Towaoc is home to Colorado’s first tribal gaming facility and the largest casino in the Four Corners regions. Non-gamblers flock to the area to visit Ute Tribal Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Four Corners National Monument and other natural and historic sites. Local hotels cater to different tastes and budgets.
The only hotel within the Towaoc city limits is the Ute Mountain Casino, Hotel and Resort. Gamers engage in slots, video machines, blackjack, poker, bingo and keno, whether playing the nickel slots or high rolling. Kuchu’s Restaurant serves daily themed buffets and a weekend breakfast buffet. Special live entertainment events occur regularly. The casino gift shop carries Ute Mountain Pottery, Native American gifts and souvenirs. Hotel guest room décor has Anasazi accents, and suites contain king size sleigh beds and sitting rooms. The resort’s RV park offers a unique opportunity to spend a night in a teepee.
Just 14 minutes away from Towaoc in the town of Cortez, the Grizzly Roadhouse Bed & Breakfast welcomes visitors to its rural setting with mountain and mesa views. The hotel is convenient for visitors to Native American sites of Ute Mountain Tribal Park and the Mesa Verde Pueblo ruins. Grizzly Roadhouse serves authentic native foods from family recipes, like blue corn pancakes and corn quiche. Each guest room has its own sitting area with satellite television and a DVD/VCR, and the Guest Cottage comes with a full kitchen. Victorian design and antique furnishings prevail. A shrine and peace garden on the premises can be used by guests interested in spiritual therapy, and spiritual and Reiki energy work can be booked with the property’s on-site licensed therapist.
The Mesa Verde Inn provides lodgings for business travelers with Wi-Fi available. Leisure travelers can enjoy the dog walk path, volleyball court, horseshoes, seasonal solar-heated pool and barbecue charcoal pit. Overnight stays include continental breakfast, and pets are welcome and everyone has access to the guest laundry. There is no on-site restaurant, but guests can grab a bite at a local brew pub or head down to the casino in Towaoc, which is 22 minutes by car.
Where desert meets the mountains the turquoise skies inspire the name of the Best Western Turquoise Inn & Suites, a 24 minute drive from Towaoc. Suites feature separate sleeping and living areas and conveniences like microwaves, refrigerators, two televisions and in-room coffee. The hotels fountains, heated indoor pool and waterfalls form an oasis-like environment. The poolside courtyard is available for picnics or family gatherings. Guests can purchase half-price passes to Telluride Ski Resort, which is about a 90 minute drive to the north. Pets are welcome for a small fee, and each pet receives a welcome gift. Free continental breakfast is served daily and the gift shop sells homemade fudge.
The Baymont Inn & Suites-Cortez has a 100 percent smoke-free environment and free hot breakfast every day. A 24 minute drive from Towaoc, its rooms overlook La Platas, Blue Mountains and the Mesa Verde Ridge. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, fitness center and a heated indoor pool and hot tub. Some rooms come with a microwave and fridge, and a business center is available. The Anasazi Cultural Center and Mesa Verde National Park are 40 minutes away.
