Canyon Bathing and Campus Vibes at One of Colorado's Most Unique Hotels

What stands out about Hotel Maverick

The coffee shop patio, pump track and campus behind. Photo courtesy Hotel Maverick

The most unique aspects of Hotel Maverick are its college campus location and student-staffing model. The 60-room propertyl is located on the Colorado Mesa University campus, walkable to the university’s sports and arts facilities. This makes it convenient for parents visiting their kids at school, as well as those attending games and events on campus (notably, the hotel is adjacent to the brand new Asteria Theater, which routinely hosts both university performances as well as national headlining acts including musicians, comedians, and lecturers.

The hotel has a unique student/staffing model that integrates with the university’s hospitality management program. The hotel actively recruits and employs CMU students in various roles, providing them with valuable real-world experience in the hospitality industry. Students, as such, gain practical skills in areas like front desk operations, housekeeping, food and beverage service, and guest relations – all while working towards their degree (and yes, the students are paid appropriate wages for their work). The experience provides students with valuable resume-building opportunities and prepares them for successful careers in the hospitality field.

Rooftop dining at The Devil’s Kitchen

Photo courtesy Hotel Maverick

Hotel Maverick also features fine dining on its rooftop. Devil’s Kitchen named after the iconic natural landmark about 10 minutes’ drive from the hotel, is pricey – plan to spend $30 or so on an entree, unless you opt for the cheaper Devil’s Burger. But, unlike at most post spots, your chance of leaving with leftovers is strong. Rarely are portion sizes so generous at a high-end restaurant. I had a plate of the seasonal ravioli, stuffed with green chili and cheese in this case, and it was fantastic. Paired with a shared plate of mussels to start, I was stuffed upon leaving the restaurant. Devil’s Kitchen is known, however, for its bison tamale, a mashup of ground bison, veggies, cotija, demi-glace, and sour cream. One of my co-diners ordered it, and we all dove in for photos as soon as it showed up (see below).

The restaurant’s cocktail program is among the best in western Colorado. Many cocktail recipes are courtesy of CMU Trustees. During my stay I became a fan of the mezcal-heavy Desert Bloom, and the bar also offers a variety of mocktails.

The hotel brought the Japanese concept of forest bathing to the desert

Our view while forest bathing. Photo: Tim Wenger

The term “Canyon bathing” sounds gritty and buff. In truth, however, it’s a mindful exercise built on the concept of Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, a practice that entails little more than spending time in the forest for no other reason than to spend time in the forest. The desert version, hosted by local naturalist Zebulon Miracle (real name, no peyote) was the coolest aspect of my stay at Hotel Maverick. We headed to a trailhead overlooking Colorado National Monument, hiked in a short distance, and sat overlooking the surrounding canyon country as Miracle guided our small group through a practice of awareness and appreciation.

The program, bookable through the Hotel Maverick’s front desk, is a unique initiative designed to encourage guests to immerse themselves in the distinct natural beauty of western Colorado. The experience was at once both meditative and activating. I felt calmed – by the surroundings as much as the guided practice.

Rooms at Hotel Maverick

My room. Photo: Tim Wenger

My room at Hotel Maverick, a king room with a balcony overlooking the campus, was clean, comfortable, and efficient. When researching hotels online, I often find it tough to accurately discern the property’s level of cleanliness, comfort, and class. As a travel editor who spends 50 nights or more per year in hotels, I’ve developed a system to delineate whether a hotel is “nice” or “filthy.” It breaks down into the following aspects, and this is what I use to rate hotels:

• According to photos on the hotel’s website or a third-party booking site, does the hotel accurately represent the vibe it purports to – i.e., is the decor hip, classic, retro, mid-mod? A hotel that markets itself as something other than the vibe blatantly viewable in photos is a no-go.
• Does the hotel use box springs? If the answer is yes, it’s likely a no-go. Box springs are among the most useless inventions of all time, accomplishing nothing other than taking up space while signaling a hotel’s inability to modernize and objectively assess the value delivered by its furnishing.
• Does the hotel promote its sustainability initiatives and, as appropriate, its ease of access to public transit, bicycle infrastructure, and the airport?
• How do the rest of the in-room furnishings look in photos? Are they crisp and maintained?
• Does the lobby have space to lounge and read, work remotely, or socialize?

Hotel Maverick resoundingly ticks these boxes. Let’s get deeper into each. First, the hotel markets itself as what I’d describe as “mountain (or in this case, desert) chic” – hip and modern amenities and an accessible location, but with easy access to the outdoors that make it a good basecamp for adventure. It practice it accomplishes this to a “T.” Admittedly it does sound a bit weird to be staying on a college campus on a trip that has nothing to do with the university itself, but I actually found its location inspiring – pathways line the green corridors of the campus, beckoning guests for a walk or to visit the gym in the student union center just up the way (of which guests have free access to). Walking the campus not only helped me get some steps in but it also brought me back to my own freewheeling college days (cue another Desert Bloom).

The acclaimed Bison Tamale. Photo: Tim Wenger

There was not a full-on box spring. Rather, the bed was on an elevated frame with a box-spring-like contraption. This could be replaced with a flatbed platform, giving the hotel another nod to Japanese influence to pair with the desert bathing. Outside, the hotel offers universal and Tesla charging stations and access to bicycles to commute about town. The number 3 bus from Grand Valley Transit picks up nearby. Because of its on-campus location, guests can take advantage not only of the university’s gym but also its BMX pump track and outdoor equipment rentals including river gear, skis, mountain bikes, and more. Dogs are welcome.

The lobby features a coffee shop that offers breakfast and space to lounge. I worked each morning in the coffee shop before heading out for the day. The hotel staff, from the front desk to the food and beverage outlets, were quite pleasant. It’s refreshing to interact with young people excited to doing what they’re doing – I brought this attitude into my work throughout the stay, and while this increasingly jaded 40+-year-old often falls short of the level of enthusiasm brought by college kids, I found it refreshingly nice to experience it second-hand.

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