and coyotes.
4) You can go on a beautiful hike to the top of Deer Mountain directly from the house without needing to drive. It takes most people between 1.5 and 2.5 hours to hike the trail to the summit (10,083ft). The elevation gain is a little over 2,000ft. The nearly 360 degree views from the peak are simply outstanding. You'll see the Town of Estes Park, Moraine Park, Longs Peak, Hallett Peak, the Mummy Range, and the mountains along the Continental Divide. This is one of my favorite hikes, especially when the wildflowers are in bloom during the summer. A map of the trail can be found inside the house.
Other information:
The shared swimming pool is a short walk to the Northwest of the house by the flagpole. It typically opens after the first week of June and closes around Labor Day but may open later or close earlier depending on the weather. Please note that it is run by the Wonderview HOA, not me personally, and I have no control over anything pool related. Pool hours are from 9am to 9pm. As a courtesy to our neighbors, some of whom live here full time, please keep noise to a reasonable level. There is no lifeguard on duty - swim at your own risk. Glass containers and alcohol are prohibited. Kids under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Due to my house cleaner's schedule, I am unable to make arrangements for an early check in or a late check out. On the day of check in, I will send you a message as soon as the house is ready to go. (The house is typically ready to go between 3pm and 4pm.)
The house is connected to the town's Trailblazer fiber optic gigabit internet service and the hot tub is available year round.
Due to fire risk, our insurance company does not allow for any outdoor smoking or open flames. (No campfires, etc.)
During the autumn, winter, and spring, it can be helpful to bring a vehicle with 4WD / AWD. The local homeowners association generally does a good job of plowing and sanding Laurel Ln, which is at around a 10% grade, in a timely manner after each snow storm, but if you need to drive while the snow is still falling, or you are going up to higher elevations such as Rocky Mountain National Park where they tend to get more snow, it's a good idea to have it.
The house is decorated for the holidays with a Christmas tree and Christmas wreath. (Typically the week after Thanksgiving through New Year's Day).
