Old hotels have a way of collecting things. Antique furniture. A few eccentricities. A little mystery. At Ouray’s St. Elmo Hotel, nearly 130 years of history have left their mark. When owners Clay Bales and Jason “Jay” Raible took over, they weren’t interested in wiping the slate clean. They wanted to give the place another century.
The pair, who also restored Montrose’s Rathbone Hotel, purchased the St. Elmo in 2025 and reopened it in summer 2026 following an extensive renovation. Since Catherine “Kittie” Heit first welcomed travelers in 1898, the hotel has seen its share of owners and changing tastes. But its Victorian personality? That’s staying.
Flowers are practically a recurring character. They climb across guest room wallpaper, appear in frosted-glass transoms above the doors, and even make their way onto shampoo bottles. Embroidered room numbers, antique stained glass, and carved wooden furniture complete the picture. “Despite the hotel’s many lives, its Victorian roots never really faded,” says Mia Kinder of TCB Hospitality.
The 12 accommodations pair period details with plush beds, updated bathrooms, and modern comforts. Room 11 features an original exposed-brick wall, while room three has a soaking tub beside a mountain-facing bay window, inspired by The Rathbone Hotel’s most-booked room.
Elsewhere, a vinyl listening room invites guests to sink into velvet seating and put on a record. An outdoor hot tub and infrared sauna offer other ways to unwind. What you won’t find in your room? A television. Consider it a gentle nudge to enjoy the surroundings.
For Clay, the renovation is about more than saving an old building. “Historic buildings in downtown settings are our chance to interact and get to experience that history still in real time,” he says.
Downstairs, the reopened St. Elmo Tavern carries on the gathering-place tradition of Kittie’s Bon Ton Restaurant. Clay has even been spotted seating guests and delivering plates. Apparently, owning the place doesn’t exempt you from the dinner rush.
And the ghosts? Asked whether the hotel was haunted, Clay didn’t hesitate: “It’s full on haunted.” Believe him or not, the St. Elmo has plenty of stories to tell. The best part? It’s still making new ones.
Eat + Drink
At the St. Elmo Tavern, Italian tradition meets Colorado’s agricultural bounty. Chef Paolo Martone makes all his pasta by hand and, as Mia puts it, “preps those sauces lovingly each week.” The linguine with elk ragù is the dish to order, with perfectly al dente noodles and a deeply flavorful sauce that makes a convincing case for cleaning your plate. Pair it with a Blue Lakes mojito, then wander downtown to Alpenglow Treat Co. for ice cream and other sweet treats. Because even after a bowl of pasta, there’s always room for dessert. Or at least there should be.
Explore
Ouray doesn’t call itself the Switzerland of America for nothing. For proof, tackle the Ouray Perimeter Trail, a roughly six-mile loop with waterfalls, bridges, and mountain views that make stopping for photos practically mandatory. Prefer your adventures with fewer elevation changes? Browse The Mercantile Ouray for Western-inspired gifts, jewelry, and custom hats you can personalize with bands, feathers, and pins. Give your legs a break at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, where naturally heated, sulfur-free mineral water and a dramatic mountain backdrop make doing absolutely nothing feel like a perfectly reasonable afternoon plan. Even if you skipped the hike.
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