Idlewild STAGECOACH: a unique colorado cabin getaway

updated January 15, 2021

In the small town of Lake George, Colorado is a historic cabin that stands as a beautiful reflection of Colorado’s past. Located on a private ranch, the Idlewild Ridge Ranch Historic Cabin served as a former stagecoach stop in 1860, long before the town of Lake George itself was established in 1891.

With its original timbers, wood-burning stove, and cozy one-bedroom configuration, the cabin is full of minimalistic charm. According to the owner, a Swedish family built onto it in 1880 and raised their three children there. Updated with standard utilities, the cabin has all the modern conveniences of today, including television and WiFi. If you’re curious, the original four-seater outhouse still remains on the property. Exploring the land behind the cabin will lead to a bouldered ridge and mountain views as you wander among the quaking aspens.

We’ve pretty much fallen in love with unconventional dwellings. In fact, I don’t think we’ll ever stay in a standard hotel such as a Hampton Inn again. Sorry, Hilton, we had our time together. Like millions of travelers around the world, we started discovering more unique places to stay through vacation rental platforms like Airbnb. And unlike most of the major hotel chains, Airbnb allows users to locate amazing homes in even the smallest towns and remote territories across the world. If you’re new to Airbnb, score up to $65 off your first trip with this referral link.

Photographs and text by Elaine Skylar Neal / Travels and Curiosities

traveling to colorado springs?

The Idlewild Ridge Stagecoach Stop would be a great option for anyone visiting Colorado Springs. The Springs was one of four Colorado cities to grab the top five spots in U.S. News and World Report’s 150 Best Places to Live in the US in 2020-2021, with Boulder, Denver, and Ft. Collins grabbing the other top-ranking positions.

Once you start exploring all there is to do in and around Colorado Springs, it’s easy to see why they consistently receive such a high ranking.

For starters, Pikes Peak Highway is a truly amazing scenic drive near Colorado Springs that allows visitors to drive to the top of the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak summit. Garden of the Gods, an absolutely gorgeous and entirely free public site featuring curious sandstone rock formations, is just right around the corner. The surrounding hiking options are endless. If you’re feeling brave, you can attempt the heart-pumping 2,744-step Manitou Incline trail. For a candlelit cave tour unlike any other, visit Cave of the Winds. For some serious nostalgia, try your hand at the vintage games within the world-famous Manitou Springs Penny Arcade.

Colorado Springs is also home to the United States Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base, the US Olympic Training Center, and the headquarters of the US Olympic Committee.

More Unique Trip Ideas in Colorado