** New Aug 2023**
Welcome to Alpine Haven, our off-grid home in Idaho Springs, CO. With year-round views of Mount Evans from 4 different decks + rooftop, this tranquil retreat offers an indoor heated pool, hot tub, game room, private patios, workspace, 2 WiFi networks, 4 acres of fields/forest, and is kid and dog-friendly. Just 12 mins from Idaho Springs downtown, less than an hour to skiing and Denver. Book your stay now and escape to the beauty of the Rockies!
4WD is required from Oct-May.
The space
Our property is about 4 acres backing up to national forest. So you can hike through hundreds of acres of public forest right off of our property. The house is over 4500 Sq Ft with large decks located all over. The main area is very open with plenty of seating for 12 guests. The house is completely off grid powered by solar panels with a generator backup.
The main section of the house has 4 levels. There is 1 bedroom in the basement with glass walls, skylights, and a full bathroom as well as a large sitting area and deck.
The main level of the main section of the house has no bedrooms and a great open concept kitchen and living room.
The 2nd floor has 2 bedrooms with a shared full bathroom. 1 bedroom has a king bed with a sitting area and the best view of Mount Evans in the house. The other 2nd floor bedroom has a queen bed, private deck, and attached half bathroom.
The 3rd floor bedroom has a queen bed with direct access to the rooftop which boasts amazing 270 degree views.
Through the heated indoor pool area there is the addition to the house which also has 2 sleeping spaces. The main floor of the addition has 1 bedroom with a king bed and an attached full bathroom.
Outside the main floor bedroom is the game room with cards and shuffleboard table. Above the gameroom is a loft style bedroom with private sitting area with beautiful skylights.
These 2 bedrooms share the same full bathroom. There's also a half bathroom out in the pool area which is very close.
The laundry area is in the basement which also has an attached kitchenette as well as a full-sized fridge.
Our land is one large piece of gently sloping hill up to the road. The property has a slightly inclined paved driveway, then a large flat paved parking area with plenty of room for at least 6 cars. The property is probably 50% meadows and 50% light forest up until the National Forest land which gets much more dense.
The Pool - The pool will be kept heated year round at no additional cost to our guests. We will do our best to keep it between 84-88 degrees.
The Hot Tub - The Hot Tub is a cedar tub that is wood fired. So it's not your traditional tub. It is quite large and can hold 6 adults comfortably. Instructions will be provided for the hot tub but it's pretty simple. We are also working on getting an additional heating option working before winter.
Guest access
The whole property is yours to enjoy without sharing. The only areas not to be accessed are the garages and the mechanical areas - which will be locked.
Other things to note
Important things to note!
You really do need 4WD with snow tires when there is snow on the road. There's a chance of snow from late September all the way into May so please do not take the chance.
Our house is at 9750 feet elevation, it is typically 5-8 degrees colder at the house compared to the actual town of Idaho Springs. Also, breathing at this altitude can be difficult at times, you will definitely find yourself getting winded quicker. Make sure you drink plenty of water!
If there's a fire ban going on there cannot be any open flames outside. If neighbors see smoke you can expect the fire department to be called and fines issued!
While the house does have a fairly new A/C and furnace, we primarily rely on the wood stove to heat the main area of the house and a new propane wall heater to heat the other side of the house in the winter. Fire wood will be provided! If you run out please grab some more from the stacks outside and bring it in. You can't miss it.
It is extremely important that you do not mess with any of the mechanical areas of the house - if you don't know what it is please don't touch it! Please remember that the house is completely off grid, so we kindly ask to be mindful of the water and power consumption.
Due to the size of the house we have 2 different internet providers and 2 different wireless Networks. Each one generally serves one side of the house each with a small overlap between them. Both are reasonably fast at between 50 - 100 Mbps download speeds. But due to our location it isn't uncommon for one of the Networks to go down at times. We work from home full time and haven't had any issues in our time at the house because there's usually always at least 1 Network available to work off of.
At our cabin, we take the comfort and safety of our guests very seriously. We want to assure you that we do everything in our power to maintain a pest-free environment. Prior to your arrival, we take proactive steps by using non-toxic and pet-safe chemicals to spray the immediate area around the house. This helps create a barrier and minimizes the likelihood of pests making their way inside.
However, as with any natural setting, we acknowledge that sometimes, despite our best efforts, a few bugs or critters may find their way into the cabin. We want to be transparent about this possibility, so you can feel comfortable during your stay. If you do happen to spot any insects or pests inside the cabin, we kindly request that you inform us immediately.
Rest assured, should you encounter any such situation, our response will be swift and efficient. We have a contracted pest control service on call, ready to address any pest-related concerns that may arise. They are experienced professionals who will promptly handle the situation while ensuring the least disruption to your vacation.
