mamavanwinkle

Hello All. For those of you who've stayed at the YMCA Estes Park..I'm not a member,and I'm trying to arrange our family reunion for July 2006. The Y doesn't accept/confirm reservations until April ..and then it is done by lottery ..1st members for each year and then non-members, ect. Does anyone have experience with making reservations here? I'm concerned we won't know until April that we didn't get in. We'll probably do one of the 3 or 4 bedroom cabin/homes or a combination of 2/3 bedroom cabins close to each other. Any advise ? Thanks!

sjde53

I've never done this either for the very same reason. But I can recommend 2 cabins close to each other, between the YMCA and downtown Estes Park. One is the Shawnee cabin at www.vrbo.com/17508. I don't know if the other has a name but it's next to the Shawnee and the phone number for reservations is 970-214-2980. There are also several property management firms, including Coldwell Banker, at www.estesparkrealestate.com. Good luck!

Sue

Retired_teacher

Although I've done this previously, my information is very dated (mid 80's). Back then we were allowed to make back-up reservations at their Snow Mountain Ranch facility on the western side of RMNP, which is much smaller and more rustic. Like you, we were not YMCA members and we ended up staying at Snow Mountain Ranch. We were disappointed at first, but still remember it as one of the best family vacations we ever spent with our kids. It's a tough call, good luck!

Kennedy3

We made reservations for the YMCA in Estes Park in May or early June for an August trip. We had no problems getting our first choice, which was a 3 bedroom cabin.

I have to say I was a little disappointed with our experience there. First, the food in the dining room was absolutely horrible. We ended up driving into town and buying food to prepare in our cabin. Also, the cabin was VERY dated, complete with paneling, linoleum in the kitchen/baths and orange carpet. (They called it "rustic." I called it just plain outdated.) And, realize that everything is very spread out. It was impossible to walk to the main areas from our cabin. Therefore, if one of us wanted to take the car in for an activity, we both had to go or the other would be stuck in the cabin. (They did have a horse-drawn wagon available but it cost something ridiculous like $10 a ride. And, you had to walk quite a ways to the wagon stop.)

I'm honestly trying to think of something positive to say about the camp and am having a hard time coming up with anything. I guess if I had known more about what to expect before going there I wouldn't have been so disappointed. Despite all this, if you do attend, I truly hope you have a wonderful time. The camp generally gets pretty good reviews so I guess I was just expecting something else. Good luck.

Kennedy3

Yikes... I do believe we stayed at the Snow Mountain Ranch facility in Grandby and not Estes Park. Soooooo sorry. Ignore the above (except the part about having a good time).

mamavanwinkle

Thanks everyone for your feedback! We've stayed at Snow Mountain Ranch before and agree about the food..it was really terrible..and I'm not a picky eater! We're planning on doing most of our eating in the cabin, if we can get one.. All we can do is try.
Again, thanks for the helpful information. Happy New Year!

sjde53

I believe you have a choice at YMCA of the Rockies--at least we did last time we stayed there but it's been about 5 years. There are the "rustic' cabins that are less expenxsive. I've never stayed in one of those, so i can't comment on them. Then there are the renovated ones, and they weren't bad.

Sue