SOUTHERN COLORADO
Telluride.com; VisitTelluride; @VisitTelluride—Telluride touts itself as more than a destination; it’s a state of mind. It doesn’t take much to see what they mean.
Located in southwest Colorado’s stunning San Juan Mountains, Telluride is renowned for its authentic vibe blending refined culture without pretension. From fabulous festivals and outdoor activities to exceptional restaurants and hotels, the area offers four seasons of fun.
Telluride offers year-round mountain resort hospitality for groups of all types and sizes. Visitors can experience enriching history, cultural events, and breathtaking scenery combined with world-class lodging, state-of-the-art event spaces, gourmet dining, and exciting recreation.
The destination of Telluride is made up of two towns. The town of Telluride, a National Historic Landmark District, is nestled in a box canyon at 8,750 feet and is surrounded by North America’s highest concentration of 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks. Just over the ridge is the town of Mountain Village, a pedestrian-built village and base of Telluride Ski Resort, as well as the location of Telluride’s resort hotel properties and the Telluride Conference Center.
These two towns are uniquely linked by a spectacular, 12-minute Gondola ride—the first and only free public transportation system of its kind in the United States. This popular scenic attraction provides easy access to each community, running from 6:30 a.m. to midnight every day. “It is an extremely easy mode of transportation between the two towns and eliminates the need to coordinate transportation for events located in either community,” says Tom Watkinson, director of communications for Telluride Tourism Board. “Passengers can also catch the gondola in either Mountain Village or Telluride and ride to the midway point (Station St. Sophia, from which hiking, biking, and ski trails are accessed), or continue through to the other town. An amazing aspect of Telluride is that vehicles are not needed to get around.”
Telluride offers 3,900 accommodation units, a mix of large hotels in Mountain Village to boutique properties and condos in both towns. Madeline Hotel & Residences in Telluride features 134 guest rooms and suites and offers ski-in/ski-out access to Telluride Ski Resort and all other mountain activities. In Mountain Village, The Peaks Resort & Spa has 160 rooms, features Colorado’s largest spa, at 42,000 square feet, and offers ski-in/ski-out access.
The historic, Victorian-style New Sheridan Hotel has 26 rooms and suites, features unique dining and bar options, and offers guests access to downtown Telluride.
Telluride Conference Center has 10,000 square feet of indoor space and another 15,000 square feet of outdoor space at its Conference Center Plaza. The versatile indoor space can accommodate up to 850 guests and can be customized to suit any group, meeting, or event. The 7,012-square-foot Mountain Village Ballroom is designed with flexibility in mind, featuring two air walls that allow the space to expand or condense depending on needs. Large windows provide ample natural light for conferences, meetings, and special events. Other spaces accommodate from 15 people for board meetings up to 350.
Telluride Innovation Center at the Historic Depot on the San Miguel River offers an elegant and versatile venue for welcome parties, special celebrations, and corporate retreats. “This beautifully restored building has expansive outdoor spaces, including a patio and two decks offering great views of Ajax Peak,” Watkinson says. As one of the town’s largest venues, Telluride Innovation Center can accommodate up to 250 people.
Although Telluride is in a remote location of Colorado, airlift provides easy access for visitors. Telluride Regional (TEX) and Montrose Regional (MTJ) airports offer more than 14 flights daily from 11 different hubs around the country, on six different carriers.
