When Celine Leavitt and her wife Allison Troxel visited McElmo Canyon near Cortez, Colorado, they felt an unmistakable connection to the land. After camping for a single night at the serene space called Ancient Echoes at Kelly Place, both agreed the “for sale by owner” sign was for them, and they packed up their home in Montana and relocated to southwest Colorado in 2021.
As visitors travel into the canyon, it’s easy to see what the draws are. McElmo Canyon is surrounded by the Trail of the Ancients, one of America’s Scenic Byways traversing the Four Corners Region. It’s also very close to Mesa Verde National Park and Hovenweep National Monument, and contains an abundance of ancient Pueblo ruins.
When they purchased the property, it wasn’t in great condition.
Celine recalls, “When we came here, it was kind of at a make or break point. It was either going to go to its grave, or someone was going to revive it. And we were the crazy people to decide we would take this on.”
Previous owners had loved the land, but in trying to make a profit by hosting events and overnight stays, the spirit of the area had suffered. The buildings were in disrepair and the native foliage needed attention.
Undaunted, Celine and Allison, who consider themselves stewards rather than owners, put their skills to work with the intent to both respect the ancient communities who were displaced in this region, and to offer up a restful, restorative experience for overnight guests while allowing them to honor the people who came before.
“And so we have spent three and a half years pouring everything we have into it, really taking it down to the bone and building it back up,” Celine says.
In every adjustment or update they’ve made to the main lodge or guest accommodations, Celine says they are guided by the principles of beauty, integrity, efficiency, sustainability, and reciprocity.
“In the process of restoring all the buildings here on the property, each time we began renovating a space we asked ourselves, ‘What do we need to do to bring this space back into integrity, to make it beautiful, to make it efficient?’ These values inform every decision we make.”
In their renovations, Celine and Allison have established a community kitchen for guest use, private rooms, individual buildings, and all with a deep connection to the earth and location. Celine explains, “The idea is healthy, sustainable, local, connected. This is a canyon where at least five miles up the road there is no city service, there's no water, there's no septic, and, you know, there's no cell service.”
Guests don’t seem to mind, and they feel the difference these new stewards of Ancient Echoes have impressed already. “People come. They love it. They tell their friends,” Celine says. “We absolutely love our guests. 75% of them leave as friends. They stay in touch.”
In keeping with their stated principles, Celine and Allison sought support for bringing solar power to their operations and to further their sustainability. They secured a grant with USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and in 2023 installed 80 solar panels on the roof of a large outbuilding that, in time, will become an airy, bright space for gathering. Celine sees the potential and looks forward to community classes and events that bring people together. The energy and cost savings are welcome, but the real advantage is that Celine and Allison have incorporated a clean energy that aligns with their values.
“It mostly speaks to efficiency, sustainability, a mindfulness, and it speaks to the priorities of the way we want to be living, with a mind to seven generations.”