Set in a scenic alpine valley within the San Juan Mountains subrange of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado, Dunton Hot Springs was originally a small mining town named Dunton founded in 1885. The town was largely abandoned by the early 1900s, and, come the 1990s, German investor Christoph Henkel bought the town, preserving and transforming the area and its remaining cabin structures into a luxury resort property. Beginning in late 2022, Dunton Hot Springs embarked on a multimillion-dollar phased renovation, which completed in January.
The entire project, completed over the course of about three years, included enhancements to guest cabins and communal spaces, a redesign of the Saloon and Dance Hall, and the renovation of the Potter House. The latter was the final portion of the multiyear transformation, and it’s one of Dunton Hot Springs’ largest accommodations with five bedrooms, expansive living areas, and striking views of the surrounding wilderness. Among the updated guest cabins is Chuck’s, one of Dunton’s original structures built more than 130 years ago. The cabin was restored by London-based architecture and design studio Waldo Works, and it features hand-hewn log walls, custom-built furniture, a wood-burning stove, and four bedrooms. Additional cabins that received restorative updates are Well House and Major Ross.
The transformed Saloon and Dance Hall provides a communal space for gathering and dining, including a new wine cellar added as part of the renovation project. An upstairs private dining and lounge space also was added for groups and events.
“This restoration has been about breathing new energy into the bones of Dunton while keeping its soul intact,” says Christina Rossi, director of sales, marketing, and public relations at Dunton Destinations (the larger brand that represents and operates Dunton Hot Springs and several other resorts in Colorado), in a prepared statement. “From updating newer cabins to reconfiguring and reimagining older accommodations, our goal was to offer a more cohesive experience regardless of which historic cabin guests call home.”
The resort accommodates groups of up to 60 attendees, and it also provides access to many team-building options, such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter and horseback riding and rock climbing in summer.
