Welcome to Your Rocky Mountain Basecamp

To the Gunnison Valley Visitor,

First, thank you for choosing us. We know airlines say that all the time. Here it really does matter. We, small independent hoteliers, fight to avoid getting buried by the bigger hotel chains and the Expedias of the world. A more significant battle for our community is preventing our homes from turning into hotels, displacing our townspeople. Your decision, as visitors, to stay with us matters not only to us but to our community, to the people who live here and who are vital to the health of this community.

When we bought this property in 2006, possibly during an unidentified mid-life crisis, with an unjustified swagger, we thought, “How hard can this be?” Our dear friend, Karma, said, “Oh, let me show you…”

We did not know how much we did not know.

We learned that plumbing freezes in Gunnison winters, violent snowstorms can hit in early September, sleeping with the windows open in the valley’s summer is magical and local fall colors cannot be matched. We have learned that the beauty of owning a classic ‘tourist court motel’ is that there is always something to remodel or restore.

We learned that being a lodging property in the middle of an island opens the door to meeting great guests, many of who become great friends. Island Acres has been the site of countless gatherings, reunions and Homecomings, families supporting NCAA or club athletes and parents hosting ‘team meetings’ (code for feeding everyone on the team). Friends and teammates have gathered to reconnect for special times or events and later to share sadness at the passing of a classmate, favorite professor, teacher or coach.

We have had weddings and baby showers, family reunions and families saying final farewells. Young families find us and return as their children grow. People return every year for Cattlemen’s Days or the Car Show. We have had the exhausted, the adventurer, the tourist, the biker, the hiker, the person looking to fish or to get away and so much more. Whatever your reason for being here, know we need your continued visits and recommendations to others for Island Acres to continue to exist and thrive.

Circling back to 2006, we walked around what was then the unfamiliar and the rather dilapidated property of Island Acres. We said, “We could do so much with this.” What we didn’t know at the time was that Island Acres was whispering back, “I can do so much with you.”

Thank you, guest, for being a critical part of this journey.

Sincerely,

Pamela and Timothy Williams

Our property boasts a range of amenities designed to enhance your stay. From the car bikes—including a a vintage Rhodes Car—parked outside of the 501 Guest Supply Building to the frisbee golf course and tether ball pole in the front parks, we aim to provide guests with a myriad of ways to enjoy the property outdoors. Below is a list of outdoor amenities you can find around the property:

• Car bikes, availble to ride around the island
• Fire pits and s’more sticks
• Outdoor games (e.g., cornhole, bowling, tether ball, frisbee golf)
• Picnic and dining tables
• Vintage spring horse riders
• Tire horse swing
• Bench swings and other outdoor seating

In addition to these outdoor amenities, we also have a plethora of board games and books to borrow within the 501 Guest Supply Building.

We invite you to make yourself at home on the property and take advantage of the amenties we’ve provided. If you can’t find something you’re looking for, feel free to call or text us.

Gunnison is your launch pad for all your Rocky Mountain adventures with easy access to several nearby attractions. Day trips to Monarch Pass, Crested Butte, Salida, and Lake City are all popular excusions for our guests. If you have any questions about local attractions, please feel free to ask us via phone, text, or in person as you see us around the property!