We held another family reunion here to commemorate the one we had 20 years ago. I'm going to share my experience and both positive and negative in hopes it's helpful info for other families planning a similar event. BOOKING AND RESERVATION PROCESS: 2 stars My brother booked and placed a substantial deposit over 2 years ago on a large reunion cabin and the adjacent large cabin. As the event neared, we met virtually with camp hosts who informed us that they can't guarantee we get the cabins we reserved. They'll "try," they said, but can't guarantee we'll get those adjacent cabins. Our only theory is the Y reserves the right to bump outsiders should an esteemed member want what we reserved. It all started off on a wrong foot, and combined with the impossible act of reserving additional cabins or rooms on April 1, when reservations open to the general public, it started to feel risky and like we made a bad choice. To me, it seems a reasonable add-on to the reunion booking process to allow us to book additional cabins in advance so we can find rooms for all family. Within minutes at 8:00 am on April 1, small cabins and most lodge rooms were snagged up. They also said we couldn't access the cabins until after 6 pm on arrival day. That meant we had to figure out a way to keep all of our food we purchased chilled until we could put it in our cabin's refrigerator. As it turned out, we did get the cabins we reserved/requested AND they were ready far earlier than our 5 pm arrival time. Total experience? Nerve-wracking. CABINS/ACCOMMODATIONS - 2 stars I get it - lots of large groups use this place. All the more reason to maintain them in a manner that is safe & comfortable for all. We had two sofas, one of which was unusable and a number of small issues that were eventually addressed. THE GOOD/POSITIVE: So much for youngsters to do, but be prepared to spend a lot of time driving kids back and forth to each activity. My "sense" was kids got to try a few new things, like horseback riding and archery, for an add-on fee. Good hiking trails. Downtown Estes (and an additional amusement park), are a short drive away in downtown Estes. Snack shop and little store on campus. All in all, maybe it's my age getting the best of me but I didn't find the accommodations very comfortable- just the 2 aforementioned couches, 1 of which was broken. All other chairs are wooden. So there's a point, as an adult, when the beauty of the mountains starts to wear thin when you're not as comfortable as you'd like to be. Bottom line? Go into it prepared. Try out a smaller cabin before opting to book for a huge reunion to make sure it will fit your family's needs. I wish they were a bit more accommodating and generous with furniture, etc., in their lodging. If you like Rustic, you'll love it here. read more

Give yourself a day or two to acclimate to the 8,500 ft altitude. I promise you your first night of sleep will not give you any rest. The staff here is wonderful and there is even the Rustic Cafe inside the registration building to grab a quick bite all day. The YMCA backs up to Rocky Mountain National Park and the entire place is easy to navigate. If you want something out of the ordinary but in-line with history, check out the Lula W Dorsey museum which is also on campus and see all the history the Y has had to offer over the last 100+ years! This is a great place to unwind and really connect with nature. If you have ever heard of shrinyoku (forest bathing), this is a place to do it. Wildlife will hang around here at all times of the morning and later in the evening too. Most of all experience it all and make memories! read more

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YMCA is where it's at! I never knew the YMCA had properties like Estes Park, I've been living under a rock apparently. The space is huge and has an array of activities like crafts, swilling, mini golf, pickleball, horseback riding, basketball and, well, you get the picture, I could go on and on. My favorite though was the hiking trails which are very mild and good for people in pretty much all conditions and shapes. You can even walk right into RMNP from the trail which we haven't done since we had our pup with us but I want to explore this one day! Be sure to check out the Lula W. Dorsey Museum, it's a treat and so cool to learn about the history of the Estes Park Y! We have only stayed in the cabins and it's been such a treat to have multiple rooms and full kitchen along with outdoor space to dine, read or just zen out. My only complaint is the beds, they.....ahem.....suck. Bring your own mattress topper and pillows if you're local, it's so difficult to sleep on Dollar Tree quality mattresses and pillows. Really, that's my only complaint about this place. You can even welcome the day with viewing elk that are roaming around this place. It's just so peaceful and quiet. We've come here by ourselves and with friends so it's good for adults, kids, families or really anyone who wants to connect with nature! read more

Rustic but without the charm. I just returned from a family reunion at YMCA of the Rockies (Estes Park location) and our consensus was the experience was decidedly mixed. While you can't beat the location and the ability to book "cabins" that can sleep 30+ people, the park is decidedly rough around the edges. Our cabin, Fairchild, was large and had lots of nice features like a massive kitchen, refrigerators and a gas grill, the lack of air conditioning and TLC were not great. While we weren't expecting the Ritz Carlton, given the steep price we paid I was surprised to find the cabin dirty (including mildewy shower curtains), lots of maintenance issues (mold) and lacking promised features (like requested pack-and-plays, high chairs to basic things like dish soap). On top of it, the park was probably at capacity and while there's a lot to do, by the time reservations for activities like rock climbing and hiking opened up all slots were filled. The indoor pool was also freezing and "down" for 3 of the 4 days we were there. When pressed, the staff finally mentioned it was due to a plumbing issue. Most of this could be excused, but the biggest issue was the awful experience we had with check in. While the website mentioned cabin aren't available until 6 PM for check in, the day before the group sales rep reached out asking for us to confirm details, including arrival time. When we mentioned 2:45 PM, we received an email saying "received." We then (clearly mistakenly) assumed the cabin would be available around 2:45 instead of 6. So, our entire group of nearly 30 people (including a 90-year old, multiple children and infants, and several cars loaded with perishable food for our stay) arrived at 3. We then had to sit around in the Administration Building waiting for updates. None were provided and the front desk staff, while friendly, were ultimately unhelpful and couldn't tell us anything. At last, we were given keys at 5:30. We could have brushed this off, but a carload of our group had been up near the cabin at a playground and could confirm that nobody (such a a cleaning crew) had been at our cabin for over 2 hours. The cabin was available, but the front desk staff just didn't know it/or was unwilling to let us check in early. All in all, we had a great time, but it's clear the YMCA has little/no interest in maintenance or guest experiences. read more

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We shared a cabin with five adults and three kids, and the little ones were absolutely in their element. There was so much to do and explore. They left feeling like powerful stewards of the forest, carrying with them a whole collection of firsts and a deep new love for the outdoors. read more

Estes Park Center YMCA - Resorts Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

What a privilege it is to be invited to a wedding, especially when it is at a spectacular park! It was news to me to find out there is a YMCA in the Rocky Mountains with over 800 acres and six chapels perfect for weddings! Never have I ever, thought of the YMCA as more than a place for children's summer camps or a fitness center. Well, I have now been educated that they host weddings and have cabins and views of the mountains that make you feel like you're in a storybook fairytale!! This location in Estes Park has nature themed road names inside the park and large buildings with fireplaces to host events and gatherings. The staff at the administration building are nice and help me navigate the park at night when I didn't know my way in the dark by giving me a lead vehicle with flashing lights. Excellent service by the catering team and bartenders at the wedding reception. Highly recommend this as a venue for a destination wedding as they really take great care of their guests! read more

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Sleep away camp for adults! The campus is stunning and very well kept. The facilities and rooms are very clean and they have so many things to do. Came here with a very large family reunion, and it was really a great time. There was a kerfuffle with booking rooms, of which, myself and my immediate 5 folks did not benefit greatly from the mixup, but we had nice rooms. The weather was a little crazy the week we were there so the box fan in our room wasn't great the first night, but once it cooled down a bit, it was perfect for what we needed. The folks that work at the camp are extremely nice and helpful. The cafeterias aren't 5 star dining, but very good food that was consistent. Even though there was a lot of other groups our week we were there, the dining never felt too packed and there was always hot food. The ropes course was really fun and so was archery! This place was great for a large family reunion and would recommend coming back. read more

Estes Park Center YMCA - Resorts Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

First time staying here. This is a huge complex with several lodge buildings and a variety of cabins. Most importantly the huge family reunion cabins. The setting is beautiful, with mountain views all around. We booked a lodge room originally but on arrival we're told the lodge is under renovation so got upgraded to a 3-bedroom cabin which is great although we don't really need all that space, but the upside is we are within walking distance to our family reunion cabin which is a definite plus. The cabin in the woods is really nice, spacious living/dining/kitchen area, large picture windows, front and back porches, clean and all the furnishings look to be in good condition. No aircon but heat works well which is important as there was a snow storm while we were there at the end of April. Apparently the storm caused some of the cabins to lose power and heat but ours was ok. Wifi is spotty - not sure if it's also due to the storm but it didn't work half the time we were there. Check in could take a while, and certainly not having any prior communication regarding our lodge not being available could have been a problem - the lodges are near restaurants (in case you don't have a car could be an issue) while the cabins are not. But despite some of the service issues I really like the place and will go back when visiting the Rockies again. read more

This is an excellent value for families for what you get. We have stayed in a two bedroom with fireplace the past two Octobers. Once we went in early October which was pretty busy and had beautiful fall weather. This time we went in late October and it snowed a foot, which my kids absolutely adored. It was also much more empty, which was fun for activities. Some activities had to be cancelled due to the snow. Pros: - LOCATION. So nice to have hikes within the property but also the option to go to RMNP a few minutes away. A few restaurants are an eight minute drive away. It is so beautiful. Quiet. Animals everywhere. - everything is very clean in the cabins. The cabins are a nice size for our family of four. Kids room and grownup room. Full kitchen with what you need to cook (nothing fancy and no dishwasher). I definitely recommend a fireplace cabin. - great staff and activities - a lot of free activities during the day (pool, mini golf, staff led seminars) and most of the paid ones are a very good value (we especially enjoy archery!) To be aware: - the art center is a bit pricey - on site food is not the best. Better to go a few miles out for restaurants or grocery shop. We ate most meals in our cabin due to convenience. - definitely recommend having a car - check in and out times are a bit restrictive. Both times we were able to get into our room early though. read more

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We visit for daytime activities almost every time we're in Estes. The art studio is great fun, and the playground outside the art building is just the right size for our daughter right now. We often have lunch here at the dining hall. It's not gourmet dining, but it's very good given that they are preparing buffet-style food for hundreds every day. They do a great job of providing GF options and clearly labeling common food allergies. We love visiting the YMCA Estes Park Center, and I'm sure you will too read more

1. Absolutely beautiful campus. The admin building is great to enjoy the view and read a book. There's basketball courts, pool, craft center, library, etc. 2. If you have Verizon as your phone carrier, you won't get much signal 3. There are deer around the campus. I walked out the door and accidentally scared some grazing deer 4. My friends and I got altitude sickness so drink plenty of walk 5. We stayed in Alpen Inn. The room was a little musty but it provided everything we needed. I hope to try out a lodge next time. read more

Estes Park Center YMCA - Selfie at the Y - Resorts Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Phenomenal location, friendly staff. 4.5 stars, rounded up, because after the challenges, everything was terrific. One really important thing to note is that CHECKIN IS AT 6 PM. This is noted on the acknowledgement of the reservation, but nowhere else. Not in the reminder email, nor in the nice friendly reminder phone call the day before. We pulled in at 3 hoping to check in - the staff were very friendly & said, no, checkin is at 6. They were able to get us a room at 5 pm, which was nice - but I do wish it had been more clearly stated that *checkin is at 6 pm* - since that is not the industry standard. That said, everything else was fabulous. The room we (finally) ended up in was great - with a balcony and a fridge. There was a microwave downstairs which I used to heat my tea. It's a gorgeous location, and there were lots of folks around - children, families, dogs - so it overall felt like a super welcoming and friendly place. AND it's about 10 minutes from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, and far away from the construction in Estes Park. Despite the kerfuffle we had early on, we would DEFINITELY return here. read more

Estes Park Center YMCA - View of the mountains from beyond the dog park - Resorts Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Stayed three days with our family for a short vacation. Stayed in the hotel style rooms, but stayed in the cabins a few years ago. The location is amazing with stunning views. There were free and fun programs throughout the day for our kids to be a part of. The mini golf, tennis courts, horseshoes, basketball, Gaga ball are all free to use. My son loved fishing at Glacial creek and caught and released some trout. My daughter loved making jewelry at the craft area. We lost count of how many elk and deer we saw. The food was good and we got lots of treats from the general store or the cafe I. The admin building. Definitely recommend staying here or visiting and walking around. read more

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Great place to stay in Estes Park near the Bear Lake access entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The property extends throughout a beautiful wooded area. Loved to be able to wake up to a beautiful sunrise and be greeted by a family of elk or deer. The two bedroom cabins have a room with a queen bed and a second bedroom with a single bed and bunk beds. There is a kitchen with dishes for 6, stove, fridge, pots and pans. The dining room/living room has a table for 4. Bring shampoo, conditioner and soap, unless you like using Dial all purpose soap/shampoo/conditioner. Nice to sit on the porch in an Adirondack chair. Lots of activities are available from a library where you can check out a book to an arts and crafts room where you can make jewelry, fused glass or a batik scarf. Grab a putter for mini golf or a racquet to play tennis or pickle ball. Dogs are welcome, but make sure to clean up. Poop bags are available throughout the trails. It's fun to stay at the YMCA!! read more

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I am reviewing the Buffet and I was pleased! The price is reasonable and the selections were plentiful. Dinner offered a large salad bar, two meat entrees and hot vegetables and sides. They even had uncrustables for the kiddies. They offered a variety of beverages. The area is roomy and very clean. I enjoyed the desserts offered that night-chocolate chip cookies, banana pudding, ice cream bars and carrot cake. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety of foods. read more

We came here for an end-of-summer vacation and to show the little one a good time. Last time we were in Estes Park she was just 2 so she does not remember much. But this trip already has made an impression and she said that when she grows up she will bring her kids here. We stayed in one of the lodges and not a cabin. Because it is the end of the season it is not full at all. I think there are one or two other families on the floor, but far away from us. So it is quiet. The rooms are comfortable but modest. No TV, which is fine. No shampoo. They do give you towels. The bed is comfortable as are the pillows. The main reason you come is for the actives. There are so many activities, dozens a day and most are free. We saw wildlife at dusk as we walked to the playground, and that was exciting. And then we saw moose by the putt putt golf. The people who work here are super nice and friendly. Overall, this is a great place for families and to unwind. Totally relaxed atmosphere. We will return for sure. read more

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Idyllic, peaceful, serene, quiet and enjoyable, the YMCA Camp of the Rockies was a pleasant stay. Beautiful views of the mountains. Great location --close to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. The lodge where we stayed was spartan. Remember, this is a place to enjoy the mountains without other distractions. Room was furnished minimalistic, yet with a comfortable bed. Our room also experienced years of deferred maintenance. Examples: toilet seat broken, bathroom sink leaks over sink, no working ice machines, carpeting in need of replacement, no latch on balcony screen porch, window would not stay open without some kind of a prop (I used 2 soda cans to hold window open to allow ventilation). There was minimal lighting and few electrical outlets. The price per night seemed high for the quality of the accommodations. But probably rationalized by the beautiful setting we experienced. The YMCA provides meals in a single pay as you go dining hall. The food was acceptable. Buffet style, all you can eat. There are lots of activities at the YMCA. Would be a great place for kids or families. I'd like to return and stay in one of the cabins -- from the outside they appear to be better maintained. read more

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Living in Boulder County, Estes is usually a day trip, but this makes a good local getaway. We stayed on weekdays during spring break, which is definitely still a low season: seeing the sprawling facilities, I imagine this place gets kind of nuts on summer weekends. The cabins look kind of plain from outside, but the interior is perfect mountain cabin, everything was clean and worked, and the kitchen well stocked. Comfortable furniture. I was expecting we'd either go into town or make all meals, but we ended up having several at the main cafeteria. (Can't beat the convenience and speed, especially when you're with several kids.) It is a cafeteria not gourmet, but I found everything decent, there's a wide variety including lots of healthy options, and a fair price. They offer lots of fun activities for kids. I hadn't been roller skating in so many years, that was an unexpected option. Free sleds to borrow and a nice hill. read more

YMCA of the Rockies is the kind of place I would give 10 stars if I could. I have been coming here since I was a boy and it never fails to deliver a fantastic experience. Situated on the western border of Estes Park, which is one of my top five favorite places I've visited in the world, the Estes Park Center YMCA provides the perfect camp experience for anyone traveling with a group, especially if you have children of any age. I've brought small kids and grown ones and there's so much to do and discover here that we always leave feeling like we've only scratched the surface. Lodging is available at a wide range of levels and costs. From a hostel setting, to a lodge, on up through rustic cabins and four bedroom vacation homes, the Center has an option that will suit your group size and budget. For all guests, basketball, tennis, mini-golf, arts & crafts, and guided nature hikes and star gazing walks are provided at no extra costs. Some for-pay activities include horse back riding, fly fishing, archery and more. The staff in the summertime where tags listing their city of origin, which it typically somewhere outside Colorado. Most are teenagers, very friendly and helpful. Estes Park downtown area is good for at least one full day of shopping and eating, with food and other unique boutique businesses lining the main strip and the river-side space the lines Fall River on the south side of Highway 34. All are charming and enjoyable. And, there's Rocky Mountain National Park, the gate to which is less than 10 minutes drive from Estes Park Center. RMNP is *inexhaustible* as a setting for outdoor exploration at all skill, health, and age levels. If you were drawn to the kind of beauty captured in the Lord of The Rings films, a few hours hike from Bear Lake and you will find yourself in an area that rivals Peter Jackson's New Zealand. No joke. I've rented two bedroom cabins with and without fireplaces, and a four-bedroom cabin with fireplace on my recent visit. Deer walk through the ares throughout the day. Hummingbirds will fly right up to your face (a little terrifying the first time). When it rains in the town, it's snowing on the peaks, washing them white with snow. We have always come here in the summer. If you want to drive to the top of RMNP, I recommend late June through August. Estes Park Center is my #1 summer family vacation destination for amazing outdoor fun, cost, and overall unmatched quality of experience. Could not recommend it higher! read more

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My kids went to camp here, and absolutely loved it. The views, the weather, the food everything was wonderful! read more

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Please do not go to the YMCA of the Rockies pool! My wife told my 8 year old son that it would be fun. But when we got there he thought it was dirty bad and unfair. The water was very dirty and cold! And they said you can't go in the deep side unless you passed the swim test. And then during the swim test the teacher said that you can't doggy paddle but then when he came back the teacher said he did but he didn't he tried again but the teacher said he did this frustrated him and she took her rage out on him! Then we decided to try to keep playing when we looked at the slide it was weak. And the life guard was not friendly. And they charged 30$ for each person which is more ridiculous than Gatorade for 4.75$! And they would not do anything if somebody was running! And all of the noodles were bent. If you go in the family bathroom I recommend you don't take a shower! It's dirty and the water takes too long to warm up! And you have to exit through the men's bathroom even if you are a female and they play music at the pool and the speakers are held by a rusty chain hello that fire hazard! I recommend you do anything else at the YMCA of the Rockies! Don't go to the pool Anonymous 8 yr old read more

I was supposed to run a 1/2 marathon and when looking for lodging in Estes, I just booked the least expensive place I could find that was dog friendly. I had no idea how cool this place was. I didn't even know my husband grew up coming here as a kid. I'm still giving it 5 stars despite the outdated and rooms not so clean. The rooms were dusty and if you looked behind things you would find garbage and more dust. Normally that would knock off a couple stars lol but the entire resort has way too much too offer to knock off any stars. We brought our lacrosse stuff and played lacrosse. We took advantage of our our golf. We enjoyed our walks and the beautiful views. The breakfast buffet had a lot of options. The eggs were bland and the waffles quite gritty but hey, we had food. We stayed in the hotel rooms and WiFi was rough but we really didn't need it. We will stay here again. read more

Estes Park Center YMCA - View from patio - Resorts Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

My husband had a conference here and it was a beautiful place. There was a dog park so we took our good boi there. No dogs were there but it was still a beautiful place to take him off leash. read more

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UPDATE - I still give them 5 stars for the campus and the accommodations but, house keeping and food service are horrid. How do you run out of coffee at 8:15 am? The quality of the food has been going from bad to worse. Had to call twice to get clean towels and trash removal which didn't happen until 3 pm. This renders the room unusable in case I want to nap since they'd come in. Hearing from other customers here that they're not happy with the service. Not good, not good at all. read more

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Always feels like home when I visit and stay at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park! This visit was a little different this time. This year really has tested all of us but it was the year to change my life or take it back for that matter. I took my wonderful boyfriend and his daughters plus my 2 daughters to a quick 2 night stay in the Mountain View Cabin and it was beautiful!!! I was able to set up a surprise 6th birthday for his oldest and we all love every minute of being together. As you can see from my photos we did the Escape Room of Harry Potter. So fun! We swam both days at the indoor pool and since I have been here in the past I knew that doing crafts is a part of the experience so I took my own. We have coasters, mini pumpkins and pinecones to decorate and paint. It was a blast! We took all our meals and made a huge serving of nachos and had French toast for breakfast and apples with Carmel dip!!! While the girls played in our 3 bedroom cabin, my soulmate and I hung out on the covered patio and enjoyed a cold beer while watching the sun rise and set! Going back real soon! read more

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The Aspen Dining Hall is a crime against humanity. If this were a prison, it would be a crime against humanity. The eggs are not good but if you layer on their excuse for gravy with lots of salt and pepper it is almost edible. Unfortunately, today they were out of even the eggs. I am paying for 3 meals a day and generally drive to town to eat for two of those. The third I scavenge for fresh fruit assuming they can't screw that up but I was wrong. Got a rancid orange. Stop commissioning statues of children playing in wonderment and use the money to hire an actual chef so the actual children won't be emotionally scarred by the horrors of the dining hall. This is the worst food I've ever had and I survived Iraq. The views are incredible and the rest of the facilities are more than sufficient. The food is really ruining the experience for everyone. Our group of 50 definitely won't be returning. read more

This feels like the best kept secret for lodging in Estes Park. Yes, you're staying at a YMCA lodge, and yes, it's pretty bare bones: just a (probably mostly clean?) very basic room, without a lot of frills. But: 1. The room was good enough - the bed was comfortable, shower was decent, and we had a little table to eat take-out at and a balcony. No cleaning service, but who cares. No TV, but you're not in Estes Park to watch TV, right? No air conditioning, but the windows open and it's in the 40s at night in the summer, so you don't need it. 2. You're closer to the main entrances for RMNP than you are anywhere else in town! The YMCA is literally surrounded by the park, and you could hike into the park from the property if you wanted to. 3. The prices for lodge rooms here are cheaper than any hotel in town. It's a great deal even in the busy summer season (book ahead online and look for discounts; sometimes they have them.) 4. Free, great buffet breakfast is included! We only tried it one of the days we stayed, cause they don't start serving til 7 AM, and if you want a parking spot in RMNP, you've got to be on the trail well before then. 5. Lots of free activities are included! We spent most of our time hiking in the park, and were anxious about being inside during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we didn't do much. But we did enjoy the free mini golf course, and doing some geocaching on the property. 6. Truly spectacular setting - surrounded by mountains, and lots of elk on the property in the morning and evening. We saw a couple of young bulls tussling with each other right outside our lodge! 7. When we visited during the week in mid-August, they weren't busy at all, and we were even to extend our reservation by another night at the last minute. If I visit Estes Park again, I'll stay here for sure. read more

This wasn't my first time here so I knew what to expect, for the most part. We stayed in the longs peak lodge and will probably not return to YMCA. Pros -Beautiful location -Activities. Ton of things to do. -great for families Cons -No A/C. I knew this going in so I brought fans and kept the window open. People were very loud outside my window til 11pm quiet hours and the front desk didn't care. -food. I don't expect gourmet, but the food lacks flavor and quality. The decent selection of brisket was in short supply. -beds. Beds were super uncomfortable and the bedding was stained. I didn't get a good night sleep which led to an exhausting next day. read more

Stayed in a lodge room, nothing fancy but found it to be fairly clean. No air conditioning but they provided a box fan and we could open the window. Lots of activities to choose from around the property and friendly staff. Beautiful scenery, surrounded by the mountains. read more

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This is an awesome place to vacation. We started going here more than 20 years ago and still find it to be the perfect place to unwind from your job. We left 100 degree weather behind in San Antonio and woke up with 44 degree weather in Estes Park. What a way to beat the heat. With the exception of 1 year, we have always stayed in a cabin. This year, we had a vacation home on the Summit, which is located across the highway from the main campus. So why the 5 star rating? 1. Privacy - like having your own place in the mountains 2. Cabins have all the conveniences of home 3. Unbelievable beauty out every window 4. Entertainment - everything from olympic size in-door pool to putt putt golf 5. Access to Rocky Mountain National Park 6. Access to multiple outdoor activities such as fly fishing, mountain climbing, and horseback riding 7. Pet friendly 8. Kid activities too huge to list them all The only negative about the YMCA of the Rockies - due to enormous demand, it is very hard to get in when you want, & sometimes is impossible to get in at all. If you become a member, it improves your chances. read more

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We just spent a week with family over Christmas and loved the experience and time we had to spend establishing new memories. The YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park is expansive with LOTS of activities for families that are available with the cabin rental. Highlights of our kids (ages 14, 12, 11) favorites: ice skating on the lake (free skate rentals), 20' climbing wall at the Boone Family Mountain Center ($10/hr), roller skating (free skate rentals), sledding (you need to buy sleds at the local Estes Park True Value store), playing kick ball in the gym, and doing crafts at the Crafts and Design Center. We did not have enough time to check out the pool but it looked like a lot of fun. We were able to rent micro spikes ($10 per pair) at the mountain center and hiking boots (free rental) for our winger hike at the Rocky Mountain National Park. The staff at the center is phenomenal. You can also rent mountain bikes and snow shoes. The cabins were very clean and comfortable. We rented a 2BR cabin with a kitchen for our family of 5. It was the perfect size. We had everything we needed in the kitchen to cook our meals. Everything in our cabin was well maintained and we had no problems during our stay. Cabin also had WI-FI. We opted to not get one with a TV and it was the right decision! I would highly recommend this campground to any family wishing to enjoy time together and the outdoors. We loved our experience. The staff we interacted with was very friendly and welcoming, providing tips and advice on things to do at the camp and nearby. We will definitely come back again! read more

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We didn't stay in the cabins, but did come here with day passes to enjoy the activities. The art center is so nice - many projects and enough loose parts, paint, mosaic options for creative endeavors, it's not just a step by step kit. The little history museum is amazing - my son got to plug wires into a switchboard, open drawers in a 1900s stove, and do a scavenger hunt. We also tried a couple group activities - knot tying and animal detectives, which were engaging and entertaining. The day passes were $29 per adult and free for my 5 year old (they charge for kids 6+). read more

Well, this place has an amazing view of the mountains and off the beaten path, but for being out in the middle of nowhere, it was extremely noisy. Our first day and night there was great, then some Hope convention came in and stayed in our lodge. They took up the whole lobby which is where our fireplace, coffee, and lounge area was. We couldn't even enjoy any of that because they were everywhere and so loud! It was a large group of adults acting like young kids! There person in charge said that they haven't seen each other in a year. Well that is no excuse for the noise they were making. The YMCA has meeting rooms and we were not sure why those were not rented out for this. They had our lobby taken up for a couple of days. Then another group came in and stayed in a separate lodge, but that didn't make any difference for the noise they were making in the middle of the night with our windows open. Yes we had to keep the windows open because they do not have air conditioning! The food there is bad. There wasn't anything we ate that was good. Food seemed old and no flavor. They kept running out of stuff on the gross buffet, dishes were dirty, coffee tasted horrible. Everything there costs more to do, so it looks like there is a ton to do, but only if you fork out a lot of money. The horse stables on sight had the most rude people working there. We stopped in front of one of their "homes" to take some pictures of an elk and were shouted at by the lady to "get out of there" even though we were on a public road. Well the YMCA did nothing about it because they are a vendor, not their employees. Also if you want to do anything there, you better make reservations well in advance! In response to YMCA reply: We did call the front desk and went to the front desk twice, as a matter of fact, and nothing was done over horse stables OR Hope convention noise... read more

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My sister-in-law organized a three night getaway after getting a special rate on lodging. The site is impressively sized, with many "cabins" (basically houses with heat, indoor bathrooms, and full kitchens) across lower mountain landscape (approx 8000 feet). Kitchen includes eating and cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave, dishwasher and coffee maker. During Covid time, there's no daily housekeeping. After 2 nights we went to one of the management buildings to exchange our kitchen rags and towels. There were three bedrooms in our cabin, but only one had a king sized bed. The other two were fitted with double twin size beds. I'm under six feet, but with two little dogs used to sharing a queen mattress, sleep was uneven. I am skimming the website, not seeing a detailed description of bed sizes. There are a bunch of activities provided by the Y at free or low cost. We did archery, ice skating, and roller skating. We also did a hike up to a low peak in the area. If you have kids, you probably get a bit more bang for your buck. Pets are limited to two per cabin. Things to bring - aluminum foil, plastic wrap or dome cover for microwaving, spray cleaner in bottle (for kitchen cleanup), kitchen brush for cleaning pots and pans, tupperware for leftovers, headlamp, technical hiking/exercise clothes, pre-ground coffee or a coffee grinder. Alcohol, if you imbibe. There's a Safeway about 20 minutes down into town if you forgot to bring something. For 5 adults and 1 child, we paid a discount price of about $200 a night. I checked AIRBNB for Estes Park, there are whole houses who sleep the same number of people for about the same price in the off-season. read more

This review should be titled "things I wish I knew before this weekend." First of all, don't think of this as an expansion of your local YMCA. This is absolutely the crown jewel of the YMCA. It's like a great overnight camp for adults but way better. We chose not to do any food preparation in the cabin, but easily could have done so. Keep in mind that all the dishes were washed by previous tenants. - Bring a dish pad - only have kitchen towels available at the cabin - Leave your finished books and magazines with the library or the front desk staff - If going for a day hike you can call the YMCA (by noon the day prior) and they will prepare a sack lunch for you - Definitely do the mini golf. The 18 hole course takes about 1 hour or so and it's free with your wristband! Very nicely kept area with fountains - If you need to iron go to the laundry facilities (open 24/7) - Highly recommend booking activities before your arrival (archery, horseback riding, zip lining). They book up fast, especially on holiday weekends. - Bring an extension cord ... many outlets in our cabin didn't work or the plugs fell out very easily. There were also only a few outlets in the cabin and several were covered by furniture - Due to bears make sure to close all windows at night and empty your trash everyday Into the bear proof container in the driveway - wi-fi by the cabins are pretty good but unsecured - Don't count on cellular service in this whole area. Definitely download What's App (before you arrive) if you are trying to meet up with others. Only when I was in downtown Estes that I had pretty good cell reception with Verizon - If driving to the cabins, bring DW40 for squeaky doors in the cabin (all doors in our cabin were squeaky) - No hairdryer provided in the cabin - Make sure to bring plenty of hair ties/butterfly clips/headbands (there are none at the general store) - If you have dairy/gluten allergies the buffet food at the Aspen Room is very well marked with potential allergens - For a quick high-carb breakfast the Rustic Café is a good option. They had bagels, muffins etc. - I would avoid the General Store for food items (due to high cost and low selection), stock up at Safeway instead - if you want a silver or gold leaf ornament or jewelry buy it at the General Store rather than the RMNP gift shops-about 20% less for the same item - The shower has body wash in a soap dispenser - Recycling cans everywhere! I stayed in the Oynx cabin from Friday-Monday. Great weekend! Holiday weekends they minimum is a three night rental. The oynx cabin was pretty far removed from the main facilities but an easy walk to the main building. It had a bunk bed in one room and a full mattress in another room. There was a nice couch, a single chair and a four top dining room table in the living space. None of the mattresses were especially comfortable. We had 2 picnic tables, two single seat Adirondack chairs and a double seat Adirondack chair. There's a front deck and a concrete porch in the back. Make sure to water that evergreen tree in the back! It's dedicated to a long-time YMCA member who died in the Rockies at 103 years old. read more

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This review is so long overdue! My husband and I were married here July of last year and the YMCA of the rockies made this the best day of my life! We had a spectacular experience here. The wedding coordinators made planning so easy, and affordable. When we initially found this gem we thought it was too good to be true, and that we must have read their prices incorrectly. We even said "there must be a catch" but there wasn't. If you love the idea of summer camp for adults or families look no further! We were married at "Overlook Chapel" which is no joke on the side of the mountain with the most breathtaking views of the rockies you can imagine! We used the YMCA's very own chaplains Greg Bunton who was downright exceptional. We had our reception in the pine room with our own DIY rustic decorations. The menu was simple and delicious. We were actually pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was, the chefs here are impressive! We brought out own wine and beer for the open bar, and had a friend act as bartender for the evening. The staff at the YMCA went above and beyond that day to make sure things went off without issue! We did a room block for our guests at one of the lodges and everyone loved the rustic vibe. We splurged on a summit cabin and actually hosted our own rehearsal dinner right there at our cabin. We did a simple cookout and then moseyed over to friendship fire ring after for a campfire and s'mores! The day after our wedding we reserved a private archery lesson for the guests who were interested. With the YMCA of the rockies you really can have it all!!!! It's not too good to be true, it really is a rustic paradise for you and the family! read more

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4 & 5 STAR REVIEWS MUST BE DRUNK! Or just don't get out much. I guess if you're part of Walmart Nation and come here from some flat, horrible state you might be impressed. For thinking people, do yourself a favor and just pass! I was part of a family thing and to my intense regret, had no hand in planning. 1. FOOD IS GROSS! And I mean disgustingly gross. I mean think prison food. Low quality, institutional, dry, overcooked sausage and chicken that was cooked hours before it was served, sloppy mac & cheese, messy buffet-style, etc, etc, etc. I can't even talk about it. In two days, all I had was two bowls of raw spinach and red cabbage with Italian dressing. That was it. I figured at least that was healthy and they couldn't mess up raw veggies. 2. RUN OUT OF FOOD! Hungry? Sorry. If you can get past the visuals of the swill they call food and actually want a meat protein for example, after the first wave of buffet-grabbers, you're out of luck. "They're cooking more" I was told after looking at empty chicken pans on all three islands. This happened every day. The incompetency and lack of skill or planning is glaringly obvious. 3. PLACE IS RUN BY 12 YEAR OLDS! Ok, maybe 17 year olds and on the other extreme senior volunteers. So it all makes sense. Hire kids who you don't have to pay much, give them room and board, and you can con any kid from Texas to come and spend the summer here "working." Give retired seniors the same pitch and they come running too. Between this concept and giving people garbage to eat, costs are low and profits are maximized. 4. NO CELL SERVICE! Yea, I get it. You want to unplug, but not that much. It was super annoying not being able to check emails or receive calls or texts - especially from people in our group. I guess they have WI-FI over the property. UNSECURE, EASILY HACKED WI-FI. No thanks. Had to drive into town to make calls and check emails. 5. CAN'T SLEEP! We were in Longs Peak lodge which apparently was made with paper because we heard every noise and bump all night long. The doors have no buffer on them so expect to hear slamming all the time. We must have had some 400 pound guy from Arkansas above us because the ceiling shook every time he walked around with his pounding feet. And the beds are horrible. Woke up every 45-60 minutes, tossing and turning - the worst. We even brought our own pillows - didn't help. Oh, and no TV's in the rooms, because, well, that costs money. 6. GAME ROOM SMELLS LIKE MOLD! Everyone smells it the moment you walk in the building. Are you kidding me? Mold is toxic! Sure there's a pool table, foosball, ping-pong, and bean bag toss, but you have to be able to breathe to enjoy those things. 7. POOL OPEN FOR ONLY 2 HOURS! The kids were excited to swim. "What's that? Oh. It's only open from 6-8pm? Oh, and you're short-staffed and don't have enough lifeguards so you can only allow 25 kids at a time and there's already 25 in the water? Oh, so there's a wait-list?" Unbelievable. Bottom line? The kids in our group had fun, but then again kids that age have fun just walking on the beach or going to a playground. For thinking adults this place is a disaster. I don't care if it's the biggest in the world or whatever. What value does that statistic possibly have? If this wasn't a non-profit hiding behind the YMCA flag, it would quickly go out of business. This is literally the most pathetically run and managed property I have ever had the sad experience to visit. What an absolute joke! I simply don't understand how such low standards are acceptable to anyone! NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

I have visited the Y here on numerous occasions just never stayed, so this year I thought I would take a chance. It was a mistake. The YMCA of The Rockies during COVID is subpar at best. The views are spectacular but the service left much to be desired. I arrived on a Sunday around two and attempted to check in, but their computer systems were all down so they had no idea if my room was ready or not...but suggested I come back in an hour or so. I went into town and called them an hour or so later and they still had no idea what was going on, but said my room was currently being finished and would be done in an hour. I returned at 4, an hour later, and they gave me the same status, but they advised me the housekeeping staff left at 4:30 so it would be done by then. I returned at 4:45 and was told they still had no idea. When I came back at 5 they finally provided me my room key. We get checked in and I attempted to text my family to let them know I had arrived safely, but the WiFi was down...it remained down for 2 more days. One of the big selling points for the Y was the on-site cafeteria so we wouldn't need to go into Estes to eat. Well the cafeterias were 95% closed and only offered boxes meals. It seemed also that a lot of the normal services they provided were not available during Covid. Had I been made aware of all these things I would have cancelled and gone elsewhere but they didn't tell me until I was already checked in. Another frustrating thing was that our lodge we were in, as well as the adjacent ones, all seemed to be housing at 10-15% capacity at most, the same with the cabins...so why was it so difficult to get us our room when they could easily have just given us another one? Our parking lot which was a shared lot for all three nearby lodges had MAYBE a total of 10 cars at any time. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone unless you have a large family gathering. They seemed more apt to provide service to groups than individual guests. read more

Estes Park Center YMCA - The nearly empty parking lot for 3 lodges - Resorts Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Such a great time at YMCA in Estes Park. The staff does a good job of taking care of things with guests especially the craft and pool staff. Wonderful food and the cafeteria manager went out of his way to help us at dinner. read more

Where to begin... our family has been coming to the YMCA of the Rockies for over 40 years! I can't even begin to explain how important of a place this has become for us! Three generations have loved every minute of visiting the Y! You won't find a more friendly/amazing staff anywhere! Horseback riding, mini golf, bike rental, hiking guide, kids events, concert series, star gazing, bird banding, night hikes, Cowboy Brad, Sweet Memorial, the Mountain Center, workout facility, mess hall, the lodge, chapel, library, post office, craft center, the list goes on and on! This is an amazing family atmosphere where any age can enjoy! Our family will continue to visit for generations to come! read more

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