Tucked on New Castle’s cozy Main Street, Ore House Inn is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring Mother Nature’s surrounding bounty. Two nearby state parks, Rifle Gap State Park and Harvey Gap State Park, offer days of outdoor excitement, from boating and hiking to ice-fishing and cross-country skiing. Or relax and unwind, just 20 minutes away, in the hot-springs haven of Glenwood Springs.
Built in 1892, the Ore House Inn has lived many lives as a general store, gas station, pool hall, restaurant, boarding house and — rumor has it — a brothel. Nowadays, the second floor features the updated inn. You’ll be so comfortable at the Ore House with its full kitchens, plush armchairs and soft beds piled with pillows, you’ll call it your home away from home every time you’re in New Castle.
Guest rooms are thoughtfully decorated around pop-culture and local-history themes, including the Jurassic Pok suite, which combines dinosaurs with classic video games. Think dino accent pillows and a coin-operated arcade game that doubles as a cocktail table. Plus, there’s a mural depicting an epic battle of Pikachu and Mario versus a T. rex and a Triceratops.
Hands down, it’s the themed guest rooms. Each space is one of a kind and has its own fun quirks, like the opportunity to sit on your own Iron Throne in the bathroom of the "Game of Thrones"-styled Winterfel room or the antique TV cabinet masquerading as a side table in the Tombstone room.
It’s gotta be the 1892 suite — a tribute to New Castle’s coal-mining history. You’ll feel like you’re staying in a mining camp as you read by the light of a lantern-style lamp. Sleep the night away in a wooden bunk bed with two-by-four-style headboards. Relive the town’s mining glory days through vintage paintings and photographs or the massive mural of a mule pulling a cart through a mine shaft. A surprise bonus is this room’s self-serve oxygen bar.
While not quite an amenity, wizarding-world fans will relish the Harry Potter memorabilia scattered throughout Merlin’s Bunkhouse. Sleep beneath Harry’s swift Nimbus 2000, watch a movie against the backdrop of Hogwarts castle and admire the mini Quidditch set.
This inn is full of unexpected amenities, from the comic-book collection available in The Iceberg Lounge to the EV-charging spots and extra towels provided for your trip to the hot springs.
“We had a great stay, and the room was affordable. The inn is so charming, and I loved being in New Castle. We didn’t have our pups with us, but they have pet-friendly rooms. Also loved having a kitchen with everything we needed. We will definitely be back, can’t wait to try the other themed rooms.” — Lori H., Google
You’ll be within walking distance of local eats, like topping-stacked pizzas at Hogback Pizza or fresh flapjacks and creamy pasta primavera at Lazy Bear Restaurant. Or cook for yourself after a trip down the road to the local market.
The town boasts several parks with strolling paths and playgrounds as well as easy access to the Colorado River via boat ramps and fishing spots. For more intense exercise, try a hiking trail around Mount Medaris, the peak the town is built around. It’s a moderate trek with vibrant wildflowers in warmer weather and year-round views overlooking the river valley.
Hand-feed alpacas, fawn over their fuzzy babies and shop for alpaca-fleece souvenirs — like gloves, socks, shawls and stuffed toys — at the nearby Sopris Alpaca Farm in Silt.
Take a short drive and spend the day exploring the Roaring Fork Valley with a soak in the toasty-warm pools at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort or make a reservation for a hike to Hanging Lake.
Find more ways to explore the Roaring Fork Valley
Photos courtesy of Ore House Inn