The Forum looked into the transaction of the Rimrock Hotel in Naturita earlier this year. Though rumors had circulated that the hotel was under contract and to be purchased by Telluride Ski and Golf, that rumor was not substantiated. In fact, representatives from Telluride Ski and Golf stated they had no intention of purchasing the Rimrock Hotel.
In recent weeks, other rumors about the hotel’s future have been discussed.
Then, the Forum was able to confirm that the Rimrock has been purchased by the Four Seasons, a hotel group based in Miami, now opening a new hotel in Telluride, specifically Mountain Village.
Two weeks ago, the Forum spoke with Brian O’Neill, of Telluride, who is a realtor selling the new Four Seasons residence units. Then, O’Neill said he couldn’t confirm whether or not the the new Four Seasons had either been leased or purchased the Rimrock Hotel, but he knew it had been discussed. The Forum asked about the number of people the Four Seasons would employ. O’Neill said that type of information was not shared with him. He said regarding staff and housing concerns, those questions were for the developer. O’Neill only handles the sales of properties within the new Telluride hotel.
The Forum next reached out to Juan Robledo, who is the development manager of the Four Seasons project. Robledo over email did agree to speak with the Forum on May 29, but didn’t respond to specific meeting date requests.
On June 6, the Forum went on site to the Rimrock Hotel property and there spoke with night clerk Lindsey Minton. Minton acknowledged she couldn’t speak on behalf of the Rimrock Hotel, or its soon-to-be previous owner Chris Carter. Minton said said the Four Seasons did indeed purchase the hotel property and will close July 5.
Minton also said the plan is to remodel the units and create subsidized housing for approximately 150 employees. She said the Rimrock is scheduled to operate as employee housing for at least four years, but she is not sure what will happen after that.
What she is sure of is that her job will be terminated when the sale closes. She said all employees were notified. Minton said she’s known for the last nine months it was coming.
Since Minton has no affiliation with the Four Seasons, she couldn’t predict whether the incoming workforce would be local or imported. She said the SMART — San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation — bus does stop right outside the hotel each morning and transport commuting employees to Telluride for work.
She’s heard that the Four Seasons had looked into buying Norwood properties, and others in the West End too.
She said she was grateful she still had another job — she works two jobs — at Blondie’s, a food establishment the Carter family owns.
She said that reservations at the Rimrock Hotel, scheduled for after July 5, will of course be cancelled. She said the hotel has begun preparing for the transition in other clerical ways too, like taking the Rimrock Hotel off of the Expedia online hotel booking platform.
Minton said nobody can say what will happen to the old breakfast place inside the Rimrock Hotel, or Uncle Reed’s Mine Shaft Tavern down below, formerly a beloved steakhouse.
