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Show BB Kelly Place, Cortez Plate tmner Carriker says shes in the past, she means e it. I lie compound at the fixit of Sleeping Ute Mountain in McEImo Canyon is home to more than 25 documented archaeological sites. And there are hundreds, mayle thousands, more in the adjacent 6,000 acres of ruined Bl.M Ijnd. Hut's where were unique." says Kristie. Our setting is really cool." "OhiI" may lx- an understatement. It's prohahlv sate to sav Kelly Place is the only it not the His: 11 in the lour Corns rs world - to hase a restored kiva less than Kelly When 100-acr- - - 100 teet from its front door. AdiaCtni to the kisa. an ar.iii.nt dwelling has been unearthed and is being painstakingly reconstructed using the otiginal sandstone blocks. There is also a granary embedded in a dramatic red rock wall directly Jcross Irom the abode-styl- e lodge. However, the vast wealth ot cultural sites wasn't the main focus of the original Kelly Place, bought in the by Denser horticulturist George Kelly. At the time. Kellys vision was to create an oasis in the desert from his stretch of dry, barren land. But as he set ahout l0s planting orchards, vineyards and native plants, he discovered the land had already been an oasis to an ancient people long before he ever set foot on it. Ever since then, George and his wife, Sue, devoted themselves to preserving the area as a place where people could learn ahout the natural environment and ancient culture. And even though the Kellys have passed on, that vision is continued today bv Kristie and her husband, Rodney, who bought the Kelly Place in 1980. Kristie, a native Nebraskan, came to Colorado in the 70s to work for Colvig Silver Camps based in Durango. She bought Kelly Place with the intent of using it as an outdoor education school. In 19S6 she adopted the bed and breakfast idea to allow more people to explore and learn more about the Southwest. rooms There are eight tidy, camp-styl- e in the main lodge, all with private baths and many with hunk beds. There are also three spacious adobe cabins with deluxe beds and full kitchenettes. queen-size- d The cabins are done in a modern Southwestern decor, with lots of natural wood and wrought iron accents. And while the cabins are conducive to stretching out and just relaxing. Kristie says few people actually get the chance to do much of that. People come here looking for thats comfortable, but they don't spend a lot of time talking on the phone or watching TV, she says. Thats because there are simply too many activities beckoning guests. Besides the hiking opportunities, guests can also partake in horseback rides among the ruins or luxury camping trips with dinners. wagon rides and chuck-w'ago- n Kelly Place is also home to the nonprofit McElmo Research Institute. In conjunction with the BLM and Elderhostel, the institute is constantly involved in archaeological digs and stabilization of sites. In addition to digs, there are classes in Native American crafts and culture. Kelly Place has its own pottery studio The Grist Mill Inn, Monticello, Utah Mill Inns owner Dianne doesnt look crazy. But exactly what people said she decided to restore Monticcllos decrepit old flour mill, which hadnt been used since the mid 60s. Yet, as Dianne and her husband. Ry- e- Grist ArAiour in i f iM Where to find it: P.O. Box 156, Monticello, Utah, 84535; 64 South Third Street; (800) 645-376- What you pay: $72 - $92. What you get: 7 rooms in main inn, 4 in Private baths and TVs; kitchenette available Outdoor, screened hot tub; screened porch, library, gift shop. What to do: Central to Moab, la Sal and Abajo mountains, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Gulch Primitive Area, Natural Bridges National Monument. What's on the menu: Muffins, cereal, fresh fruit, coffee and hot entrees. What else: Take a gander through the photo albums detailing the entire restoration - you have to see it to believe it. adjacent 'granary.' 6 Cross Currents - February 1 8, 2000 both Monticello natives who recently moved back after living in Salt Lake City down to woik in 1987, the naysay-whe- n crs began to change their tune, For two years, we created this magic," says Dianne, sitting in an over- stuffed chair in the inns plush lobby. The town people loved watching it turn into something beautiful. After one and a half years of refurbish - gt Where to find it: 14663 Road G, or (800) Cortez, 81321. (970) 565-312745-488www.kellyplace.com What you pay: $59 - $ 125, all year. What you get: 8 rooms in main lodge; 3 deluxe cabins, oil with private baths, queensized beds, and kitchenettes. One cabin available with Jacuzzi and fireplace. tour. Hike What to do: Take a Take Sand in bike a potor Canyon. nearby tery workshop. Central to Mesa Verde, mountains and rivers. What's on the menu: Dowrthome, country-breakfasts with homemade biscuits, style Southwestern entrees, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and homemade granola. What else: Help yourself to brownies and lemonade. Chock out the beaded lanterns on the patio and unique jeans bedspreads made by a Dolores seamstress. 6 self-guide-d Top to bottom: The front porches on the Kelly Place's adobe cabins afford unri valed views of Sleeping Ute Mountain. This restored kiva is less than 100 feet from the Kelly Place's main lodge. which is built back into a cave and stays However, Kristie says most guests dont remarkably cool even on the hottest days. need much instruction at all, they seem to For the novice artist, pottery workshops are draw inspiration merely by being there. Theres definitely a spirit here, she offered in which students dig their own pieces. says, and I think its a good spirit day and create puebloan-styl- e ing, the Grist Mill Inn opened in 1989. And Monticello didnt just gain a new inn, it regained a piece of history. "The town had used it for so many years and there were so many memories, says Dianne, who just couldnt bare to part with some of the original equipment. As a such as the result, several large pieces original scale and giant flour sifter were restored and now serve as decor and focal points of the inns interior. In addition to - - this, Dianne added some touches of her own, including collections of antique phones and sewing machines. My mom and granddad are pack-rat- s, says Diannes daughter Kim, who caretakes and lives on the premises. The mill contains seven guest rooms, each with TVs and private baths, and named for different family members. Each room was attractively decorated by Dianne in country fashion. The cozy rooms also feature carpeting and soothing shades of mauve, hunter green and blue. r There arc four more rooms to the mill in a restored granary that offers a kitchenette. Guests also have the option of watching TV in a communal lounge, soaking in the screened outdoor hot tub, hanging out by the first-flofireplace or third-flolibrary. There retreating to the wall-to-w- all next-doo- or or is also a gift shop featuring local products. As Dianne sees it, the Grist Mill suits guests varying moods. Theres space to sit; space to visit; space to be alone." Left: The rooms at the Grist Mill Inn, such as the Bailey Suite, are named for the owner's family members. |