Picture this: Bright-white rocking chairs beckon your behind at a grand Victorian home turned Bross Hotel Bed & Breakfast. Tucked on a shady street in downtown Paonia, this crimson-painted, three-story beauty is the historical yet contemporary home-away-from-home of your dreams — filled with comfy beds, deep tubs, scrumptious breakfasts and more.
Since 1906, the Bross has welcomed guests to unique rooms named after fruits like wild raspberries, sugar plums and sweet cherries. They’re doing a fine job of it, too given their 2025, 2024 and 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award status.
The second-story balcony begs you to people watch folks passing on Onarga Avenue. Or grab a cup of herbal tea and perch yourself in the parlor with a travel guide to plan out the rest of your trip. Don’t hesitate to ask the owners for tips; they know all the best local spots.
Oh, we’re definitely going with breakfast. Venture downstairs to the dining room — it has an 18-foot bar — for fresh fruit, flaky pastries and savory egg dishes. Have you ever tasted a Torte Milanese (eggs, Swiss cheese, smoked ham, spinach, roasted red peppers and garlic)? Because one might be on the menu during your stay! Everything is made from scratch, and the inn works with local farmers to procure seasonal produce whenever possible.
Throughout the year, innkeepers host cozy “Live at the Bross” concerts with local and national touring acts alike. Past artists include Tim Eriksen, The Barefoot Movement and Damien Jurado. Sit and stay for a spell as these musician’s strum guitars and lull you into a peaceful state with their lyrical voices.
The Perfect Pear Room is our favorite. Why’s that? Oh, because it comes with one of the hotel’s OG claw-footed tubs. Fill it up with bubbles and watch the breeze blow through the cottonwoods outside. Then, sink beneath the sheets of the plush king bed covered in a cozy duvet comforter with an addictively good mystery novel.
“I love the Bross. This was my third visit to the hotel and sitting on the porches with the huge cottonwood trees rustling out front of the hotel reminds me so much of my childhood town. The quite peaceful streets, the friendly small-town feel, and the great gravel and road riding make the 4.5 hour trip from Boulder all worthwhile. Oh, but wait, the amazing breakfast that Mike and Suzanne cook up for their guests are to die for. You won't find a better place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Paonia.” — Patty L., Tripadvisor
Plan your visit around Paonia Cherry Days (July) for the ultimate weekend of cherry pies and fireworks. Just outside of town, Paonia State Park’s fields of wildflowers, aspen forests and abundant wildlife make it the place to be each summer. Walk along Grand Avenue and pop into galleries and shops that are members of the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition — Blue Sage Center for the Arts, Lucille Lucas Gallery and Horse Cow 57 are some of our favorites. Then, sip Colorado-made vino at local vineyards like Qutori Wines and Orchard Valley Farms. Round out your adventure by grabbing a freshly baked cinnamon roll from Paonia Bread Works and cycling through “Colorado’s farm-to-table capital.”
Photos courtesy of Bross Hotel Bed & Breakfast