In the shadow of Summit County’s ski areas and cute Victorian towns, Silverthorne has been known as the place to gas up and shop the outlet malls on the way back to Denver – and not much more. But that’s definitely changing! Recently we were invited to visit Silverthorne and found a variety of unique reasons to make Silverthorne a destination for city folks who crave a refined mountain getaway.
A dream come true for the husband-and-wife owners, The Pad is a super cool hub of reasonably-priced accommodations and activity for the Silverthorne community. While traveling in South America, Lynne Baer was inspired by a hostel stay in a cluster of shipping containers; mindfully arranged by a team of former architects who fled the urban hustle for the wilds of Patagonia to create a small community centered around adventuring types from around the world. Inspired, she was intent on creating that same environment with her husband, Rob, once they relocated to Colorado.
After having little luck with traditional lenders, Lynne and Rob convinced a core group of investors of their vision and, after finding the ideal spot of land next to the Blue River (and the support of the owner, legendary Denver businessman Dave Robinson, of Robinson’s Dairy), the dream took off. Open only since November of 2021, The Pad is not a higgledy-piggledy assemblage of shipping containers – these are wrapped in local pine beetle kill wood with a sleek Scandinavian esthetic. Inside is a village vibe with local art brightening up the various levels, quiet nooks for retreat, and open areas for communal gathering.
What else is In Good Taste? Getting to know Colorado’s wine scene.
Outside, a “lawn” faces the Blue River with access to the riverside path; enjoy the view with a drink from A-BAR like local brews, wines and unique home-fashioned cocktails. Don’t miss the unique Barrel-Aged Old-Fashioned ($14) or the Mezcal Paloma ($12). In true hostel fashion, bunk rooms are available for those who enjoy shared living spaces with fellow adventure seekers and “yet to be met” friends; fully private rooms and bathrooms are also offered for those who want their own space. A communal and well-organized kitchen allows guests to save money on eating out while meeting others, comparing recipes and sharing stories. Business is brisk and summer is already booking up – so reach out soon for a reservation, or just pop in for a drink and hang out on one of the female-led open mic nights in A-BAR and join the fun!
For an upscale chic hotel experience, check into the newly opened Hotel Indigo Silverthorne. The lobby is wide open, light and bright, with a fireplace and plenty of spots to perch and people watch. Or wander about and enjoy the art. Or take advantage of the fitness center and indoor swimming pool. Or grab a drink in Kúcu (coo choo) Bistro & Tequila Bar, the inviting restaurant/bar with a whimsical Cabo atmosphere and a tequila selection to boast about. Or gather round the outdoor fire pit with a warming tipple from Kúcu.
Our room at Hotel Indigo was spacious and appointed with warm colors and thoughtful art; the overall effect is chic, cozy, and comfy. And the shower. Oh my, the shower. After a day on the trails, or just exploring the town, freshen up with a hot spa-like shower and Aveda (what a treat!) bathing products.
After a great night’s sleep at Hotel Indigo, we popped downstairs to Kúcu in the lobby for a flavorful breakfast of Egg Tacos ($12) with sweet potato hash, peppers and white corn tortilla and a hearty Mixed Kúcu Hash ($8) with sweet potatoes, black beans, eggs, and green chile plus the $6 addition of bison sausage. Our super-friendly server wished us a great day as we departed for a walk (just across the street) along the Blue River trail, to visit the Performing Arts Center, and see the rail hill being set up for First Friday. The year-round events provide unique activities, music, and food; on this winter day, a man-made ski hill was created for locals to show off their sick board tricks, and preparations were being made for live music and food trucks.
Just a short walk from Hotel Indigo are a variety of dining options including a new, local favorite, Eclectic Bar and Grill. The place was hopping, and our server expertly took care of us and happily offered suggestions. For starters, we gobbled their Sweet Heat Dry Rub wings ($16) – so meaty, moist and crispy-flavorful – truly among the best wings we’ve enjoyed anywhere! (The perk of the dry rub was the lack of sauce all over your face and hands!) We shared the Eclectic Salad ($11) with mixed greens, watermelon radish, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and house croutons. For entrees, we opted for the Rocky Mountain Red Trout ($29), grilled and served with chimichurri, Pica de Gallo, and fried fingerling potatoes, and the Fish and Chips ($20), beer-battered fish of the day with slaw, fries, and house made tartar sauce. While the trout was a little lacking, the fried cod more than satisfied the hankering I’d been having for fish and chips. For dessert, a generous serving of homemade, family-recipe Carrot Cake ($8) was dense, moist, nicely-spiced, and generously schmeared with a tang of cream cheese frosting. Good thing we walked back to Hotel Indigo to burn off some of the calories!
Another way to enjoy local cuisine is at the newly opened Bluebird Market Hall at Fourth Street Crossing. We toured the building with Scott Vollmer, director of property operations, to learn more (watch for our upcoming podcast about Bluebird Market). Scott provided us with a veritable buffet of delicious samplings from Bluebird’s vendors: burger, fries, pizza, empanadas, tacos, and nachos. As we feasted (and packed to-go containers), a steady stream of locals arrived for a bite (or with laptops for remote working) and soon the Hall was abuzz with energy. With a full service bar and a second floor hangout space (complete with OG arcade and video games) Bluebird Market is a great community gathering space for early morning coffee, lunch, dinner, yoga, and nightly fun! One thing visitors can’t miss when they enter the Market is the old, red building it is built around. The Old Dillon Inn was once located in Dillon but was moved to Silverthorne decades ago. When Bluebird Market was created, they fortified the structure, top-to-bottom, and plan to re-open it as a full-service restaurant and bar.
Our visit was over too soon to take advantage of the Nordic Center for skiing and snowshoeing, just a few minutes’ drive from Hotel Indigo. But we did catch a glimpse of skiers of all ages and abilities gliding along the snowy, pastoral scene.
Silverthorne has become a fun weekend get-away destination and a worthy base for Summit County adventures. Get off I-70, park the car, and stay awhile!
For more information about Silverthorne, visit their website.
– Story by Jimmy McDonough. Photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough.
What else is In Good Taste? Three unique resorts in Colorado Springs.
Please note, we were hosted for portions of our visit by the Town of Silverthorne to help facilitate this article. However, as is always the case with the writers and editors of In Good Taste Denver, that doesn’t sway our commitment to providing our readers with an honest and objective opinion of our experience there. To learn more, visit our Partner with Us page.
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