Shiprock

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Heron Lake State Park

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You will cross this bridge over McElmo Creek to enter the property. 


Anasazi Sites @ Ancient Echoes

Under new stewardship beginning January, 2021, we have been working day and night for the past three and a half years caring for the land and renovating the historic lodge with a commitment to beauty, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and efficiency. This magical place, surrounded by over 500,000 acres of protected land, is a 38 acre desert oasis near Mesa Verde, Sand Canyon and Hovenweep.  

Pitch your tent or park your small pop up or tiny rv (car and pull behind must be under 20 ft total) in a heritage orchard under and alongside magnificent red cliffs. Guests can enjoy produce from our community gardens, fruit from the orchard when ripe and a well stocked community kitchen to cook in, as well as gas and charcoal bar-b-ques. We also have a bathroom and hot shower designated for campers as well as an additional public bathroom in the main lodge.

Guests have full access to the grounds with a variety of lovely sit spots throughout, consisting of hammocks, chairs, and tables with sun umbrellas where you can work on your computer (if you must, we do have fast reliable wifi), nap, read a good book, or daydream, as well as three unique red rock canyons that merge here, with pour overs that become rushing waterfalls when we are blessed with a good rain. Both an archeological and horticultural preserve, the property includes pear, apricot, mulberry, and peach trees, as well as a 50 plus year old apple orchard planted by George Kelly, a renowned horticulturist from Denver who came here in the 1960's with his wife Sue to create an oasis in the desert. You will also find hundreds of mature native and introduced trees, annual and perennial flowers, native grasses, and cacti throughout the property. We also have a labyrinth that begins directly below Sleeping Ute Mountain range which guests may ambulate.

Guests also have access to The Lodge, the original  hacienda on the property built by George Kelly in the mid 1960's. You are welcome to relax at one of the tables in the shaded lodge patio, surrounded by perennial gardens and mature trees, as well as hang out and visit in the newly remodeled lodge living/dining room on a cozy couch in front of an aspen log gas fireplace. The space has plenty of board games to entertain, and fabulous art from all over the world. The lodge also has a wonderfully eclectic and fascinating library, curated by 4 different sets of stewards over 50 years, which you are welcome to explore and borrow from during your stay. There is a desk with a guest computer and printer for your use in the library, as well as maps of the area, brochures, and a public bathroom nearby.

We border Canyons of the Ancients immediately to the North, a 174,000 acre National Monument with the largest concentration of Ancestral Puebloan ("cliff-dweller") and archeological sites in the United States. A favorite public access point to The Canyons of the Ancients is the Sand Canyon trailhead, a five minute drive from the property up the main road. It is visited by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders alike. McElmo creek flows along the Southern Border of the property and the highest peak of The Ute Mountain Range towers over us to the South. This 300,000 plus acres of wild land was valued as a sacred place by the Weeminuche Ute band. It still plays an important role in the ceremonies of their descendants, the Ute Mountain Tribe, and is not open to the public. 

We are a genuine "oasis" on exquisite high desert land with profound ancient puebloan sites within steps. Guests have access to numerous significant, documented prehistoric Anasazi/Ancient Puebloan sites throughout the property, including the remains of a 13 room pueblo and 2 intact kivas, one of which has been restored by Road Scholar Groups, staying here over the past forty years, alongside archeologists from The Canyons of the Ancients. These sites date from the mid-Pueblo II to mid Pueblo III periods (ca. AD nine eighty- twelve twenty five) and guests are welcome to climb down inside the kivas and experience an intimate and awe inspiring encounter with the way our ancestors lived over a thousand years ago. Guests may follow our self-guided tour, originally known as “George Kelly’s 39-cent tour,” to visit each of the 12 main archeological sites on the property and learn about their history. It is very unusual to have this sort of intimacy with the ancients. 

Sutcliffe Vineyard, with exceptional biodynamic wines and fabulous atmosphere, is five minutes away down road G and is open every afternoon for wine tastings. You can book a trail ride into the Monument to see Ancestral sites with our immediate neighbors to the west, Rodney and Kristi Carriker of Canyon Trails Ranch, former stewards of Kelly Place from the early 1980's to  2004. Our neighbors up the driveway have fruit orchards galore (apples, pears, plums, apricots, and peaches) as well as locally raised lamb and pasture raised chickens. All we need to do is make a phone call and Kim will come down with as many pasture raised fresh eggs as you want for a bargain. There are farmers and seed savers throughout the McElmo canyon, and local farm stands and farmers markets in the canyon, Cortez, Dolores, and Mancos can be found Wednesday through Saturday from June-October.

Hovenweep is a thirty minute drive past the Sand canyon trail head and the entrance to Mesa Verde is a 40 minute drive back through Cortez. Ute Mountain Tribal park is an easy thirty minute drive towards four corners. Farther out you'll find Valley of the Gods, Canyon de Chelly, Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness area, Monument Valley, Chaco Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park. 

Wonderful live music, art, restaurants and wild adventures are easily accessed in the nearby mountain ski/biking/hiking/rafting towns of Durango and Telluride. A little closer to home you can explore the mostly undiscovered Colorado towns of Mancos, a growing artist community and Dolores, known for the beauty of the McPhee Reservoir and the Dolores river that flows through this eclectic small town. 

Truly a magical, unique, and abundant place. Ancient Echoes @ Kelly Place is an ideal home base for your Southwest adventure.

The driveway to Ancient Echoes affords you a view of the red rocks and mesas inside the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, directly behind us.

The Pour Over - one of our campsites tucked into the cliff with a waterfall just beyond the picnic table when we get a good desert rain. 

An overview of the property as a whole. The camping village is in the NE corner.

A view of the Ancient Echoes from the cliff directly above. The camping village is in the left corner of the picture.

View of the casitas and the entrance to the canyon from the NE Corner of the camping village. Directly ahead is a vegetable garden for our guests.

Four directions vegetable garden in center of the camping village for our guests to harvest and enjoy.

A view of the cliffside camp spots picnic table directly beyond the four directions garden.

One of two kivas on the property dating from the mid-Pueblo II to mid Pueblo III periods (ca. AD 980-1225). You are welcome to climb down inside. 

Red rock path, crafted by Rush, our rock artisan friend from Durango with help from Georgia (our tractor) and lots of willing hands.

Campfires

There are 3 Tipis in The Views area, this is the biggest, The Raven.  

Bright Star Campground

We have COMPLIMENTARY Wifi, Drinking Water, Ice, Hot Showers, Bathrooms, Shade, and an equipped Camper's Kitchen for our guests to enjoy from April 15 - Oct 15!  

There are TIPIS, CAMPING CABINS, TENT and BOONDOCK SITES.  WE ALSO HAVE A NAVAJO HOGAN (wood yurt) OPEN-YEAR ROUND. All of our sites are not listed here.  We can also accommodate groups and small events but not public events.  We have a private covered group site as well.  

Bright Star Campground: Once used as a church camp, it is now a Campground for all to enjoy!

We are a perfectly located vacation campground on 40 acres with amenities and wide-open spaces.  Amenities include hot showers, an equipped community kitchen, a pavilion with hammocks, tables, ping pong, etc.  Enjoy complimentary coffee, eggs, filtered drinking water and more.  

Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic mountain/mesa views of the Four Corners region, all only 5 miles southeast of Cortez.  

We are in an arid desert climate. Water is scarce, stored in cisterns for use in camp. Because of this we ask that you be conservative with water use in camp.

We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that Cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. 

There are many things to do/see nearby: Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. There are museums and cultural centers in the area as well.

Durango is 45 min, Telluride is 1.5 hrs away, and Moab is about 2.5 hours away-including Arches and Canyonlands National parks.

The best/nearest airport is in Durango.  Cortez has Denver Air (Key Lime Air) with connections to Denver and Phoenix.  The nearest large international airport is in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.

We also have this canvas Springbar Tent already setup to rent.  The Views area is in the distance where you see the Tipi in front of Mesa Verde. 

Sunsets are so beautiful. Try not to miss it!

The kitchen is central and for all our campers to use. 

Inside the off-grid RAVEN with 2 Queen beds, optional propane fire 🔥 pit inside, sofa, pump sink, ambient lighting, charging battery & fan.. 

Enjoy amazing views and incredible night skies!

Back of Girls shower house and the yellow bld is the back of the Kitchen. 

Camping in the Mesas

This land was inhabited by the Ancient Anasazi and Pueblo people. The Anasazi Heritage Museum and archeological ruins are two miles away. There are ruins and sites on this land that have yet to be excavated. Many different ancient people came through this land, left and sites were inhabited by other people. One group of people would come and build upon the sites of another group, and taking part of their culture with them. 

The cabin also has a picnic area and firepit just outside of it as well. 

Here is a shot of the bunk bed in the cabin! They were very comfortable.

One of my favorite things about this site, is that they have a fully fenced in dog park, right outside the cabin!

In the Lodge nearby, there is a comfortable room to relax in. 

The cabin also has a TV with things like Netflix loaded onto it. 

The lodge also has a larger kitchen if you need to make a bigger meal.

Fall in the canyon. Taken from the Ladder Alcove, just around the corner from the Cliff House.

NOTE: the tipi is no longer on the property

Sage Canyon

Stay on the flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in historic McElmo Canyon just 40 minutes from Mesa Verde and 20 minutes from the town of Cortez. Our property features red rock cliff walls, a private rock alcove, comfortable amenities, internet, and sweeping mountain views. A perfect place to base yourself for your next creative endeavor or for rejuvenating and exploring in the wilds of the four corners.

Head just 10 minutes down canyon to Sand Canyon—public access to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument—for hiking and mountain biking trails. Further down Road G is Hovenweep National Monument where you can view Pueblo ruins precariously built on top of boulders and canyon rims. At the end of the day, stop by our neighbor Sutcliffe Vineyards for year-round local wine tasting.

Nearby - Telluride (2), Cedar Mesa and Monument Valley (1.5-2), the Four Corners Monument (45), Durango (1.25), Shiprock (45), Mesa Verde (40), Cortez (20), Hovenweep (45).

Early morning light over the canyon in mid-winter.

Nakation Group Booking

Step out of your tent in the morning, and the sun kisses your cheeks... All of them. Private adult only (18+) Clothing Optional dry tent camping set on 20 rural acres. 

Book the entire campground for your Group Stay, for  those who are looking for a private Getaway. 

Re-use, Re-purpose, Up-cycle... We are committed to making great treasures from one man's trash!  Our sites have tables and chairs created from old tires.  We are re-using old pallets to create tent platforms, benches and signs.    Our little campground is primitive, but we are a work in progress, with amenities coming in the future.   

Property butts up against a large BLM area, with plenty of room to take a walk in the buff. We have an above ground pool if you would prefer to relax and skinny dip.  Or if you're preferring to sight see, there are numerous places to go around our area.  

In New Mexico, in 45 minutes or less you can be at one of the following:  Navajo Lake State Park, Aztec Ruins, Glade Run Recreational area, Jackson Lake Wildlife Refuge, Farmington Lake Recreational area.  San Juan Quality Waters in the San Juan River offers world class fishing.  The Animas River offers fun river floats.  Chaco Canyon National Park is only 2 hours away.

In Colorado, we are about an hour from these attractions:  Mesa Verde National Park, McPhee Reservoir, Canyon of the Ancients, Lake Nighthorse Day Use Recreation area, Chimney Rock and Purgatory Ski Resort.  La Plata Canyon has great mountain hiking and is only 30 minutes away. 

We look forward to assisting you in a memorable Getaway!

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