Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa

The decor and scenery at the resort is rustic, beginning with the frontier-era antique wagons and lanterns lining the entryway, but it's a far cry from a rugged dude ranch. Devil's Thumb consists of a series of A-frame buildings made of dry-stacked stones along with a huge, well-insulated barn that can be reserved for weddings and events. There's also a yurt used for hot cocoa stops at the end of sleigh and horseback rides.Decor is rustic, with wooden walls and ceilings and attractive barn-style ring chandeliers with a few electric candles throughout the common areas. The lobby features a lovely stone-stacked fireplace surrounded by a pair of big soft leather couches. Even the massage parlors and yoga rooms are made entirely of wood, with Southwestern-patterned quilts on the beds and lanterns hanging from vaulted ceilings.There's also small, cozy coffeeshop on-site and three restaurants, the most casual of which -- Heck’s -- is equipped with simple wooden tables and chairs on two floors that surround an enormous floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The Ranch House has a true saloon feel to it, with a log bar and barn chandeliers. The wine cellar is the most formal of the restaurants, but its decor is simple, with arched stone ceilings and large caskets along the walls. The pool area is marked by a number of lounge chairs and has views of towering peaks in the distance.

Don’t expect to make a quick run to the grocery store during your stay here -- Devil’s Thumb is situated in Tabernash, 20 minutes by car from Winter Park Resort, which offers skiing and snowboarding in winter, lift-served mountain biking in summer, and its own community of hotels and resort-style amenities. The nearest town is the blink-and-miss-it community of Fraser, a 12-minute drive away. It takes just over two hours to reach Denver International Airport, but the drive that can take significantly longer in adverse winter weather. 

The options at Devil’s Thumb range from Lodge and Bunkhouse Rooms to four-bedroom Cabins. All types of lodging are spacious and nicely decorated with a log cabin feel, though the lighting is dim. Pillow-top beds are comfy and have high-end linens, elaborate quilts, and mountains of decorative pillows that border on the excessive. Each room has a balcony with a pair of rocking chairs and a stunning view of the surrounding valley floor and nearby mountains, and even the more affordable rooms have oversize bathrooms with huge wooden doors, spacious walk-in showers tiled in pebble, and separate old-fashioned tubs. All rooms come with satellite TV, free (though spotty at times) Wi-Fi, bathrobes, slippers, and coffeemakers. The two-story Cabin Suites are enormous and have living rooms with large stacked-stone fireplaces and extra sinks, but they lack full kitchens.

Amenities at the Devil's Thumb include a large heated outdoor pool with a small hot tub on one side, a steam room, and a fitness center with a few types of cardio machines. Breakfast is not included, but can be ordered to rooms. In winter, the ranch is home to an elaborate system of cross-country trails with both classic and skate skis available to rent. There is also fly fishing in surrounding streams and horseback riding at the on-site stable, with sleigh rides available in the winter. The Ranch is home to a sledding hill, a zipline, and a huge full-service spa offering a long list of massages and body treatments. There are three on-site restaurants that use organic, locally sourced ingredients to cook up American fare. There's also a coffeeshop as well as a store selling outdoor clothing and equipment. Guests can also rent equipment, including mountain bikes, fat tire bikes, fishing equipment, skis, and sleds. A luxurious barn with high raftered ceilings, sitting areas, and a fireplace is available to reserve for weddings and events.