“So where do you want to go for your bir
thday?”
I mused over this for a moment. Given how arduous the journey has become driving Boulder Canyon, I preferred to stay local. While there are a couple of restaurants that I’ve liked in Nederland, they didn’t seem special enough for “birthday” status.
Then the perfect place came to mind.
“Let’s go to the Gold Hill Inn!”
I first learned of the Gold Hill Inn during the Flood of September, 2013. Driving through the tiny hamlet founded on Colorado’s Gold Rush, I spied the rustic building. Like most of the town, it looked like it came straight out of the 1800s. Being a history buff, I wanted to know more.
Gold Hill is synonymous with Colorado’s mining boom. Gold was discovered near the area in 1859, and soon after, a mining town sprung up. In 1872, the Wentworth Hotel was built to lure tourists to the town. By the 1920s, tourism to the foothills was spiking, and a dining hall was built next door.
The Gold Hill In was born.
Today, the Gold Hill Inn serves the residents of the foothills as well as nearby Boulder. It has maintained its rustic vibe, with wooden floors and casual mountain furnishings. But don’t let that fool you, the food is great, and you will get plenty of it.
Its specialty is a 6-course dinner for the modest price of $41. If that’s too much food, you can opt for a lighter 3-course meal. The six courses come with yummy salads, soups, entrees and even a fruit and cheese course.
On the weekends, they frequently feature local bands that play folk and bluegrass music.
Sometimes, it’s nice to enjoy a night out among my kind of people. People who make their home in places like Ward, Nederland and Allenspark. Chatting with the waitress and host, both lived in Ward, and worked there as second jobs. One even worked as a volunteer firefighter as well. And the service and friendly nature of the staff could not have been better.
For Nederland residents, it’s a great place to splurge on a fine meal, without driving to Boulder. The drive along the Peak to Peak Highway offers views of the Indian Peaks and glimpses of wildlife like elk. This time of year, splashes of color dot the drive with wildflowers blooming.
So if you’re tired of pizza, and long for a fine meal in a rustic atmosphere, head for Gold Hill. You won’t regret it.
