Montrose Colorado Lodging

[BuzzKill]

Recently got back from a week trip in Montrose Colorado.  We based out there and rode out different directions every day.  I completely recommend the Country Lodge.  Its reasonably priced, nicely decorated themed rooms, the pool hot tub courtyard is relaxing, Jeff (the owner), his wife, and the maintence man are very nice.  Just dont mention anything about economics to Jeff.  You've been warned.  The best part I found was after having some self induced electrical issues, they let me use thier shop/garage area until late at night to do my repairs and even though I had all the tools I needed, offered a whole store full of tools to use.

The only main negative is the breakfast is a little less than you would expect at a chain hotel/motel.  Basically donuts, bagels, fruit, and coffee.

If Inzane is held in Montrose again, the Country Lodge is the first place I will look.

http://www.countrylodgecolorado.com/

This is not a paid endorsement or anything just wanted to share a recent experience and info.

[F6Dave]

I stayed there once and agree, it is a nice motel.  Montrose is a great place to stay and has awesome roads in every direction.  It would be a excellent place for Inzane.  The VOA held their rally there in '99 and '00 and it was as good as I've ever been to.  Joe Cocker handed out door prizes, and his wife catered the BBQ!

If you're in the area, make sure to ride to the Gateway Auto Museum.  It is stunning:  http://www.gatewayautomuseum.com/]
[url]http://www.gatewayautomuseum.com/[/url]

[MarkT]

I was at those rallys and they were excellent!  Have been back many times for the annual HCC ride-ins at Montrose - just outstanding riding for hundreds of miles all around the compass.  Ditto on the museum - it's also on another great ride route, down the Dolores River canyon.  Too bad Pam had to close her Mad Dog Ranch Cafe in Crawford - not enough business to sustain it off season in that small town. It was a great destination for a day ride loop from Montrose.  And she's a biker, had the welcome mat out for the likes of us!  Real people too - no airs goin on there - even Joe would stop by your table and say Hi if he was in town.  They invited the wife & me to stay as guests in their house, she gave me the keys to her Gold Wing trike to take for a spin!  Good folks.

Here's a shot of Pam's Mad Dog Ranch Cafe before they closed it (they catered the VOA rally picnic) -




Here's us standing in front of Pam & Joe's shack -





 

[RP#62]

We were at the same table with Pam at the first VOA rally and got to talking with her quite a bit.  Great folks.  We got Christmas cards from them for years afterwards.
-RP

[mrprez]

We had a little get together with a bunch of Goldwing riders a few years ago in Montrose.  I think the official count was 157!  There were more bikes to the left of the piles of gravel.

[Oss]

Bonnie and I were at the rally in Montrose in 2005 but were a day late and missed that meal

 :'(  because we went to Snowmass and Aspen for the 4th of july fireworks

That is a beautiful and HOT area   and one I hope to return to eventually

It was around 110 when we went thru Delta and grabbed some shade under the awning of this
car dealer  




Got to love a woman who will use just half of that red bag on a week long trip

[Valkorado]

Gunnison Colorado could be a good place for a future Inzane as well.  It's a bit more rustic than Montrose, but is a great hub to Monarch Pass, the Collegiate Peaks, the Black Canyon and Crawford, Crested Butte, the Blue Mesa and Taylor Reservoirs, etc.  Fall colors are spectacular right now!  The temps usually max in the low to mid 80s in summer, not upper 90s and 100s like the Montrose/Delta/Grand Junction areas. 

[MarkT]

I've visited the Montrose area many summers since '97 - it never hit a hundred during my week-long visits.  I'd say you hit an anomoly. If it does get into the 90's - there is easy escape at Grand Mesa to the North, the San Juans (Million Dollar Highway - Red Mountain Pass) a half hour to the South, and Monarch Pass to the East.  Telluride to the SW.  SE, Lake City and Creede in the headwaters valley of the Rio Grande.  Montrose has many visitor facilities - LOTS of hotel rooms with their competing prices, and a large Honda motorcycle dealer.  Centrally located to the best riding in Colorado - I maintain it's the best rally location in the southern Rockies, hands down.  That's why the HCC has gone there every year for a dozen years, why a big BMW rally goes near there annually (Paonia), why a large Gold Wing group has gone there several times, and the VOA at least twice.  You can ride 2-300 mile loop rides every day for a week and not repeat except for short sections.  Yep - if it comes down to a western rally - I'll vote for Montrose.

[Gary W]

We stayed in Montrose a couple of nights ago at the Country Lodge.  It is a very nice place to stay.  It was our 2nd  time there.  The owner is quite interesting.  The courtyard is a great place to sit and visit.

[F6Dave]

Here are some of the bikes at the VOA rally in 99:






And here's Joe as the MC:

[Rams]

Nice report, glad to know good places to stay and visit. 

Should those deciding where pick CO, I'll do my best to get there.   

I don't know Joe and Pam but, hopefully will get to meet them at some event in the future.