So... you were wondering?
Answers to frequently asked questions...
Are you a Bed & Breakfast?
We are not a Bed and Breakfast. As an Inn, we offer comfortable guest accommodations but we leave meal preparations to the many capable Valley dining establishments. Your room does come well stocked with organic fair trade regular and decaf coffee, as well as a nice selection of teas and hot chocolate.
When is check in & check out?
You can check in as early as 3pm. If you need an earlier check in let us know - sometimes an earlier check in is possible. Check out time is 11am. Late check outs require an advance "okay".
How does check in & check out work?
We are pretty unique in this regard. Since both innkeepers hold outside jobs as well, we may or may not be at the Inn when you arrive. If nobody answers when you ring the bell at the side door of the house (the up hill side), simply go to the front porch and locate your room. Both rooms are clearly marked. Your door will be unlocked with the key inside your room. This allows you to come and go as you please right from the start! We will catch up with you at some point during your visit. Check out is equally informal. When you depart, simply leave the key in the room and close the door, unlocked, behind you.
How about payment?
If you booked through AirBnB.com then your payment has already been collected - so nothing to do in regard to payment. If you booked either through the StoneHouseInn.net or Booking.com websites then payment will be due upon your arrival (or at sometime during your visit). We prefer cash or check (made out to Stone House Inn), but are also happy to accept Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit or debit cards. When paying by card you may present your card in person (less expensive for us) or we can simply run the card you provided during the reservation process. In no case will charges be applied to your card before your scheduled arrival date. Our rate is $99/night + 8.9% tax.
Do you have Sattellite or Cable TV?
We do not. Our rooms each have 32" flat screen LED TVs and DVD players - with a nice selection of DVD movies in the room. We also offer Netflix and Hulu streaming services to round out your viewing options. A Redbox movie rental kiosk is located outside the City Market grocery store in Hotchkiss.
What about Wi-Fi?
We offer FREE secured Wi-Fi for our guest's use. The password is located on the room information card in your room.
Any food preparation facilities?
Our rooms do not have kitchen facilities, but do have mini-fridges with separate freezers. Your room also features a microwave, coffee pot, electric hot water kettle and a good selection of plates, bowls, glasses (even wine and shot glasses as well as beer mugs waiting in the freezer!), silverware and basic kitchen utensils (wine and bottle openers and can opener).
What dining options are available in Crawford?
Where can I purchase some wine or beer?
Honestly, if you are in search of local wine, spirits or beer you have a lot of options. If you want something convenient to your room, head a half mile south, out of town, to The Desperado (convenience store, liquor store and gas station). The Desperado will have a decent, but smallish, selection including some locally produced options. Tri-R Liquors in Hotchkiss, next to the City Market grocery, has just about anything you might desire - including a section of local wines and spirits. Of course, the North Fork Valley is well known for wine. We have 13 wineries, many with tasting rooms - take my advice and spend an afternoon sampling! Some nice options include Leroux Creek Inn and Vineyards, west of Hotchkiss on 3100 Road, a few miles north of the highway, Azura and Stone Cottage Cellars both north of Paonia, Black Bridge Winery east of Paonia and Delicious Orchards tasting room west of Paonia. Delicious Orchards also produces a popular line of hard and traditional ciders (Big B's brand). There is also Revolution Brewing in Paonia - a watering hole for the hip crowd. Revolution is located in a converted church building on the main street of Paonia, just north of downtown,and has won a number of awards recently. Revolution is a center of activity many evenings, with occasional live music.
Where is the nearest gas station?
The Desperado is a Sinclair affiliated gas station, convenience store and mini liquor store all in one, and they are located a half mile south of town on Highway 92, just before the lake. There is a Shell station at the Hotchkiss Short Stop in downtown Hotchkiss, and there is a Conoco station at the Stop & Save just on the edge of Paonia on Highway 133. This last option will offer you the best price on gas in the Valley (sometimes significantly). All three of these locations offer well-stocked convenience stores.
I need some basic supplies. What is nearby?
Again, The Desperado is just a mile south of town on Highway 92... they will have all the convenience store basics and a little bit more.
I'm looking for an ATM. Where can I find one?
There is an ATM located in downtown Crawford outside of the First State Bank of Colorado branch - across from the Town Hall (the big stone former school house). If you have a card that participates in the surcharge-free Allpoint ATM network, then you are in luck because The Desperado has an Allpoint ATM in the store. There are also multiple ATMs in both Hotchkiss and Paonia. For those with a Credit Union card participating in the surcharge-free Co-Op network, check out the ATM at the Delta County Federal Credit Union - adjacent to the City Market grocery.
How far to the North Rim of the Black Canyon?
The North Rim of the Black Canyon is 13 miles from the Inn. Take Highway 92 south about two miles and make your first right after Crawford State Park lake. Follow the signs because the road twists and turns. The last several miles are unpaved. The drive offers lovely views even before you get to the chasm!
How far to the South Rim of the Black Canyon?
The South Rim of the Black Canyon is quite a drive - because you have to drive around the canyon. You could drive south on Highway 92 to connect with Highway 50 and then head west towards Montrose, or you could drive northwest on Highway 92 to Delta, south to Montrose on Highway 50 and then east on Highway 50 to the park entrance. Give yourself 60-75 minutes via Delta or 1.5 hours heading south and then west. The route south towards Gunnison will reward you with amazing views, but it is a longer drive.
Is there any night life in Crawford or the North Fork Valley?
Well, it depends on what your idea of "night life" is. One favorite activity is to watch the stars on a clear night (check to see if a meteor shower is scheduled during your visit by clicking here!) A good place to watch the night sky is at the Needle Rock trail head parking area, about 4 miles east of Crawford (turn east at the post office and take Dogwood Ave out a couple miles to Needle Rock Road on the south side of Needle Rock). Not a single point of artificial light to be seen... plus you are at the base of the awesome Needle Rock!
Other nighttime entertainment could include...
Are you a Bed & Breakfast?
We are not a Bed and Breakfast. As an Inn, we offer comfortable guest accommodations but we leave meal preparations to the many capable Valley dining establishments. Your room does come well stocked with organic fair trade regular and decaf coffee, as well as a nice selection of teas and hot chocolate.
When is check in & check out?
You can check in as early as 3pm. If you need an earlier check in let us know - sometimes an earlier check in is possible. Check out time is 11am. Late check outs require an advance "okay".
How does check in & check out work?
We are pretty unique in this regard. Since both innkeepers hold outside jobs as well, we may or may not be at the Inn when you arrive. If nobody answers when you ring the bell at the side door of the house (the up hill side), simply go to the front porch and locate your room. Both rooms are clearly marked. Your door will be unlocked with the key inside your room. This allows you to come and go as you please right from the start! We will catch up with you at some point during your visit. Check out is equally informal. When you depart, simply leave the key in the room and close the door, unlocked, behind you.
How about payment?
If you booked through AirBnB.com then your payment has already been collected - so nothing to do in regard to payment. If you booked either through the StoneHouseInn.net or Booking.com websites then payment will be due upon your arrival (or at sometime during your visit). We prefer cash or check (made out to Stone House Inn), but are also happy to accept Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit or debit cards. When paying by card you may present your card in person (less expensive for us) or we can simply run the card you provided during the reservation process. In no case will charges be applied to your card before your scheduled arrival date. Our rate is $99/night + 8.9% tax.
Do you have Sattellite or Cable TV?
We do not. Our rooms each have 32" flat screen LED TVs and DVD players - with a nice selection of DVD movies in the room. We also offer Netflix and Hulu streaming services to round out your viewing options. A Redbox movie rental kiosk is located outside the City Market grocery store in Hotchkiss.
What about Wi-Fi?
We offer FREE secured Wi-Fi for our guest's use. The password is located on the room information card in your room.
Any food preparation facilities?
Our rooms do not have kitchen facilities, but do have mini-fridges with separate freezers. Your room also features a microwave, coffee pot, electric hot water kettle and a good selection of plates, bowls, glasses (even wine and shot glasses as well as beer mugs waiting in the freezer!), silverware and basic kitchen utensils (wine and bottle openers and can opener).
What dining options are available in Crawford?
- Diamond Joe Café & Saloon is directly across the street from the Inn. This café is new and inhabits the same building as the former Boardwalk Restaurant. Their commonly-full parking lot probably speaks for itself. Diamond Joe's is presently open for lunch and dinner only on Monday - Saturday (11am - 9pm), and Sunday for brunch (11am - 2pm).
- The Old Mad Dog Café is just a block up the hill from the Inn. The original incarnation of this restaurant was opened in 1997 by rock/blues legend Joe Cocker. The Old Mad Dog Café is also open for lunch and dinner only. Live music on the patio some weekend nights in summer.
- Zack's BBQ in Hotchkiss (located on a residential street behind the City Market grocery store - look for the yellow sign). Zack's is a gathering spot for locals and has been serving up traditional breakfasts (and lunch and dinner) for over 30 years - Zack's is a local institution and is famous for its Texas BBQ.
- Nelle's in Paonia. Nelle's provides a unique experience and fantastic and creative breakfast fare. They are located on the main street in Paonia and specialize in local and organic fare. My personal vote for the best breakfast in the Valley. But be aware that there are only a few small tables inside this tiny hole-in-the-wall and a few tables outside.
- Living Farm Café in Paonia. The Living Farm Café is also on the main street of town and has a nice dining room and a nice shady deck. The Living Farm Café features local and organic options as well as vegan and gluten free options for all meals.
- The Flying Fork Café in Paonia is a nice experience all around. High quality food and a nice dining atmosphere (both inside, and on the patio under the apple trees). For a really nice meal, I often recommend this spot at the top of the list.
- PJ's Pub in Hotchkiss is a favorite for those with higher standards for their food. The atmosphere is appealing and the food tasty. PJ's is only open for dinners.
- Louie's Pizza in Paonia. Louie's is on the main street and has really tasty pizza and plenty of specialty pizzas to choose from. Live music some weekend nights.
- Sno Dogs in Paonia (about a half mile west of town on the highway). Sno Dogs offers lots of interesting takes on the hot dog and they are popular locally - plus the husband and wife team that run it are really nice.
- The Old River Road Trading Post. This place is really hard to find (15495 Black Bridge Road, Paonia - use your GPS) because it is in the middle of the countryside between Paonia and Black Bridge winery, but if you are of a hippie persuasion or simply appreciate the counter culture, you really should check this out. They are open every day except Saturday and there is a dining room and a great natural foods store. The meals are serve-yourself and most days simply by donation. The food ranges from really great to blah, but it is guaranteed to be healthy and local. There is no menu and some days meals have an ethnic theme. This is an experience more than a restaurant... I will mention that two dear acquaintances, separately, have seriously considered moving to the area because of this place. Not for everyone... but for those who "get it", it's a treasure!
- Delicious Orchards Café - two miles west of Paonia on Highway 133 - is located at a great local foods establishment/orchard that you should visit anyway... Pick up fruit and veggies directly from the grower and don't miss the apple cider. Big B's Ciders (traditional and hard) is based here - and there is a tasting room for cider and local wine. If you are visiting in the fall you MUST get the cold pressed fresh cider - the best to be found short of pressing your own! The café has a simple but delightful menu, heavy on local and fresh foods.
Where can I purchase some wine or beer?
Honestly, if you are in search of local wine, spirits or beer you have a lot of options. If you want something convenient to your room, head a half mile south, out of town, to The Desperado (convenience store, liquor store and gas station). The Desperado will have a decent, but smallish, selection including some locally produced options. Tri-R Liquors in Hotchkiss, next to the City Market grocery, has just about anything you might desire - including a section of local wines and spirits. Of course, the North Fork Valley is well known for wine. We have 13 wineries, many with tasting rooms - take my advice and spend an afternoon sampling! Some nice options include Leroux Creek Inn and Vineyards, west of Hotchkiss on 3100 Road, a few miles north of the highway, Azura and Stone Cottage Cellars both north of Paonia, Black Bridge Winery east of Paonia and Delicious Orchards tasting room west of Paonia. Delicious Orchards also produces a popular line of hard and traditional ciders (Big B's brand). There is also Revolution Brewing in Paonia - a watering hole for the hip crowd. Revolution is located in a converted church building on the main street of Paonia, just north of downtown,and has won a number of awards recently. Revolution is a center of activity many evenings, with occasional live music.
Where is the nearest gas station?
The Desperado is a Sinclair affiliated gas station, convenience store and mini liquor store all in one, and they are located a half mile south of town on Highway 92, just before the lake. There is a Shell station at the Hotchkiss Short Stop in downtown Hotchkiss, and there is a Conoco station at the Stop & Save just on the edge of Paonia on Highway 133. This last option will offer you the best price on gas in the Valley (sometimes significantly). All three of these locations offer well-stocked convenience stores.
I need some basic supplies. What is nearby?
Again, The Desperado is just a mile south of town on Highway 92... they will have all the convenience store basics and a little bit more.
I'm looking for an ATM. Where can I find one?
There is an ATM located in downtown Crawford outside of the First State Bank of Colorado branch - across from the Town Hall (the big stone former school house). If you have a card that participates in the surcharge-free Allpoint ATM network, then you are in luck because The Desperado has an Allpoint ATM in the store. There are also multiple ATMs in both Hotchkiss and Paonia. For those with a Credit Union card participating in the surcharge-free Co-Op network, check out the ATM at the Delta County Federal Credit Union - adjacent to the City Market grocery.
How far to the North Rim of the Black Canyon?
The North Rim of the Black Canyon is 13 miles from the Inn. Take Highway 92 south about two miles and make your first right after Crawford State Park lake. Follow the signs because the road twists and turns. The last several miles are unpaved. The drive offers lovely views even before you get to the chasm!
How far to the South Rim of the Black Canyon?
The South Rim of the Black Canyon is quite a drive - because you have to drive around the canyon. You could drive south on Highway 92 to connect with Highway 50 and then head west towards Montrose, or you could drive northwest on Highway 92 to Delta, south to Montrose on Highway 50 and then east on Highway 50 to the park entrance. Give yourself 60-75 minutes via Delta or 1.5 hours heading south and then west. The route south towards Gunnison will reward you with amazing views, but it is a longer drive.
Is there any night life in Crawford or the North Fork Valley?
Well, it depends on what your idea of "night life" is. One favorite activity is to watch the stars on a clear night (check to see if a meteor shower is scheduled during your visit by clicking here!) A good place to watch the night sky is at the Needle Rock trail head parking area, about 4 miles east of Crawford (turn east at the post office and take Dogwood Ave out a couple miles to Needle Rock Road on the south side of Needle Rock). Not a single point of artificial light to be seen... plus you are at the base of the awesome Needle Rock!
Other nighttime entertainment could include...
- The Old Mad Dog Café in Crawford has occasional live music on summer weekend nights.
- Pickin' in the Park. Thursday nights in August at the Paonia Town Park. This a great free event with fantastic musical acts and a real festival atmosphere!
- Catch a movie. Check out the community owned one-screen Paradise Theatre in Paonia, or the Tru-View Drive In Theatre in Delta (mid-April through September).
- Live music can often be found at: The Paradise Theatre in Paonia, The Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia, Louie's Pizza in Paonia. Tucker's Pizza, Pub and Arcade in Hotchkiss also has live music many weekends. A comprehensive events calendar for the Valley does not exist, but check out the websites of the venues mentioned for their individual events calendars.
- Have a drink on the town. The Old Mad Dog Café is a half block north of the Inn and Diamond Joe Café & Saloon is across the street. Other options are: PJ's Pub in Hotchkiss (small and intimate), Pat's Bar & Grill in Hotchkiss (small and intimate), Tucker's Pizza Pub & Arcade in Hotchkiss, or Louie's Pizza in Paonia. And of course, local favorite hang out spot, Revolution Brewing, is on the main street of Paonia too!
