I find the appeal of The Baldpate Inn difficult to render in language--and I'm an English teacher. There is deep history in its walls, and you can almost feel the nearly 100 years' worth of guests who've visited. If you spend slow and leisurely time perusing the photos in the dining room, the keys in the museum, and the details nestled in the corners, you'll start to feel that you've become a part of something and someplace bigger than yourself. (I'm biased on that account--I discovered, quite by accident, that my grandparents honeymooned here in 1937. But I only found out after I arrived for the first time 15 years ago)

As a previous (negative) reviewer has noted, there are few amenities at the Baldpate-- but that's one of the things I love about it. There's no pool. No fitness center. There's only one television, and it's hidden away in a back room library. Only a few of the rooms have a private bath en suite. But there are so many quiet nooks in which to sit and read, think, or talk. The breezes on the porch are delightful, as are the hummingbirds, squirrels, and jays that surround the entryway. The space encourages simplification and serenity. I sat for hours on the porch and simply was. How many modern spaces enable that sort of calm?

The rooms are small and sparsely furnished, and some of the small details are showing their age. But again, that's sort of appealing to me. There's time embedded in these bits of the Inn that are fraying around the edges.

The food at both breakfast and dinner is elegantly comfortable. It lacks a lot of variety on a given day, but it's filling and well-prepared. The staff is earnest, personable, and friendly, and the owner seems like she genuinely values and appreciates your willingness to visit. Family, rather than corporation, seems to set the tone and create the ethos of the place.

I've stayed here twice in 15 years, and both visits inspired lasting feelings of peace and contentment. I can't say that about any other place in Estes Park, perhaps because of the loud and obnoxious carnival vibe surrounding the town itself. But I imagine that the things I love about the Baldpate would tend to discourage high-maintenance, difficult people. If you appreciate deep roots, quirky charm, quiet hospitality, simple comforts, and laid-back friendliness, stay here. If you're willing to meet the place halfway, it'll prove amply rewarding.

This is truly a unique and wonderful place. Built in 1917, you feel like you are stepping back into a different way of life: rustic, authentic, hospitable, and inviting. It is both a bed and breakfast and a restaurant. Breakfast is included with the room and is usually fresh strawberries or raspberries with a homemade muffin, followed by an egg dish - a quiche or a frittata, even an omelet or breakfast burrito - with a homemade pecan cinnamon roll for "dessert." Lunch and dinner are an all you can eat soup and salad buffet. Everything is homemade. Leave room for the great pies. The inn is nestled in pines and aspens, located on the side of Twin Sisters Mountain, south of Estes Park. Fantastic view of Estes Valley from the porch. Lily Lake is across the road. Hummingbirds, ground squirrels, chipmunks, mountain jays, and other birds complete the scene. A key collection and photograph collection make it a fascinating exploration of history as well. The staff is friendly and helpful, made up of college students from all over the US and the world, learning about hospitality and how to run an inn from a remarkable woman - Lois Smith. She teaches by example and I think the staff learns life lessons as well as how to operate a business. She is also a wonderful cook: her muffins and pies are amazing. So bring your sense of adventure, love of nature, and your appetite and expect to have a unique and wonderful time at The Baldpate Inn. It is nice to know that there are still one of a kind places to stay like this wonderful inn.

The Baldpate is a fun, quirky, interesting place to have a mini-vacation. This is the second time I've stayed there. You expect rustic when you are there. LOVE the porch to watch hummingbirds and stellar's jays; and being able to walk up to Lily Lake to walk around and mini-hike. The young staff is incredibly helpful. However, for the prices they charge, I expect more. The soup and salad bar is 'ok'. Kind of 'dated'. I also think they should offer more variety for their breakfast. We were there two nights...so two breakfasts. I don't want strawberries both days, nor quiche both days. More variety would be helpful. They were also out of two wines I chose. It is a fun, interesting place to stay,and I would certainly recommend it, but some updating within the parameters of 'historic' would be helpful.

I loved, loved, loved my mini vacation at the Baldpate Inn! We had great food, a beautiful view, and a wonderful staff on hand. Our cabin was small and rustic but still amazing. We were in the mountains, not downtown Estes Park which I loved! We hiked everyday in the Rocky Mountain National Park which is literally right outside the door! A cute little chipmunk even tried to sneak into breakfast with us! There was even a theater where my daughter decided to hang out and watch a play with her daddy! She started calling it our house! I can't wait to go back!