Tourism businesses around Mesa Verde say the spring travel season is beginning to take shape, though the full visitor experience may still be a few weeks away.
Kiffany with the Retro Inn at Mesa Verde in Cortez says March is when reservations typically start to pick up. While bookings are slightly lower than they were a couple of years ago, she says the motel still expects a strong season. Most of their guests are visiting Mesa Verde National Park, and weekends are beginning to fill.
Outdoor recreation businesses are seeing a slightly different timeline.
Jake Carloni with the Dolores Bike Hostel says their peak season tends to arrive closer to Memorial Day, when cyclists and other recreation visitors begin traveling through the region. In addition to lodging, the hostel has expanded into hosting group events like weddings and live music, which has helped boost revenue.
But Jake says one area that appears to be down so far is international travel.
He says European visitors are more likely to stay in hostels, since they’re more common overseas, and a dip in foreign travelers could affect business if that trend continues. He adds that it’s still early in the season, making it difficult to know whether that pattern will hold.
Meanwhile, Mesa Verde National Park says some spring visitors may encounter construction impacts.
According to the park, road work and overlook repairs are underway through May, with some cultural sites temporarily closed during construction. Loop roads will remain open, though individual overlooks may close one at a time for improvements.
Guided cliff dwelling tours are scheduled to begin May 4, with reservations available through Recreation.gov. Until then, cliff dwellings are visible from overlooks, and many mesa-top sites remain open for self-guided visits.
Additional areas of the park, including Wetherill Mesa, are expected to open later in May.
Park officials say staffing levels are consistent with past years.
For now, tourism businesses say they’re watching booking patterns closely as the season continues to develop.
